Thread: Question about a strop received in the mail

I bought a new 3' wide Beauty and barber strop, with a felt strop attached. Problem is it came with two nicks, i presume they are due to the way it was packed. Not sure if that's also why the metal thing is discoloured.


I told the seller. Now to decide what to do, do you guys think it's something that a lather and bottle treatment can fix? They look (and feel) like razor cuts and it bothers me since the wide strap was exactly to speed up my strapping without worrying for nicks. Or should i send it back?

It looks like a used rather than a new item - did you buy it as new? If so you have no problem with getting your money back. The nicks look like they have could been caused by the hardware - I dislike that sort of fixing even on high-end strops - it should have at least been wrapped in bubble wrap to protect the leather.

The nicks at the side and bottom of the strop shouldn't be too much of a problem, but unless you were made aware that they were there ask for your money back and get a decent strop (I'm only going by what people have written about these strops on another forum - the concensus was that they aren't very good - I have no personal experience of them so they could be OK).

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

It looks like a used[...] it should have at least been wrapped in bubble wrap to protect the leather.

It was listed as new. To be fair it was inside a long plastic bag, like the ones used for ties, i din't put it back on when i put the strop inside the shipping bag to take a picture. I also wanted to ask if is it safe to ship strops bent like that, in case the nicks are actually tears from the bending stress, or if even under pressure a basic strop shouldn't tear and as you say this is a used strop and those are razor nicks.

By the way here's the entire strop back and front.

Send it back. Either exchange or refund preferably. there are several Artisans on this forum and others that make great strops that are very affordable.

That is not an acceptable condition for a new strop and they should never be sent folded over to the point where the leather does not lay flat when removed from the packaging.

Is that one of the B&B strops on ebay? if so, get your money back and get something made by someone who knows what a strop is--Ken Rupkialvis at RupRazors, for example, has a fine beginner's strop for $20.

Originally Posted by JimR

Is that one of the B&B strops on ebay? if so, get your money back and get something made by someone who knows what a strop is--Ken Rupkialvis at RupRazors, for example, has a fine beginner's strop for $20.

Yea, I've heard those strops are total crap. Good luck with getting a refund.

I'm not sure the seller can be held accountable for the quality of the strop itself, maybe it's just a seller. I've read the wiki and i didn't realize that i would have to use superglue for nicks, sounds complicated, maybe i better start arranging a return.

Thats a fix for knicks you cause not in a strop that is sold as new.

Originally Posted by porue

It was listed as new. To be fair it was inside a long plastic bag, like the ones used for ties, i din't put it back on when i put the strop inside the shipping bag to take a picture. I also wanted to ask if is it safe to ship strops bent like that, in case the nicks are actually tears from the bending stress, or if even under pressure a basic strop shouldn't tear and as you say this is a used strop and those are razor nicks.

By the way here's the entire strop back and front.

I've purchased three strops so far and they have all come in sealed bags with bubble wrap around them in boxes long enough that they were laying flat the entire time. I am a complete noob as far as fixing strops, but since you bought it new I'd send it back and get a replacement.