Current Ebay Fatboys
- Thread starter DonN
- Start date
For the most part, Fat Boys on eBay tend to sell at the high end of the razor's value range or above. While you certainly can find the occasional "good deal", most REALLY NICE Fat Boys bring a premium price on eBay.
Shaver-grade razors can be found as well, but they also tend to go high at the last minute when several bidders get "fighting" over them. Even the lower-grade (worn, tired, dirty, etc.) sell for between $30 and $50.
You can sometimes get lucky if the seller doesn't know what he has, and lists the razor as "Old Gillette Razor" or some other generic description, and fewer potential bidders are attracted to the listing.
I've found my lowest priced Fat Boys in antique shops - paid $5 for the last one I found!
Even though I sell a few razors myself on eBay (I don't have a Fat listed right now) my advice would be to buy one from a fellow B&B member on B/S/T to help ensure a fair price for the exact quality grade that you want to invest in.
Shaver-grade razors can be found as well, but they also tend to go high at the last minute when several bidders get "fighting" over them. Even the lower-grade (worn, tired, dirty, etc.) sell for between $30 and $50.
You can sometimes get lucky if the seller doesn't know what he has, and lists the razor as "Old Gillette Razor" or some other generic description, and fewer potential bidders are attracted to the listing.
I've found my lowest priced Fat Boys in antique shops - paid $5 for the last one I found!
Even though I sell a few razors myself on eBay (I don't have a Fat listed right now) my advice would be to buy one from a fellow B&B member on B/S/T to help ensure a fair price for the exact quality grade that you want to invest in.
Every time I buy a razor on ebay, within a day or two I see a better deal posted here on B&B. Most important is to resist the urge to have to have a Fat Boy right this minute, unless you don't care about price. First decide if you want it in shaver condition (worn paint, blemishes, etc) or pristine and with or without case. Watch the auctions on ebay to get an idea of what the final prices are then keep an eye on the B/S/T section here for one. There's been a couple of nice FB's show up on B/S/T in the past week at way better prices than ebay. Another option is to post in the Want To Buy section here. Also keep an eye on some of the Vender sites. I bought mine from CountryJoes.
LOL Tim. Every time I see that one on the Bay, I just shake my head in disbelief.I know its rare due to the adjustment being located at the bottom instead of the top, but Jeezum!
A lot actually depends on how eBay savvy you are. If you're new to razors + new to eBay, that's a recipe for over paying and/or getting a sub-standard razor. If OTOH, you're an experienced eBayer, and disciplined in your bidding approach, you can do quite well there (though not as good as the $5 antique store Fat Boy above, or even my $8 antique mall Fat Boy).
The trouble with antique stores, is it's quite a crap shoot. If you've decided a Fat Boy 'must' be it, then one may or may not appear in a local antique mall/store. If it does, the the question remains how it will be priced. A week or two ago, a Member posted here of several nice razors he'd found in an antique mall. A nice cased Fat Boy was there, asking price of $55 (that's not a horrible deal, and I think a 15% discount was available- of course shipping charges would be added if having it shipped). End result, I passed, not that it was a bad deal, just not the bargain I was seeking at the moment.
I bought a very nice D4 Fat Boy (4th quarter 1958, time of my birth) on eBay in Oct. for about $30. Shipping was low, maybe $3 IIRC. No case, but it cleaned up beautifully (didn't actually even need much cleaning). The pics in the ad weren't the best, but blowing it up all the way, it looked decent (many eBayers short themselves with poor pictures). In addition, I can't recall if Fat Boy was in the title (often will say "adjustable 1-9" or something similar). Still, many know to look for this, but it does cut some of the Fat Boy Fever from the bidding. I also rarely bid before the closing seconds of an auction. I either do this live, or use a sniping service. This particular auction also ended at a less than desirable time IIRC (either very late night or mid day, mid week).
If you're not willing to hunt along these lines (or even if you are!) you may well be best off buying here on the BST. You can expect reasonably fair to downright cheap prices, and a much higher degree of chance you are dealing with a reputable Seller. YMMV, as with anything....
The trouble with antique stores, is it's quite a crap shoot. If you've decided a Fat Boy 'must' be it, then one may or may not appear in a local antique mall/store. If it does, the the question remains how it will be priced. A week or two ago, a Member posted here of several nice razors he'd found in an antique mall. A nice cased Fat Boy was there, asking price of $55 (that's not a horrible deal, and I think a 15% discount was available- of course shipping charges would be added if having it shipped). End result, I passed, not that it was a bad deal, just not the bargain I was seeking at the moment.
