Thread: April Special! $25 GD66, Shave Ready, Shipped Free to CONUS Address!

Originally Posted by Grazor

Another concerning issue is that you can buy said items delivered to your door for less than it costs to post it 100 miles from me, how is that possible? Working conditions and hourly rates must be fun to say the least..

Yea, no kidding.

Bob

Originally Posted by Grazor

How many on average do you trash?
QC on these is worse than 1850 England, and GD have been around long enough to sort it out.

No argument here. Though actually I suspect that the old Sheffield producers made a lot more lemons that were discarded over the last 170 years, mostly within the first year. I am sure that they dropped the ball a lot, on HT and Tempering, and you just don't see those razors today because before they could get to be antiques, they were discarded as junk. But yes, even though GD quality control has improved a lot, it still has a long way to go. No argument here.

Originally Posted by Grazor

I just don't get why they don't just step up the game a bit and charge more.
There are so many Chinese products like this that are hit and miss.

They try to go upmarket, with their 800 and 900. They just can't quite crack that nut. The fact is, they do not know how to make razors.

Originally Posted by Grazor

You can get a mid 50's quality cut throat for not much more, and sometimes less.

Yes, I can. You can. A newbie maybe can but it is hit or miss. And some guys you just can't convince that a "used, ewwwwww" razor is a worthwhile purchase. And then too there is the problem with honing. Now, I could scour fleabay for cheap vintages and pick a bunch of them up for $30 or so, some for $20, some few for even $10, but it would be an ongoing hunt, and even I can get fooled by deceptive pics on occasion. So then I hone them, tack on $5 or so for shipping, $15 or $20 for honing, and a few dollars plain old profit, pay for the lemons I bought, too, and you are looking at a $60 razor. Plus there are plenty of other guys doing that, already. And I would have to take pics and put up a listing individually for each and every razor. Meh. With my Gold Dollars, the buyer is getting a shave ready razor, with a free re-honing any time within a year of purchase, and return privileges for 30 days, for $25 for the 66, and $30 for the P81. He can buy from me, or he can buy elsewhere, and something else. Many buy from me. Those who don't, might get a good vintage, shave ready, shipped free, with a guarantee and a free rehone, for less than $25 but not likely. For twice that much, maybe. 3x that much, no problem. Some wannabe straight shavers know that they want a high grade razor, strop, brush, etc and don't mind spending the money. Some guys will only take the plunge if they can pick up the whole kit for what they figure is a reasonable price. After all, there are plenty of DE razors out there for $10 or so, and cheap blades, no strop required, no honing required... You can righteously and authoritively state that the newbie just needs to spend the money for high grade equipment, or else "simply" buy a good $20 vintage and hopefully get a good one and hopefully find someone to hone it, and start in with two big wild cards in the hand already. You aren't wrong! But my sales are proof that you aren't always right, either.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Can't recommend them to any one starting because of the honing gymnastics involved, it causes frustration for a beginner and it is probably the cause of many beginners giving up on what we know is the best way to shave after the initial learning curve.

Again, you are not wrong. In fact, I myself do not recommend these razors in the raw to a newbie. In fact, I do not recommend ANY razor that is not shave ready to a newbie. There are no honing gymnastics involved, once the bevel has been set and a proper edge worked up on the razor. All that is needed is a simple touchup. Or else, maintenance post-shave with a properly set up and properly used balsa strop.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Was surprised that you sent TC 1 OK razor and 1 crap razor that should have been trashed by the sounds of it..

The "crap" razor was not yet honed. Nor did I go through the pile and select the best one. I Just grabbed one out of the pile. I thought he might want to see a raw one, so I included it along with the honed one. The "OK" razor was honed. It may have even been worse than the other, before I honed it. I haven't ran across any that I couldn't hone, for quite some time now.

Originally Posted by Grazor

It's like those Damascus razors you see on ebay, someone needs to go to the forge and teach them how to do it right.

