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That’s a lot of soap. Any good? I wouldn’t mind paying that price, especially after what I just paid for MdC.
It is a reasonably well-known major English soap. So, yes, it is good. And MdC is hyped, and overpriced.
I see, getting ready for Brexit? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
B.
If you can get to it, this is probably the best deal regarding high quality shaving soap, period. At least, that's how I see it.
Well what the heck kind of soap is it?
I have lots of soaps, but MDC is my most hyped because it is the best quality and longest lasting and therefore the best value I have.
Things are certainly subjective. Therefore to insult someone's preference is something I would consider rude.
Especially as posting in a thread about 5 cheap, unknown 'major English' soaps.
Ah, but the mystery behind these soaps gives an advantage as downplaying others, does it not?
A favor....No need to respond. Just thinking out loud what others must be thinking.
It is Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood. Hence the topic.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
And yes, I'll gladly ignore your passive-aggressive comments. No offence taken.
Kind regards,
Robin
As it stands, THAT seems a wonderful bargain!
Need to try that!
One for a buddy? :shrug:
I was thinking something similar. I don’t use MDC but if you do, IMO, you don’t have to justify it at all. You like it and that’s that.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
What is the purpose of this thread Robin? Are you displaying a deal that you got or is there a way for everyone to get this soap at this price? Maybe it’s that if you wait and look long and hard that you don’t have to pay such high prices?
Well, whatever it is, a man should share! At that price, a bushel would do! :rofl2:
In my opinion MdC is the best soap on the market. It is rather expensive and there is a shipping cost to be reckoned, that said it lasts forever if you properly load your brush. My tub of vetver is half used after 3 years. To me that spreads my use over a considerable period of time. I recommend MdC without any hesitation.
Considering a puck of T&H sandalwood is £15 without the bowl, 5 for £1.50 and still be in profit is incredible.
I'd like to know where can I buy that soap. As it stands right now that could be some liquidation sale price for all we know.Quote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
Yes without further info its just speculation.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
Maybe some underpaid worker misplaced the decimal point on the price?
:shrug:
Certainly mysteriously sourced...maybe we will get a clue before we all lose all interest? Probably not.
Given the history of dislike for MdC that the OP has shown over the years, it is a troll post until proven otherwise.Quote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
Show me a store that sells that soap at that price all the time.
Stefan, it may have slipped your attention, but I never mentioned MdC. Somebody else did. But it is nice to know that people with dissenting views are "trolls" to a moderator here. Classy, Stefan.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
Or else what? But just for the record, it's Scottish Fine Soaps's outlet in Falkirk, Scotland.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
I’m not a big fan of MDC myself Robin but then again no one asked me (or you) for an opinion on MDC. So to give an unsolicited opinion on a subjective topic which is known to evoke a strong emotional response IS the very definition of trolling.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
To state your opinion in a way that will not offend everyone that disagrees with you is class and takes some time, humility and effort (for me anyways).
.
Oh, really?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
Attachment 302326
Actually, it isn't. But, yes, there was an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
True. I found mainaman's response a bit over the top, too. But as I said, all is forgiven.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
Back on topic, though, I find it interesting that no-one seems to be able to focus on the actual issue at hand, ie the difference in price between OEM and "brand" product. And do not get me wrong, these are first in tier products. Just imagine what the markup on made-from-Chinese-import-base-products stuff might be. PAA, anyone?
The point Robin was making is that someone is probably making a profit selling these quality soaps at a low price while we habitually pay high prices for soaps that are not necessarily any better. We willingly pay these prices largely because of brand names that we associate with quality. For myself, I am perfectly happy using the various Proraso products, MWF and an Australian pharmacy brand that sells for a few dollars. I've tried a few high end products and have found that they aren't that much better (or better at all) than my regulars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
Not quite. Actually the other way round. I bought these soaps from an OEM. They have been selling them at about that price for years. They are simply unmarked, and unpackaged. Now compare the bulk price to that of the finished product. The difference is, really, quite unusual.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maladroit
And as I said, this is a high quality product made in the EU (for another few weeks) using EU ingredients.
Now think how much jucier your profit gets if you use God-knows-what as ingredients.
I have often said that MdC would not pass a double blind test against, most "mainstream" soaps. Especially against very similar French soaps that cost half as much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maladroit
But if I'd wanted to make this about MdC, I would have said so. This is really about our perception of price, and what is an "expensive" product.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
RobinQuote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
Just to clarify is it T&H or Scottish Fine soaps?
What would it matter if it were the latter? [It isn't]Quote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
Why is everyone fixated on brands? Even if it were Arko, the markup would be remarkable. And that's really the point here.
Regardless of brand, aren’t those who create something and get paid for it through their mark ups entitle to a profit? Otherwise I see us making our own soaps. I build things for a living and sell my labor, experience, and talent to a consumer. Does that mean I don’t deserve to be paid, because I can essentially produce it for free? I fail to follow your logic or motivation for starting this thread given the direction you’ve taken it. It brings nothing to the table.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
Just wondering, not fixated, though I am a sucker for products with a Royal Warrant. Yes the mark up is remarkable (as I said above)Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
I am always tempted by the easy math problems since the hard ones are out of my league so I'll give it a try ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
£1.90/5=£0.38~$.50ea
I'm not sure what's the bulk price that this store buys them at, so I'll assume half of it (hopefully I'm in the correct order of magnitude), i.e. both T&H and that shop in Scotland are paying £0.20 a puck. (Well may be due to the presumably larger volume T&H may be paying a bit less but then they have the additional cost of the paper box). So T&H has a 17/.20=8500% markup.
Of course, they have more expenses - their retail stores are in more expensive locations, their corporate overhead presumably larger than the Scottish shop and so on.
