OK, I do get wanting some variety. I just started about a month ago and I can already see that different blades have different characteristics. Then, different blades perform differently in different razors. So, I can see having 2-5 favorites on hand. So, my question isn't really about that.
Why when so many people go 5-10 shaves or more with the same blade, and many people don't shave daily (or nearly everyday), do so many people buy multiple hundred packs? I have gone 3-5 shaves so far before I decide to go to a new blade to insure I'm not introducing variables (a dull blade) other than the blade itself, the razor, and my technique while I figure out what I like, but with some I am sure it would have easily gone more. Ok, so if we assume you only go 3-4 shaves per blade, and you shave daily, 100 blades is still a years worth of shaves.
OK, fine, when the price of blades in bulk is so low, there is no real value in buying smaller amounts. When a 5 blade tuck of most brands online is $3-5, 15-25 is around $5-6, and 100 is around $10 (and rarely more than $15). If you are going to use them, buying in 100 blade packs is definitely more economical. I can certainly see buying 100 of 2 or 3 of your favorites (that is several years worth), but for others you use less often, the small savings of buying a smaller amount, that will still last a long time, is still a savings. When some people have 100-200 of many different blades, I don't get it (when will you ever use them all).
Anyway, for my real question... I'm not questioning anyone who likes to collect blades. There are many reasons someone might: they may gift their favorites to people to try or several to new shavers to try some variety, they may want variety and the prices are low enough to buy enough of your lesser used blades to have a lifetime supply (so why not), several hundred of several of your favorites can be a lifetime supply (at a reasonable price) so why not guard against a favorite being discontinued or a change in quality, etc...
I don't see myself buying several hundred of a bunch of razor blades. I see maybe buying 100 of 2 or 3 of my favorites that I expect to stay constant favorites after I've sampled several blades to see what my favorites truly are. I may buy 20-50 of my next 3 or 4 favorites for variety (and what is on my list for those next 3 or 4 will probably periodically change).
So, is it too early to buy a 100 pack? While I am still sampling (I do have a 16 blade sampler, one blade each, though I've been going with 5-20 of blades I want to try), I do have 2 (out of the 4 I've tried) that I expect to stay on my list a long time. I didn't like the Derby much, I liked the Shark SC a lot, and I am loving the Astra SP and the Personna Red. Is it too early to buy a 100 pack of one or both? I want to buy more Astras, and I'm looking at about $6 for 20 or 30 (depending upon the seller) and about $12 for 100. Or, at this point, should I just be buying variety to see what I like?
Why when so many people go 5-10 shaves or more with the same blade, and many people don't shave daily (or nearly everyday), do so many people buy multiple hundred packs? I have gone 3-5 shaves so far before I decide to go to a new blade to insure I'm not introducing variables (a dull blade) other than the blade itself, the razor, and my technique while I figure out what I like, but with some I am sure it would have easily gone more. Ok, so if we assume you only go 3-4 shaves per blade, and you shave daily, 100 blades is still a years worth of shaves.
OK, fine, when the price of blades in bulk is so low, there is no real value in buying smaller amounts. When a 5 blade tuck of most brands online is $3-5, 15-25 is around $5-6, and 100 is around $10 (and rarely more than $15). If you are going to use them, buying in 100 blade packs is definitely more economical. I can certainly see buying 100 of 2 or 3 of your favorites (that is several years worth), but for others you use less often, the small savings of buying a smaller amount, that will still last a long time, is still a savings. When some people have 100-200 of many different blades, I don't get it (when will you ever use them all).
Anyway, for my real question... I'm not questioning anyone who likes to collect blades. There are many reasons someone might: they may gift their favorites to people to try or several to new shavers to try some variety, they may want variety and the prices are low enough to buy enough of your lesser used blades to have a lifetime supply (so why not), several hundred of several of your favorites can be a lifetime supply (at a reasonable price) so why not guard against a favorite being discontinued or a change in quality, etc...
I don't see myself buying several hundred of a bunch of razor blades. I see maybe buying 100 of 2 or 3 of my favorites that I expect to stay constant favorites after I've sampled several blades to see what my favorites truly are. I may buy 20-50 of my next 3 or 4 favorites for variety (and what is on my list for those next 3 or 4 will probably periodically change).
So, is it too early to buy a 100 pack? While I am still sampling (I do have a 16 blade sampler, one blade each, though I've been going with 5-20 of blades I want to try), I do have 2 (out of the 4 I've tried) that I expect to stay on my list a long time. I didn't like the Derby much, I liked the Shark SC a lot, and I am loving the Astra SP and the Personna Red. Is it too early to buy a 100 pack of one or both? I want to buy more Astras, and I'm looking at about $6 for 20 or 30 (depending upon the seller) and about $12 for 100. Or, at this point, should I just be buying variety to see what I like?