Not so. Those "Damascus" RSO's (many are simply acid etched with a pattern that only simulates pattern welded steel) are not sold domestically to buyers who will actually shave with them. Especially in Pakistan. Not many shaven faces there, and you won't see a Pakistani barber with a ZeePK in his hand, either. Gold Dollars and Gold Monkeys are actually sold and used locally in China. Big difference. Those razors you are talking about are meant to sell to the gullible. These Gold Dollar razors are meant to be used. Yes, they could really use a competent razorsmith at the Gold Dollar factory to iron out some disturbing details, but as you know, Chinese manufacturing philosophy is all about "good enough" and keep the volume up. Don't slow down the line! But good enough apparently is good enough. I shaved with one of my P81s this morning. It was good enough. My face doesn't feel any different than after shaving with Solingen steel.

Originally Posted by Grazor

People will buy cheap to save a buck, but do the math and it does not add up if you have to replace it within 2 years, or it doesn't work at all.

Why would you have to replace it in two years? I don't get it. I really don't. Could you explain why it would have to be replaced in two years? And why would it not work at all? Mystery. Hystery. I am sensing some hate there. Enough hate to grasp at the most insubstantial straws and spew out the most illogical arguments. There is no reason why it would need replacing in two years or for it not to work at all. It is a razor. That's all. It is honed and ready for use. You seem desperate to discredit my product but I am still waiting to hear anything substantial...

Originally Posted by Grazor

Another concerning issue is that you can buy said items delivered to your door for less than it costs to post it 100 miles from me, how is that possible? Working conditions and hourly rates must be fun to say the least..

So how do I improve working conditions? Oh yeah... stop buying the product. Sure, THAT will raise those wages!

Thanks for your comments. I will point out that they are off topic here, though I did rise to the bait rather than have your post deleted. The thing is, there are a few haters here, and a lot of guys just parroting them, and a lot of the most insensible arguments imaginable, and no clearly stated objective. What is your objective? To discourage me from selling? I don't get it. Buyers buy, anyway, no matter what, because not everyone out there makes $160k/year or even $60k or even $30k or I could go on but that would be depressing. Some guys just can't budget any more for something to shave with, when those blue plastic things are so cheap and the rent is overdue and one kid needs braces and they all need shoes. FACT. I have a market. FACT. I serve that market well. I am not trying to take business away from "artisans" or sellers of $100 to $350 razors. Mine is very much a bottom-feeding operation. Don't like it? Or you are just swayed because one of your heroes doesn't like it? Or just attempting to take the high moral road and sound righteous? Too bad. If you want me to stop selling these razors, I need to see a darn good reason to do so. If you want others to stop buying them, that is gonna be even harder, because the market is there. Meet it, or beat it, either better product and service for the same price, or same product and service for a lower price. But you aren't making a dent. My position is unassailable. Shave ready razor, starting at $25, no questions return policy, and one free rehoning. I might even drop it down another five bucks. Would that make you happy, or sad? Actually, no, I won't, because my supply lines aren't keeping up right now due to virus related shipping issues. But when I can order 100 and get them in 20 days or less like the old days, I might just see how many I can hone in a day and fix a sales/price target to match. But I am guessing that would just tick certain people off even more. How much is this razor and this level of customer service worth, do you think? Please, even if you ignore the rest of this post, answer that question, and answer it honestly and knowledgeably, without just repeating stuff you have heard.

In 8 years I have commented once before on the GD debate, shouldn't have bothered.

Was recommended to try a gold monkey because they were supposedly better,
that thing would not take an edge. Maybe I should have purchased 3 in the hope of getting 1 good razor,
maybe it was a fake clone, nothing would surprise me out of China.

Next was a gold dollar that was sent to me shave ready, and yep it shaved a treat.
That guy sure did know how to hone.
Then I purchased one straight from the bay. Got it shaving OK but there were issues with geometry.
Honed with no tape was the answer.

I don't oil my razors in storage because they are kept in a dry environment.
Both GD razors developed surface rust within 6 months.

"Those "Damascus" RSO's (many are simply acid etched with a pattern that only simulates pattern welded steel) are not sold domestically to buyers who will actually shave with them."

