Gillette: antique vs disposables

[gaseousclay]

I've always wondered why Gillette hasn't attempted to go back to the drawing board and re-introduce the classics we've come to love. is it just not economical for them to manufacture, market & sell old schools safety razors like they used to? it'd be nice to have a classic old type that doesn't have to be cleaned up and restored.

should we start a petition?

 

[mdunn]

it makes no sense for them to do so.

-it would be expensive to design and make
-they would have to market the new razors
-they would have to go back on years of 'more blades are better' marketing
-the market is happy with cartridges, and there is more profit in proprietary cartridges than in generic de blades


nobody would buy them, theyd think they are old and stupid

 

[gaseousclay]

I figure it would be an advantage rather than a handicap to reissue classic safety razors. they have history and name recognition, not to mention the financial clout to do so. I'm not saying they should do away with disposables, rather, reintroduce the classics that would appeal to those of us that are into traditional wetshaving. they could market it as a limited edition release. besides, if companies like Merkur and Rooney can produce quality safety razors why can't Gillette? just seems like a shame that the one company whose older product is the most sought after can't come up with something other than disposables.

 

[Crazy Dave]

Also they would be spending a lot of time, money and effort to compete with themselves.

Dave

 

[Kazeryu]

Aside from the other business points already listed, there is the fact that there is no money in it.

They would need to create entirely new production lines and tooling for these 'limited edition' creations. This is a huge initial cost for them to incurr, and one which will not get paid off in an acceptable timeframe. If they overprice the products, then they are discouraging sales in what is already a niche market. If they don't overprice the products, they can't recoup their losses any time this decade. If they underprice their products, they will risk attracting people from their cartridge market - which will always be more profitable for them.

In other words, it just doesn't make any business sense at all, even if you ignored the fact that they would be making hippocrits out of themselves. (more blades is sexier, faster, cooler, more patriotic, more devout, etc.)

 

[michiganlover]

I've always wondered why Gillette hasn't attempted to go back to the drawing board and re-introduce the classics we've come to love. is it just not economical for them to manufacture, market & sell old schools safety razors like they used to? it'd be nice to have a classic old type that doesn't have to be cleaned up and restored.

should we start a petition?

Gillette is never going to re-introduce a DE razor into the US marketplace.

The only possibility I could foresee is some sort of Single Bladed cartridge razor aimed at those with sensitive skin that suffer from razor burn/ razor bumps. Something like the Personna "BumpFighter" but marketed on a much larger scale.

Still making such a razor is akin to admitting that extra blades cause irritation, which is something I can never see them doing.

 

[Gunky]

Disposable de razors!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha

 

[gone down south]

Gillette bought the Art of Shave so they can sell niche products to us without diluting their main brand.