Let's go there. Who here has noticed that prices for Fatboy's or other in demand DE razors seem to be increasing in price with every passing month? Is this a supply and demand issue, RAD (Razor Acquisition Disorder) epidemic, signs of a recovering economy or some other reason not mentioned?
Are RAD afflictions a growing epidemic and driving up prices on vintage Razors?
- Thread starter BRITD
- Start date
I don't know...could be.
DE shaving is a tiny minority of the population, but there is some growth.
The vintage razors have a limited supply, every year there are less because some are lost or destroyed and they are not being made any more.
currently vintage is in.
I remember a long time ago people were not interested in old things.
I think e-bay and other sights have something to do with it. Every one can look up and price what ever they have, and every one thinks that what they have is a Valuable Antique, so they ask the highest price they can find.
DE shaving is a tiny minority of the population, but there is some growth.
The vintage razors have a limited supply, every year there are less because some are lost or destroyed and they are not being made any more.
currently vintage is in.
I remember a long time ago people were not interested in old things.
I think e-bay and other sights have something to do with it. Every one can look up and price what ever they have, and every one thinks that what they have is a Valuable Antique, so they ask the highest price they can find.
If it is any indication on how wet shaving has taken off in the last few years ,you can use a brick and mortar store(Imperial Shaving) as a model. They opened a few years ago in their current store front due to the fact that they were too large to continue as a home based business. I live near by and ask the owner how sales were. He told me that he has difficulty keeping items in stock as the demand is so great. With that thought in mind, a high demand for soaps,creams and brushes translates in a need for razors. This is just one store and when you add AOS and the online vendors the need increases dramatically. The price in the antique malls has increased 200% as the dealers have found out where the market is. E-Bay becomes the easiest source for razors and as the need increases so will the prices. My own example is this: 4 years ago I sold a Fatboy in excellent condition complete with case and thought the price was high at 50.00.. I sold a toggle in very good shape for 100.00 ... Try and touch those prices in the market today. I really don't see the prices going down. Sorry for the run on paragraph.. I can't get the lines to break ..
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Blame the hipsters.
The boomers control most of this and are buying back their youth. They're leading the DE charge and the vintage hype as they've led most trends throughout their lives. Others follow along but aren't the volume buyers IMO.
This. Of course, if someone gives them that higher price, bully for them.
Nostalgia runs with the life cycle of the "cohort" group. The boomers can remember and relate to DE, hence the nostalgia interest. The following generation will only recall multiblades; for them, 'vintage' DE razors will be judged more on function and less on emotion. This was explained to me by a nursing home manager who observed that the 'treasures' of deceased residents were so often trashed by their surviving children.
Many valid points here. I never considered the Boomer factor before. That, plus the general increased interest
in DE shaving will keep prices high for a while.
in DE shaving will keep prices high for a while.
I think it's RAD causing it.
All anyone selling razors needs to do is post on a few shaving forums about how great razor X is, then put razor X on an auction site and wait for a bidding war.
I would say there isnt much interest in old razors in many places other than shaving forums.
Other sellers will see the prices other old razors like the one they are selling went for, and price accordingly.
All anyone selling razors needs to do is post on a few shaving forums about how great razor X is, then put razor X on an auction site and wait for a bidding war.
I would say there isnt much interest in old razors in many places other than shaving forums.
Other sellers will see the prices other old razors like the one they are selling went for, and price accordingly.
There is definitely a demand for vintage shaving razors and equipment in my area that isn't being fulfilled. In the past 3 days I've been to 5 thrift stores and every one of them told me that when they get something in it is bought the same day (I even got pity looks from people at 2 of the stores). Demand is up right now and to me that makes prices going up seem really natural.
All collectibles are going up in value - a combination of eBay making price shopping easy, all those antique hunters TV shows and the natural market forces as supply of razors/muscle cars/barbie dolls/salt cellars/etc still in the wild gets smaller every year.
Yes.
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- #15
When it comes to RAD, I understand collecting and owning different razors. What I don't understand is owning multiples of the exact same razor.
I have seen dramatically rising prices on Ebay and from knoledgeable collectors. I think it's a function of two things--1. Razors regularly sell. 2. If no one is complaining, then your prices are generally too low. Fortunately, there are still many dealers who have no idea of the value of DE's. There is one antique dealer in my hometown from whom I have purchased at least six Fatboys over the past year--and all for less than $10. The last time I was there, however, I bought a Fatboy for $7, but she had a cased Gem for $45. I think boomers tend to like things that are cased and original, hence the overpriced Gem. From another dealer I bought a filthy Fatboy, a filthy slim, and a filthy Super Adjustable all for $4.00 ea. They all cleaned up to be remarkable razors. Same guy had a couple of gold techs, though, at $40 ea. "Simple," he said "Gold."
Well, for me, I think it was unintentional. I was really interested in getting a birth year TV Special. I missed out on a few ebay auctions and I am too new to post WTBs. I was able to get a good deal on what was advertised as a Super Speed in my birth year and quarter. Then I was able to buy a TV Special via an ebay BIN. It wasn't until I received my BIN TV special that I started looking closely at the auction ad for the one I won (and still have't received yet)... the picture makes it appear that it too is a TV special. I will know for sure when (if?) it arrives. If so, I probably will offer it up.
But in general, I can see collectors wanting more than one. Or even acquiring more than one and keeping the one that turns out to be in better condition. Or getting one for use and one to keep as a "collection".
I am even a bit selfishly hopeful that I run into someone that has multiples of a specific razor I'd like to buy... since some razors are harder to find in the wild and even on the bay.
I think the forums drive the demand and thus the prices. If a wet shaver wannabe goes to a brick and mortar store or a typical on line sales site he will probably purchase a newly manufactured item. When he gets on the forums he will often be advised of the better deals in older gear, try e-bay etc. He takes this advice and assists in driving demand and prices up on vintage items compared to what it would otherwise be. He gets RAD and he is already on the vintage path driving prices even higher... No doubt boomers play a role as they have disposable income. What happens when they start dropping off?
Forums are like a closed circuit..encouraging the RAD in some aspects. What is not available on BST then leads to the auction sites...
I understand that certain items are potentially rarer (for example: toggles, Darwins, etc). However, I find it hard to justify the premium, particularly since I am not a collector but rather enjoying the "shave".
I think there is an emotional aspect that draws the bidders to pay more....that doesn't have anything to do with supply and demand.
Is a cased fatboy worth more than a user grade..ultimately in the eye of the beholder. Doubtful that one will offer a better shave than the other!
This is not to belittle anyone's desire to obtain a particular razor..but the premiums are becoming unaffordable for all
I understand that certain items are potentially rarer (for example: toggles, Darwins, etc). However, I find it hard to justify the premium, particularly since I am not a collector but rather enjoying the "shave".
I think there is an emotional aspect that draws the bidders to pay more....that doesn't have anything to do with supply and demand.
Is a cased fatboy worth more than a user grade..ultimately in the eye of the beholder. Doubtful that one will offer a better shave than the other!
This is not to belittle anyone's desire to obtain a particular razor..but the premiums are becoming unaffordable for all
