Questions asked (Personna reseller)

[olschoolsteel]

http://www.razorbladeco.com/default.aspx

I was doing a little research and came across this site. Looking at their DE blades for sale, they were even stamped with personna markings and packaging. So out of boredom and curiosity I called them to see if they make blades (mostly to see if ASR was the only true US manufacturer) and what their brands were if they did.

So initially the lady was nice when sha answered. Then I specifically asked her about the blades advertised on the site, and if they make them for personna, or just resell personna's blades. She finally came clean that all of the blades advertised on their site are personna's that they resell.

Then for the million dollar question. "Does you company actually manufactur DE razor blades, and if it does, what are the brand names and where can I find them?" There was a long pause, of uncomfortable silence. At least 45 seconds. She then says. "We dont make any here. All of the blades we sell are sourced from personna."

Kind of misleading after you read this page of their site. Makes you think they have their own plant...

http://www.razorbladeco.com/blog/1-manufacturing-the-perfect-razor-blade.aspx

 

[skydivemd]

From their website:."The Razor Blade Co. prides itself in only selecting the most meticulously crafted razor blades for our customers.. Our razor blades come from handpicked sources in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.. We ensure only the best materials and processes are used in order to guarantee quality in the thousands of blades sold every day."

It is the "selecting" and "handpicked sources" that tells me they are being upfront about outsourcing their stock.

 

[jkh]

I just read the linked site and didn't get the impression that they manufacture blades.

As mentioned in skydivemd's post, the first paragraph makes it sound like they are careful about who they get their blades from and the following paragraph explain the process of manufacturing a blade, which I took as evidence that razor blade company understood the process and therefor can handpick/select from the best manufacturers.

 

[olschoolsteel]

I suppose their bio helped lead me to think that they are still in the manufacturing business.

http://www.razorbladeco.com/aboutus.aspx

 

[Eeyore]

I read nowhere on that page that they manufacture razor blades?

 

[Early Morning]

I understand your concern. But, this looks completely legit to me, and it appears they have been in business a very long-long time. Their parent company is Direct Distributors, located in North Hollywood CA. They have been in business for almost a hundred years, and they're just a distribution company. Good prices as far as I can tell.

Cheers

 

[Jeff_H]

I haven't read all the replies, but I looked at the link you posted and this is the first thing that jumps out at me:

"The Razor Blade Co. prides itself in only selecting the most meticulously crafted razor blades for our customers. Our razor blades come from handpicked sources in the United States, Latin America, and Europe."

It looks like they are just a supplier to me. Am I missing something?

 

[ArNav]

It would be nice of them to be transparent about the manufacturer and name of each blade, or at least show a clear picture of it. But I guess it goes against their interests.

 

[Eeyore]

It would be nice of them to be transparent about the manufacturer and name of each blade, or at least show a clear picture of it. But I guess it goes against their interests.

Why? As long as they vouch for the quality of the blades they are selling?

Boots in the UK also does not print "made by Personna" on their blades either, nor do Dutch and German shops. Not a problem, as long as they stand behind their products.

 

[Darkbulb]

No idea where you got the idea that they are making the blades as it clearly states:
"Our razor blades come from handpicked sources in the United States, Latin America, and Europe"

To be quite honest your post may be borderline libel.

 

[ArNav]

Why? As long as they vouch for the quality of the blades they are selling?

Why? For people to know what it is exactly they're buying. Why keep people in the dark by being vague? Why the general statements, what's wrong with being transparent? Apparently it's not incidental, judging by the uneasy reaction of their secretary.

 

[Eeyore]

Well, we seem to have different viewpoints then.

 

[ArNav]

Well, we seem to have different viewpoints then.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Eeyore]

Nothing wrong with that.

True

(I wonder if someone from the company would read this discussion)

 

[jwilock]

Kind of misleading after you read this page of their site. Makes you think they have their own plant...

http://www.razorbladeco.com/blog/1-manufacturing-the-perfect-razor-blade.aspx

I read this very same page and was left the impression that they could hardly make it clearer that they source the blades from other manufacturers. As for "coming clean" ( that's kind of like saying someone finally"admitted" something where they merely state it), it sounded to me like the very page you referenced "came clean" on this subject.

Finally, except for us nut jobs on this site I doubt almost anyone else at all cares where they get their blades from.

 

[Mick]

Wholesaler / reseller not a manufacturer. Plainly stated.

 

[NingYupOwaDat]

I'm guessing you skipped the first paragraph and just got the impression that they manufacture them from the rest of the page which explains how they are made.

If you actually look at the blades they are selling two of them even have Personna written on the blades.

 

[VerbaVolant]

http://www.razorbladeco.com/default.aspx​

I was doing a little research and came across this site. Looking at their DE blades for sale, they were even stamped with personna markings and packaging. So out of boredom and curiosity I called them to see if they make blades (mostly to see if ASR was the only true US manufacturer) and what their brands were if they did.

So initially the lady was nice when sha answered. Then I specifically asked her about the blades advertised on the site, and if they make them for personna, or just resell personna's blades. She finally came clean that all of the blades advertised on their site are personna's that they resell.

Then for the million dollar question. "Does you company actually manufactur DE razor blades, and if it does, what are the brand names and where can I find them?" There was a long pause, of uncomfortable silence. At least 45 seconds. She then says. "We dont make any here. All of the blades we sell are sourced from personna."

Kind of misleading after you read this page of their site. Makes you think they have their own plant...

http://www.razorbladeco.com/blog/1-manufacturing-the-perfect-razor-blade.aspx

Looking at their website I imagine there is a (very) good chance razorbladeco is a legitimate and honest business. I have no reasons to believe otherwise, and also believe it is run by hard working honest people. The idiom "smelling a rat" used in your title means you found something wrong.
There is a good chance the lady that answered the phone was actually working and trying to do her job. Probably earning money for her family. You called her out of boredom and curiosity, but I imagine she answered the phone with the intent of being helpful and answer all your questions. She told you that all of the blades advertised on their site are made by personna.

She paused after your "million dollar" question because she was surprised. She just told you that blades advertised on their website are personna and next you ask her if their company actually manufactures blades.

I read the page you suggested last, and cannot find anything misleading. Maybe, if I would really want to see something, the fact that they say "our razor blades", but they continue in the same sentence to be upfront and explain that their blades come outsourced. So they way I understand their statement is that "our razor blades" are the blades that they carry and sell through their webstore.

When I looked at their website I could not see any rats.

I think you owe them an apology.
My 2c.

 

[Darkbulb]

She paused after your "million dollar" question because she was surprised. She just told you that blades advertised on their website are personna and next you ask her if their company actually manufactures blades.

+1

 

[hawgsquatch]

Is there something about making a profit that bothers you? I am going to support capitalism and buy some blades now, thanks for directing me to this site.