Of course, in our modern economy a 'brand' has a value - we as consumers apparently value it i.e. we are willing to pay for it and for what we perceive it brings on top of the actual product. Correspondingly the supply side spends money and effort (sometimes considerable) to develop brands and especially our perception of the high value of those brands.
In any case to me it's an interesting aspect of us humans - what is it we value and how we can sometimes extend it beyond what is justifiable and reasonable.
Ain't that the truth.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
Bob
Other than RobinK bragging about the fact he can find good soap crazy cheap, allegedly, and by comparison we all over pay for our soap, I do not understand what this thread is about. Are we all suppose to praise him for being such a good shopper while he chastises us for buying over priced soap? This is the most pointless thread I have ever read.
Robin,
Did you purchase this bundle on line or from a brick and mortar store? And where? I seem to have missed the source. Either way, you're lucky, my friend, for having such bundled European products are within reach for you.
I hear mentioned the bundle consists of either Scottish Fine Soaps or Truefitt & Hill. I like Truefitt and Hill and not so Scottish Fine Soaps. Either way, that bundle is a fabulous bargain. Indeed, when you think about it, the markup on shaving products is astronomical.
Good show, Robin. Indeed, a good find.
This. Human behavior is very interesting and exciting. You see this phenomenon in many areas of life. For instance, you can have the EXACT same product sitting on a shelf right next to each other. One is in a plain package and the other in a package that many might find attractive. Even though the "plain" package is exactly the same product and much cheaper, some will consistently pick the other. Why? For some, one reason is the package (and brand name) is part of the "experience". The price can even part of the "experience". People will report that the fancy packaged, high dollar item is better and they are not totally wrong even though the product is the same. They have a better experience with one over the other simply because the experience they are having is not totally about practicality. It is in part subjective but then again much of our life experiences include subjectivity. I may feel better when I am dressed in a suit whereas someone else may feel better ditching the suit and tie. Either way, our clothing can affect our mood and not necessarily from an objective sense but from, in part, a subjective sense.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
Take our hobby of wet shaving. I am not saving money or time and in fact the opposite is true and for what? A BBS shave. Really? I am laughing as I type this. No. My wife thinks I am nuts to spend all this money on razors, soaps, aftershave, strops, etc. to get a BBS shave that most days no one notices and she is wrong. I enjoy it immensely and that is all the justification I need. So, sometimes, value is not always about price. Sometimes, it is about the overall experience. If buying an expensive soap adds to your experience, enjoy it. Enjoy the hell out of it and you don't need anymore justification than that. If buying inexpensive soaps adds to your experience, enjoy it. Enjoy the hell out of it and you don't need anymore justification than that.
I can assure you Robin, that your mark up on the brands you hawk are quite high also. plus what one man pays is his right and if you can afford it why not? I like MDC cause in a blind test I can tell, and its what I like because its the one that does it for me, and as ive said many times its not expensive and the numbers prove that. I compared to that brand you were so high on M&T. its half the amount in the jar and its half the price, so its the same, and you can talk about ingredients all day long, they were no better than Arko. hell maybe because your affiliated with some of these products you are self proclaimed an expert on all the makings of soap or razors or brushes, yet maybe you have and issue with price because you cant afford it. not my fault or anyone else that you always take issue with others and their choices.
why do you even come here any more? troll on by and stir the crap, must be a German thing, Lynn,s the same. but your intitled to your opinion, but you may want to stop acting like your above us all here, I can assure you that your not above me. plus in person you wouldn't get snippy with me. we all like the info here, and yours is welcome, but I for one don't hold it is as much regard as you seem to. that's it and now ive got that off my chest, plus I don't think the soap you advertised is that good. by the way let go of the war man,, we won
Gentlemen,
Let's maintain our civility.
Everyone here on the forum is entitled to his opinion. That includes Robin. I read Robin's opening post, digested it, and then moved on. Agree or disagree with his opinion, I suggest moving on.
In the end, we're talking about shaving soap, not national security. In the wet shaving world, as you well know, opinions are opinions, and everyone is welcome to his opinion. For example, I like Martin de Candre, but some don't. That's fine with me. To each his own.
What's a good price for one shaver may not be for another. So I shrug my shoulders and pour myself another glass of wine.
Sorry, Ivan, I thought that had become clear earlier on: That is not a shop. That is a factory outlet. They make these soaps. Like Creightons allegedly make all the creams for the big English brands.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
Dear Obie, as stated previously, that is the factory outlet for Scottish Fine Soaps. Very much brick and mortar. Obviously, you need to go on site to shop there. N Main St, Carronshore, Falkirk FK2 8HT, UK.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
It is T&H made by SFS. Just like Klar Seifen are an OEM for various other brands. But if you think that markup is astronomical, think again. I also bought a few pucks of a well known, massively hyped Italian soap there. Same price. Speaking of putting prices into perspective... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Truth be told, I have been telling you guys about that outlet for years. Granted, it's a wee bit off the beaten track, but still...Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
I cannot remember "hawking" any brands. Links, or it never happened.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, my friend.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
I can see that you have difficulty writing in English. But can you maybe read it? If so, you might find this article here helpful.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
Because I believe that people with an IQ > 80 will find some background information I provide useful. I realise that this puts you firmly outside the target group, but I am sure you can still contribute valuable insights into the finer points of honing. You know, the really challenging stuff?Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
Really? I think I have some alternative facts, and a wall to sell to you. ��Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
And that's it. Obie is right. Life is too short to waste time with futile arguments.
Robin,
Thanks for your thoughts.
Man, I'd love to go to that store. I'd probably go nuts buying up the place. And when I return home, I'll find the dearly beloved standing over my bed with an ax. OY!
And so, gentlemen, we've said everything that needs be set about this topic. Let's move on.
Thanks.
OK when things get personal it's all she wrote here.