I bought a very nice D4 Fat Boy (4th quarter 1958, time of my birth) on eBay in Oct. for about $30. Shipping was low, maybe $3 IIRC. No case, but it cleaned up beautifully (didn't actually even need much cleaning). The pics in the ad weren't the best, but blowing it up all the way, it looked decent (many eBayers short themselves with poor pictures). In addition, I can't recall if Fat Boy was in the title (often will say "adjustable 1-9" or something similar). Still, many know to look for this, but it does cut some of the Fat Boy Fever from the bidding. I also rarely bid before the closing seconds of an auction. I either do this live, or use a sniping service. This particular auction also ended at a less than desirable time IIRC (either very late night or mid day, mid week).
If you're not willing to hunt along these lines (or even if you are!) you may well be best off buying here on the BST. You can expect reasonably fair to downright cheap prices, and a much higher degree of chance you are dealing with a reputable Seller. YMMV, as with anything....
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Glad I acquired most of my Fatboy stash on Ebay before the recent lunacy...the Gillette slim adjustable is going for now in clean shape what the same condition Fatboys went for in the past - $25 - $50 range - and is worth considering before they too head for the stratosphere!
For what it's worth, I had a bunch of failed bids for Fatboys on eBay. I looked at the average winning bid for these. They went for an average over $30 not counting shipping, while I was going for $25 including shipping. I raised my limit a bit, and finally got one for $30 shipped. When it got here, it had a fair amount of gunk, but after cleaning, it looks very nice, and the mechanism appears to work right. It wasn't labeled a Fatboy in the auction, just a Gillette adjustable. So persistence, and a little flexibility on the price, finally paid off.
I did look on B/S/T, but most of the Fatboys even here were going for more than I wanted to pay. They may have been worth it, but not to me.
On the other hand, I got a Slim in a package deal with an Aristocrat for $25.42 shipped. I've noticed some Fatboys and Slims in lots of several razors on eBay, which might be another way to save money.
I did look on B/S/T, but most of the Fatboys even here were going for more than I wanted to pay. They may have been worth it, but not to me.
On the other hand, I got a Slim in a package deal with an Aristocrat for $25.42 shipped. I've noticed some Fatboys and Slims in lots of several razors on eBay, which might be another way to save money.
This is the best advice so far. Post up a WTB with a description of what you want, Shaver grade vs Collector quality. You'll be surprised how fast this works. I got a mint Merkur Gold Slant this way and paid much less than the price for a new one and the whole deal took less than a week.
The price of anything is what the market will bear... and i guess we'll find out what the market will bear by watching that razor!
I think as DE shaving becomes more popular the price of good vintage razors like the Fatboys is only going to go up. I have seen a number on eBay that weren't listed as Fatboys but most were USA shipping only so I couldn't bid on them. Also prices fluctuate wildly so you might need to be a little patient.
Every time I go to ebay the prices are higher. Fatboys were $20-$25 six months ago.
2 years ago I bought a mint Fatboy with sealed instructions and blades for $80 shipped, a near mint Fatboy with instructions for $50, and an excellent conditions Fatboy for $35 shipped, all with cases. People thought I paid too much back then, but it is one of my favorite razors. Now the price's make me glad I splurged a bit back then.
On another note, my best purchases have come from razors on the bay that had no real description other than " safety razor."
1953 president mint in box $25, mint Gillette #58 in box $35, excellent #66 aristocrat in box $45, president no box excellent $15, and my pride and joy a 4 piece Canadian travel razor with deep knurling mint condition $5. Any one have one of these little travel razors for sale? All these deals came between 2-3 years ago, now it seems people are a little more savy regarding the sale of "vintage razors"
On another note, my best purchases have come from razors on the bay that had no real description other than " safety razor."
1953 president mint in box $25, mint Gillette #58 in box $35, excellent #66 aristocrat in box $45, president no box excellent $15, and my pride and joy a 4 piece Canadian travel razor with deep knurling mint condition $5. Any one have one of these little travel razors for sale? All these deals came between 2-3 years ago, now it seems people are a little more savy regarding the sale of "vintage razors"
I wanted a Slim adjustable for sentimental reasons.. It was the razor I remember my Dad used, and the one I tried to use to emulate him long before I was ready to shave. So, I'd pay a premium to obtain a nice one. Other than that, I'll pick up a razor here or there at a reasonable price as the mood strikes me.
I don't feel the need to experience a shave from every razor out there, as I can get an acceptable shave from any combination I have on hand... Some might be a bit better than others, but it's all good!
I don't feel the need to experience a shave from every razor out there, as I can get an acceptable shave from any combination I have on hand... Some might be a bit better than others, but it's all good!
