Merkur Finish Question

[Loner16]

The issues at Merkur are not QC... The issues are the design and selection of materials..
I don't know if folks expect high quality materials and high quality hand workmanship in a product that sells to the the end user for 35 bucks.. I certainly didn't when I bought my HD, and I figure I got what I paid for... warts and all.

 

[ISilva]

The issues at Merkur are not QC... The issues are the design and selection of materials..
I don't know if folks expect high quality materials and high quality hand workmanship in a product that sells to the the end user for 35 bucks.. I certainly didn't when I bought my HD, and I figure I got what I paid for... warts and all.

They carry 10 year warranty so one expects them to last that much, with proper treatment.

Anyway, the Vision is WAY more expensive than 35 bucks and: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12434084@N00/4476861930/ the result was the same, same low quality materials used.

 

[talibeard]

So far this is what I have for my reply:
Dear Anne,

First I would like to say thank you for your quick and personal response. I appreciate the effort you put into it, and find NO fault with the way you in particular handled this matter. However, I can not accept it as a valid reason for the damage to my plating. Unlike many, I live in the "country" on an old farm. As such, I have well water, and not tap/municipal water. There are no "chemicals" in my water aside from carbon, iron, and calcium. My water is filtered through 100 feet of rock and soil, and shares the same "watershed" with a local reservoir which supplies my area with it's tapwater, and is protected and monitored by state and federal authorities. My water only leaves deposits, not corrodes.

Second, I would like to address the finish and construction of my razor, in addition to others razors, as listed here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882 It has been stated that cleaning chemicals can harm the razor. Aside from Barbicide, a disinfectant required in many areas by law for barbers and hair dressers to use on their tools, I use no other chemical. I use a syringe to meter out the correct proportion and follow the directions as they are listed. As you have also stated, water can cause damage. Except in my case, this "reaction" has occurred on both gold plated and chrome plated razors. I wear a gold cross and chain around my neck and it is exposed to the water in my shower as well as my skin for periods far longer than my razor does. Yet it is in perfect shape. It seems the only common element is the material the razor is made from.

Both my razors are marked "Solingen" in addition to "Merkur". From your own website:
"As a mark of German craftsmanship, the name "Solingen" enjoys the confidence of the whole world. "
"The "Solingen quality" is a minimum requirement for us, which is fulfilled by our entire product range. The endeavour to improve on this quality is our most important precept!"

It seems this is not true, as according to what I have read and been told, the only way to maintain the Solingen Quality of a Solingen cutting tool is to never clean it or get it wet. I do not believe any barber,hairdresser,etc... would appreciate their tools flaking off plating in or on customers hair. Not only is it unsanitary by allowing pits and grooves for bacteria and fluids to hide in, but pitting would impact how smoothly a scissor or other hairdressing tool would perform. As your website claims, all tools marked "Solingen" must meet certain standards by law, and are protected by this law to maintain the reputation of all Solingen cutting tools. If what I and others have experienced is this "Solingen Quality", then it seems this reputation is in danger.

I am sorry to take this out on you, as you have been nothing but helpful, and done what you can. If you can forward this to someone higher in the company, or let me know of someone else to send it to, I would be very thankful. I currently own 6 Merkur razors, and have bought 7 total. But if a new razor that corrodes when it gets wet,cleaned, or is used as it is meant to be used is what I have in my possesion, then I will have to put down all my Merkur razors, and switch to my 40+ year old Gillettes that seem to have no problem with being cleaned or getting wet. I will also have to cease recommending them to people, and instead warn them that they will be buying products which will corrode and fall apart, and that is "normal".

Sincerely,

Jim, did you ever send it and if so what was the answer?

 

[Kamidanshir]

Merkur rather than assuring their customer base that this issue affects a small number of razors, has instead decided to place blame onto the customer. That doesn't create customer confidence in your product line.

Sorry for the zombie thread; I came here by reference from a more recent discussion. Just wanted to point out that the OP, by his own admission, isn't actually a customer of Merkur, as he's purchased all his razors on B/S/T. If I have problems with my used Civic, I'm not going to gripe at Honda about it; I'll talk to the person who sold me the car. Not that that negates the quality problems he and others have experienced, but all the hysteria over Merkur "refusing to stand behind their products" and "giving poor customer service" seems a bit misplaced in this specific case.

 

[jansob]

Honestly, this is why I decided to go vintage...after 40-50 years, if these razors looked so good, they must have ben well made.

Have one 70-year-old razor out for replating now. Assuming my daughter is interested, she may be shaving her legs with a hundred-year-old device.

 

[blueluc71]

I've recently bought a new Merkur slant which had plating issues. Merkur's answer came from a plating "specialist" who said that I have to solve the problem with the vendor. Anyway... point taken...I've returned the slant and the vendor was kind enough to let me change it for a Muhle R89.
Anne Rothstein should ask Muhle about internship positions for Merkur staff so they could see how quality plating looks like.

 

[Cal3b]

Hey is Merkur still having these problems, or have they improved their materials/plating? I just purchased one and if these are the problems I can look foreward to I will return it and spend the extra money to get a feather.

 

[kosby]

Hey is Merkur still having these problems, or have they improved their materials/plating? I just purchased one and if these are the problems I can look foreward to I will return it and spend the extra money to get a feather.

I think you will get varied answers on this. I personally own several Merkurs, all of which have no problems with finish except on my 37c. The other day when cleaning it, I noticed where the screw is attached to the cap, there looks to be an extra layer of plating, almost like a chrome collar surrounding the the base of the screw that is flaking off. There is minor corrosion along the underlying copper flash coat and it appears that it was a shoddy plating job as the chrome itself is rough in that area. I'm going to contact Merkur and see what their resolve is.

 

[kosby]

Ok, so I just sent an email to A. Rothstein and will see how they address this. This razor was purchased new less than 3 months ago.

 

[kosby]

At 02:10 this am, I sent an email as stated above concerning my 37C requesting either a new cap or replacement razor be sent. At 04:58, not quite 3 hours later, I received a reply from Anne Rothstein stating a new cap on its way via airmail. That makes things right for me.

 

[Wouter]

All I can say is that I love how my 23c shaves and that Merkur has serious QC issues. My handle was crooked and luckily I got a new one back from the vendor. The second had plating issues with the cap, the third I got from the vendor had exactly the same plating issues and the spot was the same too. I don't want to invest more time and energy in it and will leave it alone now. I only hope it serves me a couple of years before it breaks because of corrosion.

 

[zygalski]

I've just read most of this thread & let's just say Merkur have lost another potential customer.
This is what is so great about this forum... it cuts straight through marketing boys BS.

 

[n2hql]

it's a shame I didn't see this thread before I ordered a 33c, got it this morning. Was looking at muhle, but after the praise I found for merkur, I thoght I'd try them first, and leave the muhle for swmbo as a back up christmas or birthday gift since she thinks I never leave anything on the list for those days.