Right, and no DE brands were acquired subsequent to this as far as I know. Gillette acquired all the brands before that.
King C Gillette blades now made in China
- Thread starter CJB3
- Start date
Where have you seen Polsilver made in the Czech Republic?
There are Indian made. Made for a very short time. Probably only one batch.
Indian production of Polsilvers (and other Gillettes for Europe) was brief, and apparently not great quality.
Czech production of Gillette blades was also relatively brief.
Maybe Gillette is finally giving in due to political pressure, or perhaps PPI can no longer source raw materials.
Anyone know where the blade steel ribbon they use to make the blades comes from? Is PPI able to import it due to current political crisis?
Yet another interesting question is what is gonna happen with the factory itself? Given the current situation, P&G may not be allowed to take machinery out of Russia, and Russians may seize the factory (as they have done with other western assets). This is not insignificant IMO. This is (was) one of the bigger and better quality production facilities for DE blades in the world. If this production capability is lost, it inevitably will lead to a reduced supply, which, in turn, means price increase. The quality is another concern. PPI blades are known as being of very good quality. The same cannot be said for Chinese and Indian made blades.
UPDATE:
Just stopped by a drugstore that carries Gillette Platinum. I am sad to inform you that these blades are also now MADE IN CHINA. The new packaging is a plastic blister on a card (not just cardboard as before). The blades inside are single wrap without glue. The production date printed on the tuck is 05/23, i.e. May of this year.
I am now 99% sure that PPI is no more.
Just stopped by a drugstore that carries Gillette Platinum. I am sad to inform you that these blades are also now MADE IN CHINA. The new packaging is a plastic blister on a card (not just cardboard as before). The blades inside are single wrap without glue. The production date printed on the tuck is 05/23, i.e. May of this year.
I am now 99% sure that PPI is no more.
Finally.
Have been waiting for them for 5 months.
Why? Do you think they will be better than the PPI-made Platinums? I'm skeptical. The only positive thing about them is the absence of glue.
"Better" or "worse" with blades is 100% subjective.
As is your perception that the blades from Gillette India and Gillette Shanghai are worse than those from PPI.
Since it is a personal preference, I cannot say which I will like more (and I haven't even tried the Chinese ones). Even if I like the Russian made ones more, I wouldn't worry with my huge stash of them.
True, and I'm one of the hundreds of people that happened to like PPI blades a lot. So, purely subjectively, I'm not that happy."Better" or "worse" with blades is 100% subjective.
As is your perception that the blades from Gillette India and Gillette Shanghai are worse than those from PPI.
Given the current political situation, pulling out of Russia is 100 % the right thing to do, and I support it. This however, doesn't mean that we will have access to more and/or better quality blades from now on.
That is the same date all the KCG blades at my local Walmart sport.
5-23, a date that will live on in infamy!
@ivan_101 is right. The choice wasn't between PPI platinums and Chinese platinums, the choice was between Chinese platinums and discontinuation of the line. I'd take a Chinese platinum over nothing any day of the week.
China can make anything to any degree of quality, including the very high end. The limiting factor isn't China, it's the spec that the corporate customer asks for. If a company asks a Chinese factory to make something on the cheap, they'll get it.
I really liked the King C's PPI's and have stocked up on PPI's, I might even get more as they are still readily available but I am good for now I think. 
Supposedly Gillette was having issues getting money in and out of Russia forcing the production move. People were saying "Sure it's Russia production, but the profits come back to USA". Well I guess that 2nd part was becoming hard to do.
Will not buy
- Thread starter
- #59
Based on my experience with the KCGs, I won’t be buying Chinese Gillette Platinums. I’m not especially tied to blades made in Russia. PPI does (or did) make excellent blades. Indian blades are also good, IMO.
Traveled by air this week so had to pick up a package of KCG blades at the local Walgreens and they were MIC with the 5/23 date code. Used them for 6 back to back shaves with my KCG razor and was pleasantly surprised with top notch performace. I'm pretty curious if there is a difference - I have a few tucks of PPI KCG's and will do a blind comparison with multiple blades and report back with the results.
