The High Cost of DE Razors

[tomcj2]

According to Wikipedia,  

The first [Gillette] safety razor using the new disposable blade went on sale in 1903

  and  

Gillette's razor retailed for a substantial $5 (about $134 in 2006 dollars) — half the average working man's weekly pay

I guess we should not mind paying $30 or $40 (US) for a new razor today.

[mahaw90]

Interesting

[Slynito]

I'm sure that Gillette Super Speed and the adjustable were 5U$D or less even in the 1960s...I agree that a high quality Merkur or Mick Jagger is worth what they ask.

[Laser Man]

The trade-off in cost between the razor and the blades is the difference.  A Fusion razor costs next to nothing, but the cartridges are expensive.  A good DE like a Merkur or Edwin Jagger costs $30 or $40, but the blades are very inexpensive (and many varieties are available).  A Fusion cartridge will set you back $7; a DE blade costs $1 or less. 

[Slynito]

The trade-off in cost between the razor and the blades is the difference.  A Fusion razor costs next to nothing, but the cartridges are expensive.  A good DE like a Merkur or Edwin Jagger costs $30 or $40, but the blades are very inexpensive (and many varieties are available).  A Fusion cartridge will set you back $7; a DE blade costs $1 or less. 

You are so right...I saw my Fusion on sale for $5 including a couple blades and had to have it...I felt like a thief. But when it reload time, ouch!

[Blitzed]

I'm sure that Gillette Super Speed and the adjustable were 5U$D or less even in the 1960s...I agree that a high quality Merkur or Mick Jagger is worth what they ask.

I have no opinon on Mick Jagger although I'm older than he is by quite a bit. However, the Merkur is another matter. I found the purchase reasonable for what I got. The blades are equally well priced and, to me, last a helluva lot longer and deliver a closer, smoother shave. For whatever reason I've never quite got the knack of using it on my head but that has more to do with having MS than my basic lack of dexterity.

[Mikekoz13]

I have an Edwin Jegger DE89L and it is an EXCELLENT razor. I paid about $38 for it. A steal when you figure that it will literally last a lifetime and blades average about 50 cents each.

[tomcj2]

According to http://www.westegg.com/inflation/$5 in 1965 is equivalent to $35.17 in 2011 due to inflation..

[Switchy]

I have an Edwin Jegger DE89L and it is an EXCELLENT razor. I paid about $38 for it. A steal when you figure that it will literally last a lifetime and blades average about 50 cents each.

I will go with Mike on this matter and the others.  I have shaved with the Fusion and the Hydro 5 .  Both are good razors and the blades  are way over priced. So have been shaving the face with DE and I will buy a nice one soon as the old ones work but not as nice as some that I could get.  Also love the soap and brush.  I keep it simple as possible. But like good items.  And as Mike said  will literally last a lifetime and price of blades are much cheaper.

Happy New Year ! 

[Big Kahuna]

I have an Edwin Jegger DE89L and it is an EXCELLENT razor. I paid about $38 for it. A steal when you figure that it will literally last a lifetime and blades average about 50 cents each.

Just received my shiny new EJ DE89L.  It's beautiful and I can't wait until my morning shave!  Do you use yours for your dome too or just your face MikeOz?

[Mikekoz13]

I have an Edwin Jegger DE89L and it is an EXCELLENT razor. I paid about $38 for it. A steal when you figure that it will literally last a lifetime and blades average about 50 cents each.

Just received my shiny new EJ DE89L.  It's beautiful and I can't wait until my morning shave!  Do you use yours for your dome too or just your face MikeOz?

I've used it on my head multiple times but I just prefer my HeadBlade in the shower for shaving my head.

[Blitzed]

Just now this is a painful topic as, yesterday, I shelled out $27.50 for a very sealed box of 10 (ten!!!) Gillette cartridges. Earlier yesterday I wrote up a comment, a peaen to my Merkur. Apparently I learned nothing. The package of ten Merkur blades I have cost about ten dollars. I've used three and, admittedly, there was a long pause, but shaving both my head and my face, I got weeks of excellent quality shaves from one blade. If I dropped one it didn't break, I didn't have to have the clerk at checkout unseal the pilfer proved box and, if I step on one=and why would I?=the insurance company will pay for the repairs to me and someone else will clean up the mess.

What's the thinking on why these cartridges are so damn expensive? It's one of those things you cannot make at home yourself and the techology involved isn't even near rocket science. So my Merkur and I will get to be on much more intimate terms starting today.

[waine]

Intresting post...

The high cost of a quality DE razor is worth every cent in my books.  It is a life time investment for something of mechanical beauty that I will use every day of my life delivering a quality shave while I save on blades.  It eventually “pays itself off.”  Besides, it is fun to do the whole traditional wet shaving ritual and experimenting with different t blades.  I actually enjoy shaving now (especially with my latest acquisition – the Merkur 23C)

For me, I will never touch the rip off plastic on my face ever again.  It seems madness that I supported the expensive triple and quad blade companies for so many years before I saw the DE light! 

Hopefully I will pass this amazing tradition down to my grandson one day!

[mahaw90]

Waine do you use the DE on your head aswell?

[eric79]

The funny thing is you will shave with a DE for a while and start looking at SR next. I go back and forth between a SR and a DE for my face. I use only a DE for my head I dont have the comfort factor for a SR on my head yet. Once you go over to the DE side it is rare that they go back to a cartridge again.

You don't have to pay a lot for a good DE you can find tons of older DE on ebay and forums for under 30 bucks.  All some of them need is a good cleaning.

Eric