Hi Everyone, Just wondering out loud if blade sampler packs and Try a Blade services are really effective given how manufacturers often change production processes in combination with all the old inventory floating around that is still for sale?
From many posts out there it seems that sometimes, without the inner case or tuck packaging, it may not be possible to determine when a blade was made. Just saw a post regarding Dorco blades where the sampler packaging did not have the information needed to determine if the blades were newer Vietnamese or older Korean production. Lots of confusion around the Derby blade manufacturing change in 2016 with pre-2016 inventory still available for sale. Astra SP shift to laser etching has also generated a lot of confusion. The result could be an inaccurate assessment of blade performance due to samples that no longer represent the quality of current production. This could go either way.
I've only purchased 100 packs given prices of $7 to $12 (for my brands) that are only a few dollars more than the samplers. All three of my blade brands, Derby, Astra SP and Dorco have seen major changes in blade quality/manufacturing over the past few years with the result that in a sampler pack it could easily be impossible to know if the blades provided would be the same as those in a current inner pack of 100. Without the full tuck and in some cases full 100 pack packaging it would be impossible to figure out when the blades were made.
What has your experience been? Have you run across sample blade with performance that was significantly different from the subsequently purchased 100 pack? How often have you disregarded sample blades due to poor performance and later purchased a 100 pack thanks to great reviews that were consistent with the subsequent bulk pack blade performance?
From many posts out there it seems that sometimes, without the inner case or tuck packaging, it may not be possible to determine when a blade was made. Just saw a post regarding Dorco blades where the sampler packaging did not have the information needed to determine if the blades were newer Vietnamese or older Korean production. Lots of confusion around the Derby blade manufacturing change in 2016 with pre-2016 inventory still available for sale. Astra SP shift to laser etching has also generated a lot of confusion. The result could be an inaccurate assessment of blade performance due to samples that no longer represent the quality of current production. This could go either way.
I've only purchased 100 packs given prices of $7 to $12 (for my brands) that are only a few dollars more than the samplers. All three of my blade brands, Derby, Astra SP and Dorco have seen major changes in blade quality/manufacturing over the past few years with the result that in a sampler pack it could easily be impossible to know if the blades provided would be the same as those in a current inner pack of 100. Without the full tuck and in some cases full 100 pack packaging it would be impossible to figure out when the blades were made.
What has your experience been? Have you run across sample blade with performance that was significantly different from the subsequently purchased 100 pack? How often have you disregarded sample blades due to poor performance and later purchased a 100 pack thanks to great reviews that were consistent with the subsequent bulk pack blade performance?