Online Razor Store question

[Sprags]

Thanks to joining this website I've switched to DE shaving. My first DE was an EJ DE89 and my second was an Ikon 5 piece set. I was very happy with the results and thought I'd be happy and satisfied since I've read nothing but good things about both razors.

Unfortunately I kept reading the forums and saw all the posts about Aristocrats, Fatboys and Slims and came to point where I had to have one of these.

I like things to be minty or at least in Very Good condition so the ones that were put up for sale always to be sold minutes later so it didn't look like I would get one through the BST. I searched eBay and then found the Razor Emporium web site and saw the listings there.

I found and bought a 1967 Gold Aristocrat that looks to be in very nice condition for a price that perhaps others here would consider high but considering how much the Ikon set was did not seem too far out of line. I even considered getting one of the refurbished razors but this one was quite a bit less.

I hope the products Razor Emporium sells are good. Can anyone tell me if they have experience with buying from this store?

 

[Sprags]

By the way...here is a photo of a Fatboy I bought a few years ago for your viewing pleasure.

 

[Kooze]

I do not have any experience with Razor emporium. However, there are 2 members who are very highly recommended for their replated razors.

1) dave at restoredrazors.com. His user name here is onotoman. Here is a thread on him. I believe he only does replates as opposed to selling the razor itself.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...e-English-Aristocrat-(What?highlight=Onotoman

2). Krona Kruiser, who is also a member here. Does replates and sells razors.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/371598-Replated-NEW-s-English-Otto-Roth-SC-LC

 

[Sprags]

The razor I purchased from Razor Emporium appears, from the photos to be in very good condition. I'm hoping it won't need replating as soon as I get it. They state that I has very slight signs of wear.

I was hoping to hear opinions about actually purchasing razors or services from Razor Emporium.

Thanks for your feedback...Blake

 

[Kooze]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/371425-Vintage-Gilette-Razors?p=5598607#post5598607

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...e-to-replate-a-DE-razor?p=5548482#post5548482

Apparently he is a banned vendor:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...or-Service-READ-POST-43?p=3833844#post3833844

 

[Rockminer]

EDIT

I posted the same link as kooze. My bad.

 

[DrAwkward]

By the way...here is a photo of a Fatboy I bought a few years ago for your viewing pleasure.

Nice bike. Where is the Fatboy?

 

[brucered]

No experience with Razor Emporium directly, but they appear to be one of the worst companies possible to do business with. I have seen a replate first hand and I was not impressed with the dealings (pay up front, long wait, shoddy replate).

Their replates look like junk, they are slow to reply, they have sold peoples razors by accident and not made it right, they have sent back the wrong razors to people and are Banned here.

As stated above, B&B has some great replaters including, but not limited to, Dave from Restoredrazors and Stan from Abovethetie. I've deal with Dave and seen replates from both of these in person and they were 2 of the best looking razors I have ever seen and the transactions (for a work buddy who is also on B&B) were flawless.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[Cacique]

As others have stated, not a great reputation. I hope you get the razor and that it comes as advertised. Would love to see some pics when you get it.

 

[Sprags]

Nice bike. Where is the Fatboy?

That is a Fatboy...it's the name Harley had given to that model which has been around since the early 90's. Arnold Swarzennegar rode one in Terminator 2.


ok...so this company has screwed people over with the services he offers yet does not perform in a professional and reputable way. Has anyone purchased razors he advertises for sale on his web site?

i guess at this time I see if the razor is as advertised and return it if I'm not satisfied. And i probably won't make any more purchases from them in the future.

 

[Rockminer]

That is a Fatboy...it's the name Harley had given to that model which has been around since the early 90's. Arnold Swarzennegar rode one in Terminator 2.


ok...so this company has screwed people over with the services he offers yet does not perform in a professional and reputable way. Has anyone purchased razors he advertises for sale on his web site?

i guess at this time I see if the razor is as advertised and return it if I'm not satisfied. And i probably won't make any more purchases from them in the future.

I seem to remember there being a case of someone sending a razor with sentimental value to RE, and they replated it and sold it instead of giving it back to the original owner. Can't remember where I saw that.

 

[Sprags]

Hearing these instances does make me uncomfortable with doing business with him and bad for the people he's stolen from. I hope the razor I get was not acquired in that way. The photos did show the razor to be in very good condition. The written info said that there were barely signs of wear and all the plating was in very good condition. With being a Razor Newbie and the ad stating that the razor was gold plated from the Gillette in 1967 I figured that it had to be a top quality finish. As everyone here has said I hope it turns out for me and if it doesn't I will return the item for a refund. I've had my bank accounts with the same bank since 1994 and I've never had to worry about doing business with a crook yet. I now know to never do business with that company in the future.

