I bought the Gillette 7 O'Clock (Indian) version of this. It is green. I don't know if it is the exact same razor that is reviewed here, but it sure looks like it is. I bought it at a local Indian grocery store in Charlotte and it came with two blades of the same brand.
I have to say, I like this thing. It is very benign. Regrdless of the blade I use, I get a predictable, safe shave. I don't get a BBS shave with it, and I don't think anyone could, but it is very safe. For these reasons, cost and idiot-proof safety, I think it is a great razor for beginners. It's so safe, in fact, that it won't teach them to respect a DE razor, but it will win them over to DE shaving. I think you could explain to a beginner that the click is a good way to get over any anxiety about switching to DE shaving. Really, if they could live with getting their 5 O'Clock shadow at 3PM, and have a supply of these for when the hinge breaks, they could use these forever.
I think the hinge can be made to last if care is taken in opening it. Only open it as little as needed to slip the blade in and out and I think it will last a long time, maybe even a few years. We likely will never know though because none of use are likely to use one daily long enough to break it. Likely, we will use them occasionally, and if that is the case, the click might never break it's hinge.
The quality is about like the free toys that come in my kids' fast food meals. The click is not the stuff dreams are made of. But, one of these and a 100 count pack of Derbies will get someone a year's worth of shaves for about $10.00 and they don't need to even buy a styptic pencil. I can even shave with bath soap with this things and not get burned or nicked.
I have to say, I like this thing. It is very benign. Regrdless of the blade I use, I get a predictable, safe shave. I don't get a BBS shave with it, and I don't think anyone could, but it is very safe. For these reasons, cost and idiot-proof safety, I think it is a great razor for beginners. It's so safe, in fact, that it won't teach them to respect a DE razor, but it will win them over to DE shaving. I think you could explain to a beginner that the click is a good way to get over any anxiety about switching to DE shaving. Really, if they could live with getting their 5 O'Clock shadow at 3PM, and have a supply of these for when the hinge breaks, they could use these forever.
I think the hinge can be made to last if care is taken in opening it. Only open it as little as needed to slip the blade in and out and I think it will last a long time, maybe even a few years. We likely will never know though because none of use are likely to use one daily long enough to break it. Likely, we will use them occasionally, and if that is the case, the click might never break it's hinge.
The quality is about like the free toys that come in my kids' fast food meals. The click is not the stuff dreams are made of. But, one of these and a 100 count pack of Derbies will get someone a year's worth of shaves for about $10.00 and they don't need to even buy a styptic pencil. I can even shave with bath soap with this things and not get burned or nicked.