Thread: Pays to be Nice!

A while back, I picked up some poor condition straights from my local shop. Why would I buy garbage? Because its good will. I explained that I would be using them mostly for parts, and took the time to explain what were good points to the razors, not just the flaws. The prices were cheap enough that it didnt bother me to toss them out later. I basically paid 10 bucks for some fancy washers, and a decent set of baklite scales.

As a result, the shop owner tells me today "I have some razors for you" and brings out a 5 razors in boxes.

From the top

13/16 Wadsworth Pathfinder

5/8+ Holcke Barbers Pride

Holte & Co Celebrated in rough shape

and a beautifully reground old blade of unknown origin, Came in a very old box marked Ashton Jackson & Co

On the left is a nice Griffin Carbo-Magnetic

Did I want them all? No. Did I buy them all because it furthers good relations? Yes!
Who knows what they will bring me next time. Not to mention that they also gave me 20% off without my asking for it! =P

Originally Posted by Magpie

.................Did I want them all? No. Did I buy them all because it furthers good relations? Yes!
Who knows what they will bring me next time. Not to mention that they also gave me 20% off without my asking for it! =P

They all look beautiful, nice grab,,,

..............and thank you for that above quote. I can now repeat it to myself, as I raid every antique store that I find to feed my R.A.D.

I'm on a phone, but from what I can see those look pretty cool. Glad you found a good supplier. Fixing up razors...and parting together franken-razors can be fun

oooooo I would take that old guy in a heart beat. You got something good going there. Looks like your going to be busy . :<0)

Yea, I am! Off to the meet up in the morning. I also picked up a box from my other local antique place. Same basic concept. "here, we saved this for you"

Vintage Gem shavers kit complete with Bakelite covered bowl with untouched soap, and a Fatboy in its original magnifier box. =)

Most of my local people couldn't care less about straights. They know me by name by now. Know what I'm there for. And still...nothing. I did have one guy actually buy one of those New Parker razor knife things, double the price, and try to sell it to me though. I would have bought it to further relations(as you say), but I'm pretty sure it would have just solidified his notion that I was a raving idiot who hadn't a clue what he was buying. I simply said, "too bad it's not antique" and handed it back to him. He seemed pretty bummed.

Being nice and being honest with people almost always pays off. Some folks call it paying forward.

All the sellers in my local haunts also know be by name,they also know that I will not pay more than 10 bux for any razor,but in the end I get most of them)

I brought in a few razors and showed them to the dealers. "This is a 5 dollar razor" "This is a 10 dollar razor" "THIS is what a 40 dollar razor looks like"

By showing them what to look for, and what to look OUT for, they pay better prices for the beat up stuff, and while they may know I am willing to pay a bit more for the quality items, they think of me first when a nice item comes in, and seldom try to jack me on prices.