Anyone else have a problem with "Wallmart blades" lately?

[steve426536]

New here, been using a double edge for about a year now so not new to shaving with it (anymore) and have my technique down.

Anyway, my DE (a '58 Gillette Super-Speed TV Special) came with a pack of Personna blades (don't remember specifically what they were), used them, had no issues with them, but ran out and I NEEDED blades that day. So I head over to CVS and pick up a pack of their house brand blades figuring they'd be better than nothing, and much to my surprise they gave me about the same shave as the Personnas. Used them up, and found the exact same blades at Meijer for a few less $$, bought 2 10 packs. First pack were fine, same as the CVS ones all the way down to the markings on the blades and how long they would last me (4 shaves-2 per side of the blade).

The second pack however, is a different story. There is no difference between them and the first pack visably, packaging was identical the blades are identical, the little blade holder is identical. But they are crap. I'm only getting 2 shaves out of them if I'm lucky. Today I went to shave with what was a new blade yesterday, and I think I'd have been better off trying to shave with a steak knife. Made 1 pass on my neck and got the worst irritation I've had since switching to a DE, so that blade went away and a fresh one installed. Granted my beard is thick, and my neck is very sensitive (the entire reason I tried a DE in the first place was because nothing else worked), but ***.

Guess I'm wondering if anyone else uses these (they are the same ones found at Wallmart and elsewhere), and if anyone has noticed a decline in quality recently.

Also, feel free to suggest me some better blades, I will obviously have to get some in the very near future.

 

[Nick Danger]

I have never used Walmart blades. However, if you want to try a reliable blade that is sold at a very reasonable price, consider ordering a bulk pack of Astra SP blades. At Amazon.com, you can get 100 Astra SP blades for under 10 bucks. I find them very smooth and reasonably sharp - not Feather sharp, but more than sharp enough. I've also never encountered a bad Astra blade in a given pack, which definitely was not true for me with other budget brands like Derby blades.

Nick

 

[boogieman_]

I had terrible luck with walmart wilkies about 9 months ago. It was like using a rusty pocket knife.

 

[dcobranchi]

I had terrible luck with walmart wilkies about 9 months ago. It was like using a rusty pocket knife.
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My experience exactly. I binned the 1st blade after 1/2 pass. The 2nd blade lasted one pass. I didn't give them a third attempt.

 

[JFielder23]

The Wilks I learned on weren't the worst (maybe I'll revisit them sometime for kicks). As others have said... if you want some fairly inexpensive blades that just work, the astra sp's aren't bad (not super smooth for me), also look on eBay for 100 packs of personna lab blades for 13 bucks free shipping. I have heard plenty of positive things about those, have yet to try them though. I plan to soon though.

 

[Mandina]

Any brand of blade that works for one shaver may be lousy for another shaver. For example, Astra's don't work for me. I would purchase a sampler (such as from West Coast, etc.) and find out which one(s) of a wide variety work for you. Besides Astras, there are inexpensive other blades to purchase online. In addition, Persona (which used to make the Walmart blades, before WM switched to Wilkinson Sword, driving Persona into bankruptcy; it's now owned by Everready [spelling?], which owns both the WS and Persona brands) makes many of the generic store brands (which also are sold as Crystals). Best of luck!

 

[wrm2012]

I'd agree with the others go get a bulk pack of Astra blades. The Walmart Wilkinsons are the harshest blades I've tried out of the few brands I have tried. I think they are different than they were in the past. As I tried them 3 years ago and thought they were not bad at all. I'm not a big beleiver in the sample packs. If you wanted to try a few different types read up on the blades that seem to work for most and just order a 5 or 10 pack of those. What ever you do buying blades over the net is going to be getting you a better blade at a cost of about the same or less if you get them in bulk. My last order was for a 100 Astras and through in a 10 pack of Feathers just to try them out. Before that I ordered 200 Derbies and I haven't gone back to buying locally ever since, not counting this summer when I forgot to pack some blades on a trip. So Walmart wilkinsons are what I had to use.

 

[El Judio Bravo]

Wally Wilks bite big bowwow for me. I had to cork them to avoid irritation. I've had no trouble with any ASR (Personna) blade except the Israeli-mfd Reds.

 

[steve426536]

I ordered 10 Astra SP today, will hopefully have them by the end of the week. Decided to spend a bit more per blade and get 10 of them, than end up with 95 of them I don't want if it turns out I don't like them.

I believe the blades I'm using actually are ASR blades, not the Wilks like I innitially thought. They were CVS blades, and Meijer blades, both store brands, and are in an identical holder and have the same markings as a Personna stainless steel blade.

Thanks for the suggestions BTW.

 

[nemo]

I've got no problem with them, as a matter of fact I used one today for a smooth Super Speed shave. The packs I have are six months old, black plastic box, and made in Germany.

 

[steve426536]

I know this isn't the correct section, but I didn't want to start a new thread and I figure it better to hijack my own thread than someone else's'.. I bought a '62 Gillette Slim Adjustable last night on the bay. I've wanted an adjustable for awhile now, and I lost out on 3 fatboys last night, saw that slim and figured WTH, ended up winning it for $25. That has the same estimated delivery date as the Astra SPs I have coming.

 

[retiredguns]

I just threw away a pack of Wally Wilkies. I wouldn't dare PIF them to a noobie as they were the harshest blades I have ever shaved with. To be fair they can still be serviceable but with so many choices it is hard to put them in rotation unless it's a last resort.

 

[dfigz]

Never like the Wal-Mart Wilks. Another option if you need blades is Dollar General's house brand ... which I believe are Dorcos ... and not bad for a $1.

 

[steve426536]

Got my astra's today. WOW so much better. The only irritation I got was on the spot on my neck that was still alittle raw from a couple of days ago. Even then, its no where near as bad as the other blades would do. Might have to skip that part of my neck for a couple of days tho to let my skin heal. They are infinitely smoother than those other blades, and I was confident enough to go XTG in my shave, which I would have never been able to do b4. Got the closest shave I've had since switching to a DE with 1/2 the irritation the cartridges would leave me with. The seller sent 2 Gillette 7 o'clock blue package blades too, so I'll have to try those too.