--> In a hurry? For the take-away just skip ahead to section '3 - Victory'.
Hello fellow wet shaving enthusiasts! I hope this post helps guide you in purchasing your next razor.
1 - Background
I was ready to switch from cartridge shaving to a DE, so I decided on a razor and I went with the first online vendor who offered it... big mistake. If only I had invested a bit more energy in researching razors and vendors, I would have spared myself a good deal of time, energy, and cash.
2 - The Crisis
As it turns out, my first razor of choice (the Merkur Vision) was a poorly crafted failrazor; hardly deserving of its $100 price tag. Furthermore the razor had arrived damaged, and only after several calls was I able to get a minimal refund. I had offered to accept an exchange for a different razor (the far superior Pils 101NE) and of course to pay the difference, but for reasons unclear the vendor wasn't interested in my business and (thankfully) refunded my purchase cost, minus the $100 shipping and handling fee which I had to swallow despite egregious manufacturer defects.
(Please note: I refrain from mentioning the above vendor name for the following reason(s): The owner/lead-manager of said company was in Germany and unavailable when all of this nonsense took place. My first contact was through him, and he was accommodating and pleasant. Thus I don't want to tarnish the business' name based on the actions of an office manager, incompetent though she may be. Suffice to say, the company in question is the predominate online vendor of wet shaving supplies and DE razors. Perhaps they'll clean house and step-up their game, but we'll see.)
3 - Victory!
I decided to buy from a different merchant, and after some digging around I found one who carried the Pils; Lee's Safety Razors (www.leesrazors.com), and I couldn't be more pleased. The level of personal service that Lee provides is outstanding, and you can tell that he truly means it, that he stands behind his business in a very personal way.
Lee is of a rare breed, he's a Master Tradesman; a specialist whose depth-of-knowledge and whose expertise are equaled only by the level of dedication with which he serves a loyal clientele. Suffice to say that I'll absolutely be recommending LeesRazors.com to my friends and family.
4 - Conclusion
The Web has changed everything, from how we discover and share knowledge to how we shop. While this technology affords us certain convenience, the all-too-frequent downside is the lack of genuine, personal service; the kind where relationships matter as much as the sale, and where the quality of service is as important as the quality of product. Fret not though my friends, and take comfort in knowing that service does indeed still matter to some, even in the age of the Web.
4 - Your Thoughts
What's your experience been with online vendors (or with 'brick-and-mortar' vendors)? Wet shavers are, by nature, quality-focused. For us, it's all in the details. Have the vendors from whom you've purchased gear risen to match your expectations of quality-as-a-service? Or do they generally fall short?
We are indeed a picky crowd... perhaps too picky at times? I don't believe so, but I'd like to hear about your experiencel.
--------------
Thanks for taking the time to read and to reply to my post.
And to Lee from leesrazors.com; thank you for the exceptional service!
Happy shaving everyone...
Hello fellow wet shaving enthusiasts! I hope this post helps guide you in purchasing your next razor.
1 - Background
I was ready to switch from cartridge shaving to a DE, so I decided on a razor and I went with the first online vendor who offered it... big mistake. If only I had invested a bit more energy in researching razors and vendors, I would have spared myself a good deal of time, energy, and cash.
2 - The Crisis
As it turns out, my first razor of choice (the Merkur Vision) was a poorly crafted failrazor; hardly deserving of its $100 price tag. Furthermore the razor had arrived damaged, and only after several calls was I able to get a minimal refund. I had offered to accept an exchange for a different razor (the far superior Pils 101NE) and of course to pay the difference, but for reasons unclear the vendor wasn't interested in my business and (thankfully) refunded my purchase cost, minus the $100 shipping and handling fee which I had to swallow despite egregious manufacturer defects.
(Please note: I refrain from mentioning the above vendor name for the following reason(s): The owner/lead-manager of said company was in Germany and unavailable when all of this nonsense took place. My first contact was through him, and he was accommodating and pleasant. Thus I don't want to tarnish the business' name based on the actions of an office manager, incompetent though she may be. Suffice to say, the company in question is the predominate online vendor of wet shaving supplies and DE razors. Perhaps they'll clean house and step-up their game, but we'll see.)
3 - Victory!
I decided to buy from a different merchant, and after some digging around I found one who carried the Pils; Lee's Safety Razors (www.leesrazors.com), and I couldn't be more pleased. The level of personal service that Lee provides is outstanding, and you can tell that he truly means it, that he stands behind his business in a very personal way.
Lee is of a rare breed, he's a Master Tradesman; a specialist whose depth-of-knowledge and whose expertise are equaled only by the level of dedication with which he serves a loyal clientele. Suffice to say that I'll absolutely be recommending LeesRazors.com to my friends and family.
4 - Conclusion
The Web has changed everything, from how we discover and share knowledge to how we shop. While this technology affords us certain convenience, the all-too-frequent downside is the lack of genuine, personal service; the kind where relationships matter as much as the sale, and where the quality of service is as important as the quality of product. Fret not though my friends, and take comfort in knowing that service does indeed still matter to some, even in the age of the Web.
4 - Your Thoughts
What's your experience been with online vendors (or with 'brick-and-mortar' vendors)? Wet shavers are, by nature, quality-focused. For us, it's all in the details. Have the vendors from whom you've purchased gear risen to match your expectations of quality-as-a-service? Or do they generally fall short?
We are indeed a picky crowd... perhaps too picky at times? I don't believe so, but I'd like to hear about your experiencel.
--------------
Thanks for taking the time to read and to reply to my post.
And to Lee from leesrazors.com; thank you for the exceptional service!
Happy shaving everyone...
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