Feathers from Thailand

[dvjohnso]

I have seen Feather blades being advertised from $20/100 to $38/100 coming from Thailand. Are these genuine feathers? Why such dsiparity in the pricing? I like the feathers, and I'd like a good deal, but is something amiss in Thailand?

 

[Toothpick]

Not that I'm aware of.

The ones I've seen around the $20 price have always had a big shipping charge, usually around $8.

The ones in the $30 price range have had free shipping.

 

[vpayne]

Nothing amiss in Thailand. Same as here, some are more greedy than others. I have dealt with some in Thailand without any trouble.

 

[zygalski]

Me too.
The only problem with the Thai Feathers from ebay is they take about 3 weeks to get to the UK!

 

[Ozziedoc]

My Feathers from Thailand actually shipped from Singapore

 

[BayRhum]

I was chatting with one of Feather's official distributors recently, Jatai, about why they were selling Feather's for a lot more than the Thai and Singapore guys. They swore up and down the stuff in eBay and Amazon are counterfeits. I disagree based on my experience. They promised to send me something from Feather HQ in Japan proving they are fakes. I've heard Feather's pricing in those Asian markets is very cheap which lets distributors re-sell to other markets and remain competitive. The re-sellers are probably violating a distribution agreement with Feather, if they are indeed distributors and not a second tier re-seller. We will see what they say . . .

http://www.jatai.net/

 

[zygalski]

Haha.
Counterfeit pre-wrapped Thai Feathers in the correct, distinctive sealed dispenser with the correct markings on the blades & ultra-sharp shave.
Hmmm. I don't think so!
I bought from this seller & they are 100% genuine:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/hairlights4u

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japanese-...ealth_HairRemoval_RL&var=&hash=item8716288a27

 

[keithmax]

I bought mine from Thai lamps and mine are genuine.

 

[merkur59]

I bought a few 5-piece pack (black) from an outlet in Singapore which deals with Thai stuff (@$SGD2.00 a pack) - I shaved with it last night.
[I also have a pack of 100 bought direct from Bangkok]

I can detect no difference (shave-wise) from the yellow pack that I got from an 'authorised' outlet in Singapore.

 

[Beftus]

I bought mine from Thai lamps and mine are genuine.

I bought 100 off Thai lamps too. I compared them to the ones I bought at connaught shaving. Visually identical in every aspect. They shave like they're supposed to too.

 

[jpakstis]

I think the answer to your question of why Feathers are so cheap from Thailand lies on if you flip it. The real question is why are Feathers so expensive in the US. I assume that authorized and reputable US-based vendors, like WCS and Bullgoose, have to pay a lot in duty and other shipping fees and taxes, so that adds to their overhead.

For instance, look at a Muhle R41 razor. Its sold at WCS or Bullgoose for $61. However, its sold at Connaught Shaving and Shaving.ie for for about $30-35. Its the same razor; its just the journey it has to take and the fees along the way.

 

[BayRhum]

I contacted Feather direct in Japan not long ago. Asked about buying 10,000 razors direct and they said I had to go thru distribution. Feather Japan referred me to JATAI stating they were the main (sole?) authorized importer and handled distribution to retailers. Odd thing is, JATAI does online retail sales, which can be odd for a distributor, which makes me wonder if they really are the sole distributor. Anyway, if they are, they are very proud of their price. A 10,000 blade order was just slightly under the best USA prices for 100 piece bricks. And more expensive than ordering from Thailand / Singapore. If JATAI is the basis of blade pricing, they are probably the main cause of the elevated pricing we are stuck with here.

Also, there is no import duty on Razor Blades. See below.

http://hts.usitc.gov/Table 82.xml#8212.20.00

8212		Razors and razor blades (including razor blade blanks instrips), and base metal parts thereof:
8212.10.00	00	Razors	No.	Free		10¢ each + 30%
8212.20.00		Safety razor blades, including razor blade blanks in strips		Free		1¢each + 30%
	05	Single edge razor blades for shaving	No.
	10	Other	No.
8212.90.00	00	Other parts	X	Free		27.5%

 

[dvjohnso]

Thanks guys for all the info and help. I have been burned a couple times on eBay and bought "fake" stuff. The price looked so good that I had to ask why, but I get the point... "Why are they so expensive here?" This wetshaving is sooo much fun! So much so that I had to build a "Shaving Rack" to hold the growing amount of goodies. See the DIY (Do It Yourself) Shave Gear! thread for pics of the rack. And SWMBO has no idea of the costs involved... yet!