Thread: Gillette to release NEW DE razor for the holidays

Originally Posted by Gasman

I too thought the base plate looks a little like an E.J.
The price is right. As long as the plating on the head doesn't wear out too quickly from being made cheap.

Yes, poor plating or dropping and chipping the plating can e a problem if the razor head is die cast using a zinc alloy. If that happens and the alloy is exposed to water it will start to deteriorate. IIRC vintage Gillette razors did not use die cast construction but real metal. Could also be the reason the price is right.

https://www.maggardrazors.com/produc...razor-head-v3/

Nothing wrong with die cast DE heads as long as nothing happens to the plating or you chip it. I have at least 1 made that way and it shaves nicely. Just don't think you are getting a Gillette built like the vintage ones for that price.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, poor plating or dropping and chipping the plating can e a problem if the razor head is die cast using a zinc alloy. If that happens and the alloy is exposed to water it will start to deteriorate. IIRC vintage Gillette razors did not use die cast construction but real metal. Could also be the reason the price is right.

https://www.maggardrazors.com/produc...razor-head-v3/

Nothing wrong with die cast DE heads as long as nothing happens to the plating or you chip it. I have at least 1 made that way and it shaves nicely. Just don't think you are getting a Gillette built like the vintage ones for that price.

Bob

I know.. I have several razors with die cast heads that are okay. I wasnt saying its wrong, i was just saying its not built to last anymore like they used to be. Its more a planned obsolescence with things now a days.

Originally Posted by jaro1069

Its also smart for gillette to make the razor out of the lower material because the razor Will fail sooner and Will have to be replaced so they can get more money because if its made out of to good of a material all anyone will ever replace is blades.

I get what you're saying, but strongly disagree.

That'd be VERY bad for business, especially for a brand name like Gillette, word goes around .. quickly. Au contraire, they could offer a good quality razor for a cheaper price than competitors and easily make up for it with the blades.

At least that's how a serious and smart business would approach it. The blades ARE what brings in the money, the razors not at all. Can't recall ANYONE in my entire family and friends buying more than one Gillette razor whichever it might've been, just not necessary. If the razor fails on me once, I'm buying another brand, it's that simple. (I'm not as concerned with cosmetics than functionality)

For Gillette's (and ours) best interest the razor should be of decent lasting quality. If not, well damn them!

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I get what you're saying, but strongly disagree.

That'd be VERY bad for business, especially for a brand name like Gillette, word goes around .. quickly. Au contraire, they could offer a good quality razor for a cheaper price than competitors and easily make up for it with the blades.

At least that's how a serious and smart business would approach it. The blades ARE what brings in the money, the razors not at all. Can't recall ANYONE in my entire family and friends buying more than one Gillette razor whichever it might've been, just not necessary. If the razor fails on me once, I'm buying another brand, it's that simple. (I'm not as concerned with cosmetics than functionality)

For Gillette's (and ours) best interest the razor should be of decent lasting quality. If not, well damn them!

im saying everything is designed to fail sooner these days than it used to be and if they dont want people complaining about the blades cost they have to be low cost and if a blade last one week that is only 52 blades a year a person will buy and if a pack of blades cost 5 dollars and has 10 blades then each person is only spending around 60 dollars a year on blades which isnt enough for them to want to keep making these DE razors when thats about what 1 or 2 pack of their current cartridges cost.Also im sure they have seen people complaining about the cost of things like the oneblade razors blade cost and dont want to fall into the same trap.....

Procter & Gamble owns Gillette and lots of other brands. Their financial model is built on “hook a lifetime repeat buyer”...take a peek:

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Procter & Gamble owns Gillette and lots of other brands. Their financial model is built on “hook a lifetime repeat buyer”...take a peek:

yes they own a lot of stuff and they want you to have to buy more than one time.. everything is designed to fail at some point at which time you will replace it. Planned obsolescence

Originally Posted by jaro1069

yes they own a lot of stuff and they want you to have to buy more than one time.. everything is designed to fail at some point at which time you will replace it. Planned obsolescence

actually, I’d say it’s all made to be consumed and require replacement...shampoos, tampons, razor blades, make-up, dog food, etc...

Originally Posted by jaro1069

yes they own a lot of stuff and they want you to have to buy more than one time.. everything is designed to fail at some point at which time you will replace it. Planned obsolescence

That is only one part of planned obsolescence, designed to fail, and there is also going out of fashion by introducing the new and improved versions. The last bit is what drove Gillette to introduce ever more DE versions. The vintage Gillette DEs seemed to fail only from abuse, not by falling apart. That theme carried over to cart razors in the form of ever increasing blade counts and other "improvements". I'd like to know if Gillette intends to introduce ever increasing varieties of DE razors at this point to serve a very limited market. I think it more likely it is a one of money grab for those who are nostalgic.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

That is only one part of planned obsolescence, designed to fail, and there is also going out of fashion by introducing the new and improved versions. The last bit is what drove Gillette to introduce ever more DE versions. The vintage Gillette DEs seemed to fail only from abuse, not by falling apart. That theme carried over to cart razors in the form of ever increasing blade counts and other "improvements". I'd like to know if Gillette intends to introduce ever increasing varieties of DE razors at this point to serve a very limited market. I think it more likely it is a one of money grab for those who are nostalgic.

Bob

i guess we will see.. i think they are releasing it when they are so that if its a hit they can continue and if its not successful they can say it was a limited edition or anniversary or christmas release and not do it again unless they want to do one at fathers day and holidays or anniversaries....who knows what will happen.

Indeed fellas.

Interesting trend, we've been in this trend for a loooooong time, some never left the 'old fashioned' shaving. I do notice an increase interest in other communities or people, whereas I can't get friends to go into straight razor shaving, I can get them into DE shaving; Gillette must've noticed.

Took them long enough to notice and catch up (again) and go back to 'basics' If that's what they're doing. If they figure out there's a market to explore and money to be made AND can upkeep or improve on the quality of razors and blades, that's good. Although I'm not sure about the latter, especially as mentioned in today's society. A man can hope they'll bring a high standard and quality onto the market again, but it's very doubtful; luckily there are other makers who are doing this.

Luckily for us there are plenty of razor makers, who of us needs another DE razor? Probably nobody. Who kinda wants a Gillette set? I bet quite a few do, I know I'm tempted.

My favorite DE razor? My Merkur HD. Simple, but amazing razor. Not expensive either.


Then it's mostly about the blades, as SR shavers we can be finicky about the kind of edge we put to our face. I really like my Gillette Silver Blues and Personna Med Preps.é