Personna Lab Markings

[blindmouse]

I ordered Personna Lab Blues from WCS a while ago, used them all, and loved them. So much so, that I ordered 100.

But the markings are different on the ones I ordered. The initial ones came in the white dispenser, and had little arrows on the blade, and that's it. The bulk ones say Personna and whatever else. Are they the same blades?

 

[musicman1951]

There remains a mystery about these blades. Some say they are the same as the Med Preps. Some say there is a difference in the grind (but the link doesn't work on my computer). Many say they look different but all feel the same. I really wish we could come up with a definitive answer. I think both are great, but are they all the same?

 

[bryan1980]

I really hate to bump an old thread, but I'm having the same experience of sorts. I ordered this http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Lab-Blue-Double-Edge-Blades-5-blades_p_1158.html a month or so ago. The blade dispenser I received looked nothing like the one pictured in the link, but I didn't think much of it at the time. I just got around to using them this morning, and the blades in my dispenser look just like the "Barber" blades in the picture above, with no markings other than the arrows and "Made in the USA". I wonder if I got the wrong blades?

If the blades I have are indeed "Barbers", it makes sense that they're regarded as inferior to the Labs, my experience this morning was very underwhelming.

 

[craig94yj]

The one's in the white dispenser with arrows are Personna Barbers, not Labs. Labs come in a blue wrapper with "Super" on it. The Meds look the same as the Labs, except they say "For Hospital Use" on the blade itself. The Barbers are generally regarded as a lesser blade than the other two, but YMMV.

Photo below swiped from another thread shows the Meds on the top, and Labs on the bottom:



And then these are the Personna blades referred to as "Barbers"
View attachment 264004

View attachment 264003



Thank you Jd. I just ordered 100 on the Bay for $12.99 free shipping. 13 cents a blade is ok in my book if they are the Labs. The picture on the bid matches the one you have for Labs and I will make sure I always check from now on. Thank you again. Thank you also Blindmouse for posting. Good shaves to you.

 

[bryan1980]

Well, its looking pretty clear that I got the wrong blades. I was really looking forward to trying the Labs. If I knew this about a month ago when I received them, I would have contacted WCS right away. I'm not sure what to do now, since so much time has passed, and I've already opened the package and everything.

 

[blzrfn]

Bryan contact WCS with no expectations other than to see what will happen. The worse they could do is say sorry about your luck, and if you are prepared for that you won't be disappointed. On the other hand there is a small chance they will offer to do more and then you will be pleasantly surprised and can come back and tell us what happened.

 

[xillion]

Bryan,

Don't know if this will help but here is a fantastic post by fellow member TheVez2 illustrating the many American made Personna blades. Original thread here.

Hopefully this clears up everything with regard to the American Personnas:


ASR Makes their Personna blades in 4 different "grades".

1) Stainless Steel
Packaged as: CVS house brand

2) Stainless Steel w/Comfort Coating* A.K.A. Super Stainless Steel**
Packaged as: Personna 5 pack (from Sally Beauty or WCS), Walgreens house brand, Blue wrapped Super AKA ”Lab Blue”, Med Preps “Hospital Use”***

3) Platinum Chrome****
Packaged as: Personna 10 Pack (from Personna.com, Walmart.com), Exchange Select house brand (Military BX/PX)

4) Platinum Chrome w/Comfort Coating A.K.A. Super Platinum Chrome**
Packaged as: Personna 5 pack from Sally Beauty.com, Barber Personna (White wrapper)

* Comfort Coating means PTFE “Teflon” coated, and provides a smoother edge.

**”Super” on a blade just means that it has the comfort coating.

*** Med Preps “Hospital Use” are the same blade as the Labs/Lab Blue, however they go through an extra cleansing/sterilization process prior to wrapping, making them safe for hospital operating rooms.

**** Platinum Chrome blade is more durable and keeps its edge longer than Stainless Steel.




Example Packaging:
1) Stainless Steel

2) Stainless Steel w/Comfort Coating

3) Platinum Chrome

4) Platinum Chrome w/Comfort Coating

 

[ackvil]

The one's in the white dispenser with arrows are Personna Barbers, not Labs. Labs come in a blue wrapper with "Super" on it. The Meds look the same as the Labs, except they say "For Hospital Use" on the blade itself. The Barbers are generally regarded as a lesser blade than the other two, but YMMV.

