I am just curious to find out how many are actually using DE and have switched over to this side. It may be possible you came upon this thread via a google search, so just sign on and hit us up with a post. Lately I have been noticing Gillette aisles at almost every store are empty. Could this be due to the recession and cartridges just being too expensive for most? This may just be the best time to show our peers the wonders of DE shaving and its cost efficiency.
How many men are using Double Edged (DE) razors?
- Thread starter New2DEShaving_Montreal
- Start date
There would be the 16k members of this forum...
And there are many other forums, as well. B&B is the largest, and there are many cross-over members that belond to more than one. Many people use DE razors, but don't belong to forums.
So the number of wet-shavers is well above 16,000.
As for the 'economy' factor of DE shaving ... yeah, right. I've spent far more on wet-shaving in the last year than I have spent in my entire life on cartridges and goo.
Am I in any danger of switching back? Hell, no. I'm having too much fun, and the shaves I'm getting are excellent. Although I shudder when I look at how much money I've spent, its been well worth it.
The big payoff comes when I run into friends and family that haven't seen me since before I got into "Gourmet Grooming." Their universal response is "Wow ... You look GOOD!"
Yup! I am coming up on my one year switch to DE! I have to admit it hasn't really been that cost effective since I now own about 12 very minty razors and more soaps and creams than I will be able to use in the next year or two! For me it is a morning sensory experience....the aroma of a great soap or cream and the feeling of that fresh blade against my skin and finishing off with a really great AS!
Yeah, um, the whole "this is way cheaper!" thing has proven to be laughable...granted, that is my own fault as I could technically get away with maybe ten bucks per year this way, but I have sunk over two hundred bucks into this and I am less than two months in.
It's crazy how hard that has hit me too. I could have bought quite a large supply of cartridges and goo, and probably a high-end electric here and there as well for what I've spent on shavers, soaps, blades, creams, etc ... since starting with DEs a few months ago.
I regret nothing.
There is no doubt that it could be cheaper, but I have fallen into the "enjoyment trap" and it will take at least 1 1/2 years to pay off my first brush on blade savings. I am expecting my third brush, a Kent BK8, in a few days, so that is goint to take a while to pay off too!
I love it!
I love it!
I think the number of men in western countries switching is increasing slowly. If DE razors & blades were much more readily available (say at supermarkets, department stores or chemists- in Australia anyway), more would be curious enough to try them. The problem is P&G have way too much money and influence over retailers for this to happen IMO.
I think it is all relative. I have invested a good bit to start, but I also know my MO with these sorts of things is to try a bunch of products and then settle on a few favorites. At the point where I know exactly what I like, it is going to get pretty cheap.
It's more likely to do with the high rate of theft.
Cartridge razor blades are, apparently, one of the most shoplifted items from supermarket shelves...and, given the cost, is it any wonder?
Down old Mexico way, Gillette packages M3 cartridges singly and in twos...what does that tell us about the cost of the product versus the ability of the customer base to purchase it?
That reminds me of the time I saw an empty package of Fusion carts. sitting on the shelf...
I'm a DE user too, but having had 8 straights gifted to me, I fell like I owe it to the razors and individuals who gave them to me, to learn to use them. If it goes like others experiences, I may not have to worry about buying DE blades...
G
gone down south
You can also buy individual aspirin tablets in Mexico, so that might not be entirely a fair comparison
If you make a hobby of it, DE shaving is not cheaper than cartridge shaving, and I don't think defections to DE shaving are affecting the numbers of cartridge shavers much. However electric shavers have become more popular, so that could have something to do with it.
DE shaving has yet to break even for me when compared to cartridge shaving. I calculate that it will take me about 3 years of cartridge buying to make up the money I have already spent on DE stuff. And that's not counting the stuff I'm going to buy within that time.
However, the fun I have shaving now................priceless!!!!!
DE shaving has yet to break even for me when compared to cartridge shaving. I calculate that it will take me about 3 years of cartridge buying to make up the money I have already spent on DE stuff. And that's not counting the stuff I'm going to buy within that time.
However, the fun I have shaving now................priceless!!!!!
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I am the only person I know of that shaves with a DE. Knowing the men in my fraternity pretty well, I know that less than 5 probably shave with a DE. So... about 1 in 250 ~ 300 from what I can tell 
I've spend more money on DE shaving than cartridge shaving as well. But hey, it's a hobby, and hobbies tend to empty your wallet faster than you can fill it. It's way too much fun to think about it though.
I've spend more money on DE shaving than cartridge shaving as well. But hey, it's a hobby, and hobbies tend to empty your wallet faster than you can fill it. It's way too much fun to think about it though.
If anybody had any self-control, though, he could get good shaves much more cheaply with DE.
Gillette S/S off e-bay: 10-15 bucks
VDH Deluxe SS at Wally World: $1.54
Omega Boar brush: about 15 bucks
Blades: Red IPs, 100 for 10 bucks
Good to go. Done.
Truth be told, I've done a lot of experimenting with various creams, etc., via samples rather than full-size tubs or tubes. After trying about 25 different creams this way, I believe that I get just as good a shave with the VDH Deluxe as with any of the high-end creams.
A guy could easily shave for an entire year for the price of about 8 Fusion cartridges.
Gillette S/S off e-bay: 10-15 bucks
VDH Deluxe SS at Wally World: $1.54
Omega Boar brush: about 15 bucks
Blades: Red IPs, 100 for 10 bucks
Good to go. Done.
Truth be told, I've done a lot of experimenting with various creams, etc., via samples rather than full-size tubs or tubes. After trying about 25 different creams this way, I believe that I get just as good a shave with the VDH Deluxe as with any of the high-end creams.
A guy could easily shave for an entire year for the price of about 8 Fusion cartridges.
I don't suffer from any AD's, so I actually am not spending much. Considering a pack of Fusions is $13 for 4, I haven't outspent the cartridges by much, since I'd usually burn through 2 packs a month.
amen to this!! except i'm probably in $400.00 and 4 months...
I have since converted four friends myself and supplied or arranged for them razors...so that's at least 16,004...
I switched to DE about 1 1/2 years ago, partially because of my attraction to the "old" way of doing things and partially to save money. Then, as with most of us here, it turned into a hobby. No shame in that. Getting off the cartridge treadmill is very liberating!
*raises hand*
Exactly. The thing is, most people who DE shave now do it as a hobby, so end up paying a lot (and of course enjoying it). Most of the old DE users have died off, or, like my father, have reluctantly switched to cartridges because the high street shops stopped selling the razors and the blades.
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