Was at Razor Emporium Monday, it was Veterans Day, and I was close because of Doctor's appointment close to shop. My mission was to go look at Brushes anticipating Black Friday's Sale. The one Shelf with most of their inventory on display had like 50-60 Brushes by many manufactures. The More I looked, touched, felt, and check out prices not being expert on Badger, Boar, and Synthetic. It seemed Big Names well know were more pricy then the likes of Omega, and house brands. The pricy Brands like Shavemac were not available on display, or feel. But staff did offer me opportunity to look at anything.I went home more confuse then when I started.
Question on Brushes, Quality, or Name is big price factor.
- Thread starter DesertIguana
- Start date
What was your question?
Hair type, density, diameter and loft, handle quality, hand vs machine assembly, country of origin (labor costs, VAT, etc.), and probably a dozen things I didn't mention all contribute to price.
Having said that, the best brush I've ever used is a $40 Portuguese SOC boar with a cherry handle.
Having said that, the best brush I've ever used is a $40 Portuguese SOC boar with a cherry handle.
- Thread starter
- #4
Think because I am not EXPERT most feel same, look, same, but brand with Big Names seem to cost more, Shavemac, Simpson, etc.
Yes, this is quite unique to the shaving world. Inexplicably, this is the only market in the history of the Universe where a prestige brand actually commands a higher price.
Economists, social scientists, philosophers, you tube shaving monologists, and professionals with generally too much time on their hands have struggled with the question of why this practice has not leaked out into other markets. Wine, cars, hotels, sporting goods manufacturers--all of these goods would be ripe for this practice yet, mystifyingly, they have somehow remained unaffected by it.
We can only hope that, as this civilisation clearly winds down and disappears under the detritus of it's own excreta, that some new intelligence somewhere in the universe will notice this pattern and divine it's true nature, thereby unlocking the secret for the ages...
- Thread starter
- #6
Well the problem what Brush purchases is you bought, you used, you hated after two weeks use. You out of luck, except cleaning and reselling to someone who want deal on used brush.
I honestly FREEZE at anything over $30.00, or more.
I honestly FREEZE at anything over $30.00, or more.
I have too many brushes. Some more expensive than others. Some synthetic, some boar, a couple mixed knots, and a couple of badgers. For natural hair, I prefer boar and Omega hits all the buttons for the most part at a reasonable price point.
Unlike underpants1, last time I checked there was a resale market for brushes.
1. Yes, I know
1. Yes, I know
- Thread starter
- #9
Think Omega is like little Dinner in middle of no man land in flyover State. Good Food, Fair Price, Good Service, and Fair Price create demand.
Like Johnson Cornors Diner, between Denver - Fort Collins. Never anything but GREAT.
Truthfully, you don't need to spend a lot to get a great brush. Especially with boars and synthetics. Being able to see them in person means you can get a handle that suits you too, without having to guess.
Yep, that's pretty much a universal thing across the whole of the global economy. You pay more for prestige, rarity of materials etc.
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The painful irony
You sound like a value shopper, in the lingo of Marketing. Better to just avoid the prestige brands, don't look at them, do not lead us into Temptation, etc.
Good thing you don't have to spend a lot. Get a midsize Omega boar for $10-15, break it in, that is the best deal IMHO. Inexpensive synthetic brushes come next. Semogue has some nice brushes that are not real expensive. You don't need a huge brush, midsize and smaller is sufficient.
- Thread starter
- #14
Well I am as you said a value shopper, I understand that there is not much difference in say a Browning superposed Shotgun be it barebones model, or the most pricy engraved model. It is like two exact same Harley Davidsons Motorcycles, one is a bare-bones stock, the other is all chromed up, and super duper custom paint job. They ride sam, they run same, but one get more attention because of paint n chrome..
For value I suggest Yaqi and DSC for badger and synthetics, Omega and Semogue for boar, Semogue for horse, and mixed badger and boar. 22mm-24mm.
Depends on your taste, price may be inversely related to preference in knots. If you like some scrub, you might prefer boar or mixed to badger and you might prefer the lower grades of badger to the higher grades of badger. If you like heavenly soft clouds of unicorn fur, you will likely prefer synthetics to any grade of badger.
To me, the low and low-mid grade badger, black, pure, and best, are at the top tier, followed by mixed, then boar and high grade badger, then synthetics.
Depends on your taste, price may be inversely related to preference in knots. If you like some scrub, you might prefer boar or mixed to badger and you might prefer the lower grades of badger to the higher grades of badger. If you like heavenly soft clouds of unicorn fur, you will likely prefer synthetics to any grade of badger.
To me, the low and low-mid grade badger, black, pure, and best, are at the top tier, followed by mixed, then boar and high grade badger, then synthetics.
- Thread starter
- #16
Well I find that if you compare a Brush to Car it is simple comparison. A Old Yugo the car from Czechoslovakia, aka today Czech Republic will get person from point A-B, but say if you have big buck for a pricey ride a Lamborghini will do say thing in style. A Shave Brush is something most people use in private, a car is something when you drive people see, and see it a joke, or wow factor ride.
And like the Yugo, hairs/parts start failing sooner than they should and in the best of circumstances it's not comfortable or particularly satisfying - but it can get the job done for a while.
The Yugo had a terrible reputation (name) built by making unreliable cars with poor longevity providing mediocre service at best. Toyota/Lexus has a great reputation (name) for quality products that last a long time. So how does a company obtain one of these great names (that does allow them to charge a slightly higher price because of that great reputation)? You can't get it by adding glitz or buying advertising (well, you might for a little while, but people are often not that stupid). You earn it.
So yes, manufacturers known for consistently making high quality goods charge more than people making lower quality goods. Higher material costs, higher labor costs and that sterling reputation for quality. So let's not be too quick to denigrate a good name, proudly earned.
But you don't have to buy a car that parks itself, you can get the same reputation for quality in a Corolla (nice smaller car). Same with brushes. You can get an excellent boar for under $20 if that meets your requirements. And like cars, the longer your requirements list becomes the more the price goes up.
B&B is the perfect place for shopping advice if you know what you want. Boar brush with some scrub in a medium size for under $20? Ask away and you'll get lots of great choices. Synthetic with soft tips for $15? Lots of choices.
Now if you want a synthetic with a beautiful handle and tons of backbone with soft tips you're not going to find it for $15. More requirements usually means more money, but it's really about how fussy you are. For me, looking at the brush is next to useless. I need to hear from someone who's used it at home for a while.
The Yugo car was from former Yugoslavia.... hence the name Yugo....
I think it was based on an old Fiat design. What could go wrong with this plan?
How do you double the value of a Yugo?
Fill the tank!
Swing by that place you like by your doctor's office and look at the Semogue 1470, it's only $12.50
You'll be happy. Quality, price, name, looks @DesertIguana
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