Photo below swiped from another thread shows the Meds on the top, and Labs on the bottom:

View attachment 264003

And then these are the Personna blades referred to as "Barbers"
View attachment 264004

You are right on. The Labs and Hosptial Blades come in blue wrappers and the only distinguishing feature between the two is the wording "For Hospital Use."

 

[bryan1980]

Here's what I received from WCS:

 

[Viseguy]

Wow, they sent you 100 of the wrong blade? I would definitely complain. Unless you ordered the wrong blade -- that would be a different story (your fault, not theirs). If you goofed, you can always sell the Barbers on B/S/T.

 

[bryan1980]

Wow, they sent you 100 of the wrong blade? I would definitely complain. Unless you ordered the wrong blade -- that would be a different story (your fault, not theirs). If you goofed, you can always sell the Barbers on B/S/T.

I only ordered a pack of five to try them out, and if you click on the link I inserted in my previous post, you'll see that they are marked as "Labs". In fact, the "Barber" blades aren't even shown as being available on their website.

I'm going to go ahead and shoot them an e-mail about this. I'm sure they'll try to do something, I've had nothing but good experiences with them, as has just about everyone else on here.

 

[bryan1980]

Sent an e-mail, with a link to this thread to WCS. We'll see what they say.

 

[Shantytownbrown]

at workk right now, but will be sure to check when i get home, as I just ordered a five pack of "labs" and got a package very similar to this....make me wonder what I got...I swear it did say "lab" somewhere on the pack tho..

 

[ackvil]

at workk right now, but will be sure to check when i get home, as I just ordered a five pack of "labs" and got a package very similar to this....make me wonder what I got...I swear it did say "lab" somewhere on the pack tho..

The Labs packaging I have seen saw nothing about Labs anywhere. They come in the identical packaging of the meds but the blades do not have the wording for hospital use.

 

[Shantytownbrown]

Here's what I received from WCS:

View attachment 275030View attachment 275031

I got these too...we're supposed to be "labs"....

only got one pack...will call tomorrow not to upset, only 2 bucks, but wanted to try labs not barbers....

anyone in particular to speak with at wcs?

 

[Deano]

I got these too...we're supposed to be "labs"....

only got one pack...will call tomorrow not to upset, only 2 bucks, but wanted to try labs not barbers....

anyone in particular to speak with at wcs?

These are the ones they sent me also. Hopefully its an isolated problem as I just ordered 100 of the Red IP blades.

 

[drlvegas]

These are the ones they sent me also. Hopefully its an isolated problem as I just ordered 100 of the Red IP blades.

If you got the UK packaging, the box markings are the same, but the individual wrappers are plain white, and the blades have absolutely no markings. I called WCS, and they confirmed that they sent me the right blades. Very strange, but they do shave exactly like my old IP's in the red wrappers.

 

[Deano]

If you got the UK packaging, the box markings are the same, but the individual wrappers are plain white, and the blades have absolutely no markings. I called WCS, and they confirmed that they sent me the right blades. Very strange, but they do shave exactly like my old IP's in the red wrappers.

Its my understanding, read this somewhere, that after the 2010 production runs, the "reds" are indeed now in white wrappers. Im not picky on the wrappers but want what was, at least previously, known as the IP Reds. Personna has got to be a nightmare for vendors.

 

[bryan1980]

Okay, here's the response I got from WCS:

Hello Bryan,
I do apologize for the delay in responding--but I wanted to make sure I understood the situation and gave you the correct answer. The confusion is because ASR likes to change markings and packaging at their own whim. You can't use either anymore to make any kind of designation. For instance, I have seen at least 4 changes in Crystal blade markings in the last year. You have to know the source and buy using the correct identifying information. We only by from the authorized sources. The medical prep blades come directly from the American Safety Razor Medical devision. I hope this helps, but please let me know if you have additional questions.

Best Regards,
Lili

So, I guess what they're saying is that I did indeed get Labs, they're just labeled and packaged differently now?? If so, Labs are not the blade for me. I'll stick with Red IP's for right now, and maybe Crystals (I'm fixing to give them a second go round, too).

 

[mattymatt]

I got my Labs from the bay, I think I paid 12.99 for 100. I love them, and they are the normal packaged ones in blue without the hospital wording.