Proceeding with Caution

[BEAR DEN]

I am interested in knowing what everyone here has to say about the current brush Co. of today. Mainly which ones are customer friendly, easy to contact & reply once being contacted and really make great brushes with great customer service. They stand behind their product if you will. I find myself coming over here more and more...AD is real!! The potential problem is the huge amounts of $ one could drop once the AD sets it's hook! The potential $ is far more then my str8s and even the hones and strops. ie. I buy a $500 Plisson...something goes wrong...easy to remedy? Not that that would ever happen...that I would spend that much..
Been married for 21 years. SWMBO would never understand the $ on said brushes...so it must be on the down low..shhhhh
Summary:
1. Good reliable customer friendly Co.
2. Should I turn tail and run before it's to late!

 

[Lucky11453]

Here are two that I feel good about recommending. I have gotten brushes from both and have always been taken care of.

Jim at http://vintagebladesllc.com/

Will at http://www.classicshaving.com/Home.html

 

[Darjeeling Express]

I can vouch for Jim as well. He is terrific.

 

[heirkb]

I think he meant the manufacturers not the sellers.

 

[BEAR DEN]

I think he meant the manufacturers not the sellers.

Actually I did mean the manufacturers rather then the sellers...I do appreciate the added info though.

 

[SRock]

Bernd at Shavemac has shown on countless occasions that they (Shavemac) take their craft very seriously. I purchased a brush from them and it had a minor flaw. When I inquired he sent me a replacement brush no questions asked. Most of my other brushes have come from vendors not the makers themselves.

So to answer your question:

Shavemac is one you can trust.

 

[TSWebster]

Depends how soon you want a brush, I'd hold out and see what the B&B 2009 brush is like since you can be assured that you will be getting a unique, high quality product.

 

[ambrose]

Now I hope you dont ever encounter any problems but if you did I know first hand that Jim at vintage blades will take care of you regardless of the manufacturer. The selection is also top notch and prices are fair.

I vote rooney with whatever brush you might want.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105552

 

[Gruder]

Shavemac is one you can trust.

+1. Give Bernd a few days to answer your email, but he really stands by his products, which rarely have issues in the first place.

 

[Lucky11453]

I don't think you could buy a brush from a manufacturer other than ShaveMac or can you?

 

[ambrose]

I think west coast shaving has a few.

 

[SJBFIRE]

+1 for Classicshaving. I usually go into their warehouse/office to purchase my shaving products. They are a family run business with great customer service. I always spend at least 10 minutes shooting the breeze and looking at other products in their warehouse trying to figure out what to buy next. Highly recommended. I purchased a Rooney 1/1 from them and absolutely love it.

I have had very good customer service from Westcoastshaving also just not on a personal level like above.

 

[mretzloff]

Other than Bernd at Shavemac, I do not believe any brush company can be contacted. That is really sad, if you ask me, because I think that with such a small trade the brush makers should be speaking with their customers.

 

[Wingnut]

Other than Bernd at Shavemac, I do not believe any brush company can be contacted. .

That's not entirely true. I have a Kent BK4 which has had a shedding issue ever since I bought it directly from them about 5 years ago. I recently contacted them through their website (Kentbrushes.com I believe), and have had a very cordial email correspondence with their Customer Service person, Vanessa Peters.

When she found out about my problem, she suggested that I mail my brush back to Kent for evaluation/replacement, which I did about a week ago. It hasn't arrived at Kent yet, but when it does I'm sure that they will deal with me fairly and quickly. That's pretty exceptional customer service for a 5 year old product, IMHO.

I have been a Kent brush user for over 30 years, and have found their products to be consistently superb (I own 3 of them), with the caveat that their brushes tend to be a bit on the "floppy" side - not as bad as the Vulfix brushes, though. They are, however, incredibly soft and luxurious on your face and create a fantastic lather, and if you're a face latherer like me, it doesn't get any better. I recently had an old Kent re-haired by Rudy Vey (a vendor member here at B&B who also does custom brushes, and whose work I can HIGHLY recommend) after using it daily for over 25 years.

Of course, YMMV, but if I had that kind of money, I think I'd consider the Kent BK8 - super brush, and a handle deisgn that I really like (not to mention that great presentation box that it somes in!). Good luck in your search!

 

[ClubmanRob]

Other than Bernd at Shavemac, I do not believe any brush company can be contacted. That is really sad, if you ask me, because I think that with such a small trade the brush makers should be speaking with their customers.

I've chatted with VDH a couple of times over the phone. As a matter of fact, that's the only way you can get ahold of one of their elusive badger brushes. For such a big company, they are very close knit/down to earth.

 

[smithno]

I have bought several brushes from The English Shaving Co. and had good service.

 

[BEAR DEN]

Thank you for all of your input and info...indeed I am very interested in purchasing a B&B brush regardless. Haven't been a member here long enough to have bought one before. I understand that they are only in the beginning stages of it right now.

 

[huntmol]

+1 to Shavemac, outstanding customer service

 

[Wingnut]

That's not entirely true. I have a Kent BK4 which has had a shedding issue ever since I bought it directly from them about 5 years ago. I recently contacted them through their website (Kentbrushes.com I believe), and have had a very cordial email correspondence with their Customer Service person, Vanessa Peters.

When she found out about my problem, she suggested that I mail my brush back to Kent for evaluation/replacement, which I did about a week ago. It hasn't arrived at Kent yet, but when it does I'm sure that they will deal with me fairly and quickly. That's pretty exceptional customer service for a 5 year old product, IMHO.

I have an update and pretty amazing story to tell everyone about my Kent BK4 with shedding issues. I sent my brush back to Kent, and I must have filled out the customs form incorrectly - thinking that I was insuring the brush for $150.00, but instead declaring that as the customs value (this was my first time sending anything across the pond)

I got an email just now from Vanessa Peters saying that Kent had been contacted by the British Postal Service and told that they must pay 22 pounds and change in VAT for the package, so they refused it and the brush is coming back to me. That seems only fair, but here's where it gets really interesting...

Ms. Peters then offered to REPLACE MY BRUSH, SIGHT UNSEEN, and isn't requiring me to re-send the old brush back to them for evaluation! That really blew me away. Of course, I offered to send the brush to them again, but I doubt that they will want it now...

Long story short: Kent and Vanessa Peters just made me a customer for life! What amazing customer service - I didn't think that this kind of after-purchase consideration was still around. ...And you guys thought I had been flogging Kent brushes a lot BEFORE all this...!

 

[bythbook]

great story...

Vanessa Peters has been my contact at Kent - I've been trying to chase down the ID of a vintage (is late 1960s vintage?) Kent brush. [see http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105711 ]She has been exceedingly helpful and gracious.

I have bought Kent/MWF soap directly from Kent - they gave very fast & efficient service.

Including the 2008 B&B LE, I now have four Kent brushes (two purchased new) - all are fantastic. Given the assistance and help from Ms. Peters in ID'ing my brush and now this testimonial, I too am a customer for life!

It is refreshing to find this sort of service these days.