Do you buy your shaving products online? I've read in several post were people claim loyalty to a particular online vendor, but I'm not sure why. It seems to me one of the hardest things to do is spend your hard earned money on a product you've never used before. Granted, not everyone has access to a great shop, or barber that carries wet shaving products.
Buy Online?
- Thread starter Rattbones
- Start date
You won't have used the product before spending your hard-earned money on it even if you do buy in a "great shop" so I don't see your point.
The fact is, 80-90% of ALL my purchases over the last 15 years or so were transacted online. If you do your homework and use due diligence, it can be safer and is much easier to receive a refund from online dealers (who depend on their online reputations to survive) than buying from some local stores who largely answer to no one. Another important factor that can't be overlooked is that, most times, it's just plain cheaper to buy online.
Great customer service is great service, whether it's online or in a B&M store.
I can typically find things like Clubman locally. Anything else though needs to be online. The local pharmacy sells Williams too (but I won't make that mistake again).
I have no choice but to buy online as unless I want to use Williams and Proraso for the rest of my life my options are limited locally.
Who I purchase from depends on what they have, shipping costs, do they ship to Canada etc.
Who I purchase from depends on what they have, shipping costs, do they ship to Canada etc.
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I was lucky in that I had a nice wet shaving shop within walking distance for years. They have now moved but still do not have their new shop open (maybe another month or so).
I buy online from many sources. I have no preference. I base my decision on "who" I purchase from on what I am looking for and who carries all of it so I can make one order instead of several orders from several vendors.
I guess I am not a loyal "vender x" customer
But I have purchased from just about every B&B vendor at one time or another 
I buy online from many sources. I have no preference. I base my decision on "who" I purchase from on what I am looking for and who carries all of it so I can make one order instead of several orders from several vendors.
I guess I am not a loyal "vender x" customer
But I have purchased from just about every B&B vendor at one time or another Soap / creme and after shave I usually buy in the local shop. Razor blades mainly online.
It does help that the soaps and AS brands I regularly use (Palmolive, Nivea, De Vergulde Hand, Sanex) are easily found in the local shops. For exotic brands, I'd have to go to a dedicated barber shop (the closest is almost 30 miles away), or have to order online (expensive shipping).
It does help that the soaps and AS brands I regularly use (Palmolive, Nivea, De Vergulde Hand, Sanex) are easily found in the local shops. For exotic brands, I'd have to go to a dedicated barber shop (the closest is almost 30 miles away), or have to order online (expensive shipping).
I have very few options for purchasing shaving gear locally. VDH, Clubman, Williams, and Wilkinson Sword blades. That's it. Given that situation, I tend to buy my shaving gear online.
Most of the time, I buy from WCS due to their excellent reputation and speedy shipping. Every now and then I'll use Amazon if I'm shopping purely on price.
Most of the time, I buy from WCS due to their excellent reputation and speedy shipping. Every now and then I'll use Amazon if I'm shopping purely on price.
I'm not sure what's available locally as I prefer to buy online. It's easier to shop and my time and my gas are also valuable. If I don't have to try it on I'm probably purchasing online.
I've bought from Bullgoose , Mike's natural soaps , and Griest handles . They have all sent me an email letting me know when they shipped and saying thanks for the order (not just an invoice ). They've all shipped that day , even if I ordered at 3pm . And they all have great products . Nowadays you are lucky to even get a "good morning " from a local store .
That's exactly how it works for me aaround here as well.
I buy almost all of my shaving products online. There's a reasonable local selection since I'm in a major city but none of the B&M's seem to carry the products that I prefer. Pricing and selection are generally better online in my experience.
Could be any of a number of reasons or even a combination. A lot of people seem to tend to form loyal relationships with stores, brands, etc whether there's a rational explanation or not because that's their nature. Some people do so based on excellent prior experiences with a particular vendor. Some prefer to stick to a known reputable vendor as not all online vendors (whether it's shave products or otherwise) are trustworthy and it can be a painful process to learn that the vendor you just ordered from isn't reputable.
I've ordered countless products online that I've never used before. It's a lot easier IMO when the vendor is trustworthy but that applies whether it's an online vendor or B&M and regardless of the product in question. If I'm skeptical about a vendor and want to try ordering anyway I'll use Paypal as the form of payment since they have excellent buyer protection features and seem to favor the buyer. It's a bit of an art but performing your due diligence on a potential online vendor is a must-have skill just like searching these days.
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I buy some stuff online because of the poor local availability of products. DE blades and brushes are at the top of the list. If I want a soap that isn't VDH or Williams, I have to buy online.
It's probably for the best more stuff isn't available locally. I already have more stuff than I need.
It's probably for the best more stuff isn't available locally. I already have more stuff than I need.
I've bought over 90% of my wetshaving products online. It's great. I've had little problems and when I have the vendors have always made them right. You just have to do your homework to get a good idea of what you might like beforehand.
Ben
Ben
All my things have been bought online as nowhere in my area sells the goods I want. You can always buy cheap stuff in Boots or Superdrug like a synthetic brush and some basic cream and razors but I wouldn't touch any of them. The place where I do my shopping is very helpful and my packages have always arrived next day in the morning.
I love to shop locally (particularly at small locally owned shops)--I'll even pay a small premium to do so. (I still buy my music at a local record shop.) But alas, I don't have much in the way of shave supplies here. So online it is--I have the entire world (almost) at my disposal.
I'm a big Amazon shopper, so I buy a lot there. But I also like to use the B&B vendors with terrific reputations and plan to start using them more often.
I'm a big Amazon shopper, so I buy a lot there. But I also like to use the B&B vendors with terrific reputations and plan to start using them more often.
- Thread starter
- #19
thank you all for your comments. My wife and I are considering opening a small local wet shave shop. I know most people in the states have little access to traditional men's grooming products. We are trying to determine if we should start online or B&M +online. Again, thank you for your candor.
I just bought a few tubes of Palmolive at 1.70 in the local shop. At those prices, shipping is so expensive that buying only isn't worth it, even if they sell the same creme for 1.30 on the internet.
As long as the local shops keep stocking shaving products for reasonable prices, I don't buy them online. Another advantage of buying locally, is that shops keep restocking the products.
As long as the local shops keep stocking shaving products for reasonable prices, I don't buy them online. Another advantage of buying locally, is that shops keep restocking the products.
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