Help with Personna blades

[Archer808]

I've been reading around the forums concerning Personna "Blue Lab" and "Med Prep".

In reading, some people claim that these blades are identical, manufactured in the same place using the same process and that the Meds just get an extra hot water rinse.

I'd like to know if that is indeed the truth, but more importantly, is the sharpness and smoothness of the Labs and the Meds identical? If you have experience with both blades, please let me know your results.

If they are, indeed identical in performance, why is it that the Meds are priced almost double the Labs?

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Lab-Blue-Double-Edge-Blades-100-per-carton_p_1157.html Labs
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Medical-Prep-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-pak_p_883.html Meds

Thanks,

 

[intotheforge]

You can get the meds on ebay for 12$. I have not used both. I like the meds a lot though.

 

[musicman1951]

I believe there used to be photos showing a different honing angles for the blades, but that's no longer available. I have both and follow the general consensus: if there is a difference, you can't feel it.

I have 100 of each and so far I found a couple of bad edges on the Labs and none on the Meds. I don't know that my blade use to date is statistically significant. The Labs were also about half price, so throwing a couple away doesn't hurt much. For me these blades last longer than all the other blades I've tried.

 

[dcobranchi]

Meds are more expensive because they're for hospitals (i.e., the same folks who charge you $12 for an aspirin) AND the blades go through an extra washing step at the factory.

 

[sgreenstreet]

I used to work as a quality engineer at a medical device company in the US. It's not unusual for a product that is package to be used as a medical device to come with a higher price. It's not about the quality or packaging, it's about the cost of maintaining quality and manufacturing systems that satisfy FDA requirements. The laws of the US require that the FDA periodically visit and audit manufacturing plants, without notice. The laws of the US also hold that a wrongful death or injury from a medical device be prosecuted as a criminal offence, and company executives and quality assurance professionals can be held for malpractice as criminals. So naturally, management loves the sales, but they jack up the price to cover their risk.

I worked for a company that made filtration products and we would often package the same product as two different part numbers. One for the medical market and one for the laboratory market. Products were identical, but the medical product came with certifications and guarantees that absolved the company of any risk of prosecution for ducking FDA regulations. We were aware that there were customers outside the US who were buying the laboratory products and using them for medical purposes. There wasn't much that we could do about that as the laws in their countries were set up differently than the US.

 

[dparish1952]

Member Oscroft posts blind tests of similar blades. I recommend you read the complete posts for #9 and #11. Interesting reading (YMMV)

Blind test #1 - Feather vs 7 O'clock Yellow
Blind test #2 - Astra SP vs Derby
Blind test #3 - Shark SS vs Dorco ST301
Blind test #4 - Personna "Red" vs Astra SP
Blind test #5 - Feather vs Personna Med Prep
Blind test #6 - Gillette 7 O'clock, Yellow vs Black
Blind test #7 - Med Prep vs Iridium Super
Blind test #8 - 7 O'Clock, Black vs Blue
Blind test #9 - Personna, Med vs Lab
Blind test #10 - Timor vs Sputnik
Blind test #11 - Med vs Lab, round 2
Blind test #12 - Iridium Super vs Polsilver Super Iridium

 

[Archer808]

Member Oscroft posts blind tests of similar blades. I recommend you read the complete posts for #9 and #11. Interesting reading (YMMV)

Thanks! This is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. I don't see any reason to pay the extra $ for the Meds if the Labs perform just as well. Guess I'll be making my next 100 purchase soon

This box on Amazon looks identical to the picture on WCS but is considerably cheaper (well, a few bucks especially after calculating shipping). Can anyone tell me if Personna makes other blades in the same type of box, or are these indeed Blue Labs?

http://www.amazon.com/Personna-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades/dp/B0077LAJT2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Thanks,

 

[dcobranchi]

Yes, those are the blades known around here as Lab Blues.

 

[Archer808]

Yes, those are the blades known around here as Lab Blues.

Thanks!