While I was looking for the latest DE razors and brushes on Aliexpress, I saw a few sellers offering Astra SP and lots of other blades such as: Wilkinson Sword, Derby Extra, BIC CP, Rapira SS, Shark SS and probably others as well. The prices are good and most of them come with free shipping and also the reviews are positive. Has anyone bought any of these blades before? I think I have enough blades for the rest of my life, but I think 100 Astras wouldn't hurt at all. I'm going to pull the trigger on this offer and see if they are any good, if not I can always get my money back.
Astra AP and other brands on Aliexpress
- Thread starter Medivh
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- #3
In the past I've bought a lot of things on aliexpress, mostly guitar gear. They do however have some counterfeits; for instance their Elixir guitar strings are not the real deal. You wouldn't think razor blades would get counterfeited. But you never know. It might pay you to try and figure that out first.
Don't bother to do that, I order 5 items from that store in July, and only receive 1/5 of the item.
They missed the address, so I have to pickup that item from post office.
When I escalate the issue to aliexpress, all of the 3 customer service supports are promising things they don't actually take it. Such us, we will loop you in mail in 24 hours, we will loop you in 3 days. We will have final decision in 6 days.
None of any followup since I closed the customer support session.
I still can't get my refund, and must wait 90 days until the order closed, then they might process my dispute...
It's the worst experience to purchase blades in Aliexpress....
They missed the address, so I have to pickup that item from post office.
When I escalate the issue to aliexpress, all of the 3 customer service supports are promising things they don't actually take it. Such us, we will loop you in mail in 24 hours, we will loop you in 3 days. We will have final decision in 6 days.
None of any followup since I closed the customer support session.
I still can't get my refund, and must wait 90 days until the order closed, then they might process my dispute...
It's the worst experience to purchase blades in Aliexpress....
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- #6
Yeah, the blades could be fake, not doubt about that. The good thing about Aliexpress is that you can always get your money back if something goes wrong. I've had some troubles in the past few months when some of the things that i've bought didn't came or some were broken/defective and i've got my money back either by trying to talk to the seller or if that doesn't work, the dispute does. I usually buy inexpensive stuff and I wait maximum 3-4 months and if the goods don't arrive and the seller keeps telling me to wait I open a dispute and I get my money within a week or so. So i'm not worried that much if I have to wait a few months to get my 8$ back.
Use Amazon, quicker. and yes they also sell some deffective stuff via 3rd party sellers. I loathe Ali, prices change, pop up coupons, it's made for other people.....seems like for the ex-casino players.....then wait and wait, communication is horrible.....save your money.... and most important, save your head aches
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- #8
I ordered Astra SP blades just recently from AliExpress. They are old stock blades without the laser engraving but they’re exactly the same as the Astra package I received in a sampler pack. $7 got me 100 Astra and a stick of Arko
Actually the new astra's have date code (along with all new gillettes) showing when they were made. Day-month-year xx-xx-xx on the side of the pack where you open them.
Big box says copyright 2017. But each pack has manufacture date date code
Noticed it on my new gillette yellows too. I guess gillette owns astra now.
Small print on the edge fold of the pack on the side you open from. I'm betting they're no older than 2019.
Ones I just got on Amazon for $7 were June 2020.
Seller was Super safety razors fulfilled by Amazon. Another seller was default but click offers and it's there. Both same price but can only vouch for the ones I got from them.
SS are only $8 from them on Amazon too
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I don't think they're laser etching the astra anymore. Mine are printed on and date code is June 2020. Or maybe they tried and stopped? My yellows I just got are lasered.
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- #13
These are what the wrapper looked like.
On left is new stock from 2020 and most likely any recent blade:
Notice how even the 5 pack box has changed:
And these are both the old stock blades. Can't remember which came first. :
On left is new stock from 2020 and most likely any recent blade:
Notice how even the 5 pack box has changed:
And these are both the old stock blades. Can't remember which came first. :
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- #16
That photo isn't mine I found it in the Aliexpress reviews regarding the blades. I've tried Astra SP twice when I bought my first blade sample 3-4 years ago and I remember they were decent, but they didn't last long ( 2 shaves at most). I've bought 1000 Polsilver blades from Bulgaria around 2 years ago and paid around 80$ for them and since they are no longer in production, and the prices are high, I started looking at other blades to keep the Polsilvers in case I could sell them in the future.
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- #17
The same Aliexpress seller also has these vintage Astra blades.
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- #19
Many people still don't believe it, but since Polsilvers SI were one of the most common blade in Eastern Europe and they are gone since 2017-2018 according to lots of people from there, it's save to say that they indeed have been discontinued. The original Gillette Platinums are also gone and replaced by these. I have around 80 packs of the old Platinums and I have to test them with the new ones to see if they really are the same blade as some people claim.
Wait those are discontinued too?!?
I see listings for them hope they aren't pulling bait and switch and sending new ones with old picture like they did for the navy blue gillette 7 o'clock super platinum.
I see listings for them hope they aren't pulling bait and switch and sending new ones with old picture like they did for the navy blue gillette 7 o'clock super platinum.