I have seen so many people buy them, ask a couple of questions here and then disappear.
They are marketed as a razor on popular auction sites.


"Why would you have to replace it in two years? I don't get it. I really don't. Could you explain why it would have to be replaced in two years? And why would it not work at all? Mystery. Hystery. I am sensing some hate there."

Referring to Chinese products in general there, not razors.
The "good enough" philosophy is morally wrong in my opinion, remember buying a drill or other electric tool that lasted 20 years? Land fills are overwhelmed with "good enough". There is no interest in repairing these products because it's cheaper to just buy another. Not hate, more disappointment.

" What is your objective? To discourage me from selling?"

My recommendation has always been the same, buy the best you can from a reputable brand and get it honed by someone that knows how when starting out. This saves a lot of disappointment and frustration.
I have no objection to you selling them.

"Don't like it? Or you are just swayed because one of your heroes doesn't like it? Or just attempting to take the high moral road and sound righteous?"

Not jumping on anyone's bandwagon, talking from experience. My "heroes" don't frequent this forum...

"How much is this razor and this level of customer service worth, do you think? Please, even if you ignore the rest of this post, answer that question, and answer it honestly and knowledgeably, without just repeating stuff you have heard."

Very fair price. Can't imagine you make a fortune out of them.
You just kind of dropped the ball by sending out a razor with what sounds like a frown.

Now answer my initial question, how many per say 100 do you trash?

Anyway, best of luck in your venture. If there is anything I hate it's typing...

..........My recommendation has always been the same, buy the best you can from a reputable brand and get it honed by someone that knows how when starting out. This saves a lot of disappointment and frustration.


This!

I thought I did answer your question. I haven't trashed one in a long time. Out of probably the last 100, that would be zero. Before that, mostly it was victims of overenthusiastic application to grinders, sanders, dremels, etc and so there were a few of them back in the day, usually when I was modding them. Of course different people have different tolerance to defects and different levels of willingness to straighten them out. Some guys if you give them 100 raw Gold Dollars, they will cheerfully toss a few rather than spend any time on them. And that's okay. They are $4 razors and you can get more. I will contrast them to factory fresh Dovo "Best Quality" razors, which cost rather too much to discard, even though their blades can be every bit as wonky. The only three I have ever owned had issues. But at $60 or $70 each, you really would not want to toss very many of them, and if you touch it to a hone, you can forget about returning it to Dovo. But you don't hear guys screaming about poor quality from Dovo. And now they are what... probably $90, $100? Don't get me wrong, I love my Bismarcks, yeah, so don't think I am trashing the brand, just the model. If a GD66 cost as much as a "Best", they wouldn't get tossed, either. And like I said, I haven't tossed any in recent memory. Haven't had to. And so far nobody has ever returned one, even though I would accept a return, no questions asked.

No, I don't make a lot of money selling them. That's okay. I make a little, and I get razors into eager hands. I feel okay about what I am doing. I am retired. I get a check every month. I have investments, though some are not doing so well right now. (HINT... buying SQQQ can be a good way to not watch all of your money evaporate when the market is crashing). In another year I will get my social security and then I will have two checks every month. I don't need to make a pile of money from selling. I used to enjoy my flea market days, netting less than $200 on a good day, $40 or so on a slow one. I usually had an audience, if I was honing, actually. It was kinda fun and this is still kinda fun. It's not a career. I would not advise anyone do this for a living, without another source of income.

If I had noticed the frown, even though my intention was to just send a random unhoned razor along with the honed one, I probably would have retained it because I definitely know how to deal with a frown and most guys fiddle around wasting time and steel and still end up with a frown.

My razors are already honed. Poorly ground razors are not an issue for my buyers. I deal with them quickly, starting with as coarse a medium as I think I need to gitter done, and no playing around with the "bevel setter" before the razor is ready for it.

Bad news: I don't see any sign that my last two orders of GD66 are moving. These orders were placed with a Chinese reseller that has always given me great service and prices in the past, but the problem seems to be that many shippers are not shipping anything but masks and other protective clothing and supplies.