 

[Sprags]

I called PayPal to cancel the transaction. My bank still hadn't transferred the money to PayPal and PayPal told me I'd have to go through a lengthy process to dispute this I just told my bank to not send any money to PayPal. I'll call RE to tell them I want to cancel the order. If RE doesn't like it too bad.

 

[Sprags]

PayPal told me I'm protected from bad transactions if the item isn't as described. As soon as I ordered the item the description disappeared from the web site so I basically lost a way to prove anything if it isn't. That's what made me nervous to begin with. Then reading all the bad reviews... PayPal told me that I'd gave to deal with getting the refund from RE...so where is my protection if he dicks around with the process. From the review about RE screwing someone around for three months before they finally gave up made me decide to cancel the transaction before I got screwed by RE.

If RE did in fact ship the item I'm just going to return it without opening the package. I've notified my bank to not pay paypal at all. I called RE and left a VM telling them to just cancel the order. I did get an email that said they shipped it but I'll return it. I'm honest so I will do as I say. I'll photograph the package at the post office to prove it.

I found out not long ago that PayPal switched using my credit card for payment to my checking account. I didn't authorize that. I told PayPal I'm just going to cancel my account with them as soon as this ordeal is taken care of. When I told PayPal what I planned to do I think they attempted to intimidate me by telling me this ordeal could tarnish my credit history. I don't tolerate intimidation.

there are other alternatives to PayPal. I'm going to use an alternative in the future. If the store or person I'd like to do business with won't accept it they won't get my business.

 

[that_guy]

I have dealt with RE one time when I got a 58 fat boy revamped through their service a few months ago. This was before I knew about B&B and the posts about dissatisfaction with their services.The pricing seemed OK but I don't know how it compares to members services. I was happy with the finished product since the fat boy was in rough shape when I sent it off and the initial turnaround time was 6-8 weeks but I got the razor back in less than 5. In reading other posts about them being a banned vendor and problems members have had with them I think I'm in the minority to have gotten a decent replate. just my 2 cents.

 

[jpakstis]

For the OP, a few suggestions if you're looking for a vintage razor:

On the "retail" side, Above the Tie sells razors on their site. Stan is a member here and ATT is well-regarded. One of the tricky things about buying a vintage razor from a "retail" site is that they are limited by what they can procure (for instance they don't have any Fatboys posted right now) and of course they are turning a profit.

Here, the first place to look would be the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. Often other members are selling vintage razors. A few years ago, Fatboys were all the rage and they were constantly being bought and sold. That's slowed down a little, but since the B/S/T relies on B&B's community, I would expect you could find a fairly-priced and accurately-described Fatboy. Post a "Want To Buy" and enjoy the search!

Many of the hobbyist/vendor replating specialists here have replated vintage razors on hand for sale. Maybe its worth it to check with them, even if you don't see one for sale in a post. The Hobbyist/Vendor Classified section is here.

Obviously another huge (and hit-or-miss) area is eBay. And if you were able to score a decently-priced one that isn't the prettiest, once again you could contact one of the replating hobbyists/vendors and get it replated.

 

[Teppanyaki]

+1 on vintage razor being sent off for replating. RestoredRazors (onotoman) did a great job with 2 of my razors, and I ordered a Tech frm Krona Kruiser. You can check pics of their razors by searching for them.

 

[Sprags]

For the OP, a few suggestions if you're looking for a vintage razor:

On the "retail" side, Above the Tie sells razors on their site. Stan is a member here and ATT is well-regarded. One of the tricky things about buying a vintage razor from a "retail" site is that they are limited by what they can procure (for instance they don't have any Fatboys posted right now) and of course they are turning a profit.

Here, the first place to look would be the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. Often other members are selling vintage razors. A few years ago, Fatboys were all the rage and they were constantly being bought and sold. That's slowed down a little, but since the B/S/T relies on B&B's community, I would expect you could find a fairly-priced and accurately-described Fatboy. Post a "Want To Buy" and enjoy the search!

Many of the hobbyist/vendor replating specialists here have replated vintage razors on hand for sale. Maybe its worth it to check with them, even if you don't see one for sale in a post. The Hobbyist/Vendor Classified section is here.

Obviously another huge (and hit-or-miss) area is eBay. And if you were able to score a decently-priced one that isn't the prettiest, once again you could contact one of the replating hobbyists/vendors and get it replated.

once this issue is cleared up I will probably follow through as suggested. Thanks.

 

[Sprags]

Got the razor today. Opened the package and it was not as described but "close enough' to the point where I would have ended eating it because go the 'exactly as described' requirement in itself being vague. The top coves look like there is something going on under the plating. I wouldn't accept it.