I don't like doing negative reviews. This is only my second here. The other was of a $5 shaving butter. Mostly I like stuff. Or at least I'm OK with stuff. Usually I get what I pay for, and if it's not very good, I keep my mouth shut. Small business is difficult, and I don't want to mess with guys trying to make a living.
Delta Echo is small business in Washington state that replates razors in Gunkote, a durable thin coating originally used for gun parts. It's well-suited for razors, because it's very thin, slippery, and durable. Delta is run by Jay Mabes, and he says he does a thousand razors per year all by himself. So it's a one-person operation. Jay has a nice website and has obviously invested well in photography.
I saw some of Jay's work online and thought it would be worth a try. I sent him $90 and one of those functionally excellent/cosmetically challenged vintage Gillettes we all know. I asked for a standard treatment ("Cubano Edition") with a little variation, which I specified in email and on the order form (a little red color treatment on the handle).
11 weeks after parting with my money and razor, the razor came back refinished. Not bad, but not great.
It didn't include the custom color variation I had requested, even though the razor arrived with the order sheet showing my specific request as part of the shipping order. Not critical. But still. $90 and 11 weeks.
The color was not uniform on the doors. You can see where the top coat doesn't entirely cover the coat below. It'll probably last forever anyway. But still. $90 and 11 weeks.
And the communication was not good. For 11 weeks. After I sent $90. When I enquired after 10 weeks about status, the response was testy.
Given that the color scheme was not what I ordered and that one layer showed through another, should I have sent it back to Delta Echo for more work? I don't think so. I paid in full up front 11 weeks earlier (including the cost of return shipping to me), had gotten testy communication from Jay, and didn't want to pay more for more of all that. I'd rather take what I have (which isn't horrible) and call it a lesson learned. I feel like I paid $90 and 11 weeks later at least had $30 worth of value. So it wasn't a complete waste.
But if you are looking to have a razor refinished, Chris at Razorplate is a much better option unless you are set on a Gunkote color scheme. And if you are set on Gunkote, talk to your local gun dealer. Don't make the mistake I did.
Here's a tip for small business people: If you are going to take 11 weeks to do something, you either need to communicate well, do exceptional work, or not take full payment up front.
Being generous? B-
Delta Echo is small business in Washington state that replates razors in Gunkote, a durable thin coating originally used for gun parts. It's well-suited for razors, because it's very thin, slippery, and durable. Delta is run by Jay Mabes, and he says he does a thousand razors per year all by himself. So it's a one-person operation. Jay has a nice website and has obviously invested well in photography.
I saw some of Jay's work online and thought it would be worth a try. I sent him $90 and one of those functionally excellent/cosmetically challenged vintage Gillettes we all know. I asked for a standard treatment ("Cubano Edition") with a little variation, which I specified in email and on the order form (a little red color treatment on the handle).
11 weeks after parting with my money and razor, the razor came back refinished. Not bad, but not great.
It didn't include the custom color variation I had requested, even though the razor arrived with the order sheet showing my specific request as part of the shipping order. Not critical. But still. $90 and 11 weeks.
The color was not uniform on the doors. You can see where the top coat doesn't entirely cover the coat below. It'll probably last forever anyway. But still. $90 and 11 weeks.
And the communication was not good. For 11 weeks. After I sent $90. When I enquired after 10 weeks about status, the response was testy.
Given that the color scheme was not what I ordered and that one layer showed through another, should I have sent it back to Delta Echo for more work? I don't think so. I paid in full up front 11 weeks earlier (including the cost of return shipping to me), had gotten testy communication from Jay, and didn't want to pay more for more of all that. I'd rather take what I have (which isn't horrible) and call it a lesson learned. I feel like I paid $90 and 11 weeks later at least had $30 worth of value. So it wasn't a complete waste.
But if you are looking to have a razor refinished, Chris at Razorplate is a much better option unless you are set on a Gunkote color scheme. And if you are set on Gunkote, talk to your local gun dealer. Don't make the mistake I did.
Here's a tip for small business people: If you are going to take 11 weeks to do something, you either need to communicate well, do exceptional work, or not take full payment up front.
Being generous? B-
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