Good news: The factory seems to have gotten their act together on getting the product airborne and I am confident enough that I just pulled the trigger on 100 Gold Monkey 666 razors and 100 Gold Dollar 208 razors, with 3 day lead time and no more than 10 day idle time sitting in the forwarder's warehouse. So I should have these inside three weeks. Several people have asked about 208's and 800's but I find that the price for the 800 is a bit high for the quality of the grinding, which is only marginally better than the cheaper models. I have sent the 800 that I recently received to someone who will be testing it with an X-Ray Flourescence gun, for an assay of the alloy used in the razor which is claimed to be Stainless Steel, but is said by many of our peers to be carbon steel. However I don't see why substituting SS for the carbon steel would justify $21+ price from the factory. Scales are still ABS and cheaply made. Grind is still manageable for an intrepid and enterprising honer, but shall we say inexpertly done. So I will probably NOT be selling GD800's on my site. I would have to sell them at around $45/each, shipped, and I don't think buyers would beat a path to my website for a $45 Gold Dollar. The 208 is ground at least as well as the 800 and I can afford to sell it pretty cheap. The 666 will probably replace the 66 in my lineup when I run out of them, if I like them. I have only seen the 777 model and it seemed okay, haven't really messed with them much yet.

Still haven't got around to making another batch of strops. I still have two of the Working Man strops left, and a couple more in the shop that I haven't listed yet on the site. Sometime this week I will get some more strops ready to sell and listed on the site, and I will put together a couple of DIY strop kits.

You are tenacious! I'll give you that. Your determination is something that not a lot of people process or even know how to channel. Unfortunately for you, you are up against a some fordable experts that know quality and have many years of experience. I trust their judgment and their advice. I have always gotten great results listening to these wise men. I have always gotten quality!

I wish you much luck in selling your razors! Just don't be too disappointed in your sales numbers here.

Probably right about the shipping issue CCR.

Ordered something from China April 2nd. Still waiting....

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

You are tenacious! I'll give you that. Your determination is something that not a lot of people process or even know how to channel. Unfortunately for you, you are up against a some fordable experts that know quality and have many years of experience. I trust their judgment and their advice. I have always gotten great results listening to these wise men. I have always gotten quality!

I wish you much luck in selling your razors! Just don't be too disappointed in your sales numbers here.

Thanks. I am not really targeting those "experts". They know how to pick a likely looking vintage razor, or else they can afford a big name new razor. Those aren't the guys who will be drawn to a $25 to $35 shave ready, money back guaranteed, Chinese straight razor with a free re-honing thrown in. I don't expect many of my peers to be buying these razors.

My sales so far since I resumed selling online haven't been disappointing at all. This isn't a career, anyway. I don't need the money all that much. I just want to sort of pay for my hobbies a bit and bring new guys into the straight shaving fold. TBH if I was selling a dozen razors a day I would quit. Too much work. Honing. Testing. Sanitizing and packing. Shipping. Ordering. Website and ebay listing management. I have other demands on my time. Projects started and not completed. Beer to brew and drink. If I only sell a dozen razors or strops a week, that is more than enough to make it worthwhile but not so much that it is a big PITA.

The gd vs other razors "thing" been going on a long while. And been beat to death. I've heard it all. "Break them in half, they rust (carbon steel rusts all of it and fast lol) they're made from recycled refrigerators (steel can be recycled infinitely) . The steel is way too hard, it's way too soft. It's stainless, it rusts, blah blah blah. End of the day I would bet they sell more straight razors than every other maker combined. Beefy razor that can be had for cheap. The only objection I get is it's from china. And some people prefer to buy their goods from elsewhere. That I get. But the rest of it is baloney. My first razors were vintages and several new. I stood away from gds because of the advice I got. But bought 10 anyway. And managed to prove to myself (you have to believe your own eyes) that they can easily be made to shave with the best of them. Now most pricey straight have lot of frills. Like gold wash, fancy scales, etching. Which are nice things to have but have absolutely nothing to do with shave quality. Like a paint job ever won any race anywhere. Anyway just calling it the way I see it.