Rooney in UK/Europe ?

[CrowdedHouse]

(Apologies if in the wrong forum)

Who are the best stockists of Rooney brushes in the UK or Europe ?

Maybe it's just me but I can't seem to find the more 'exotic' Rooneys - say - the Heritage line or Stubby for example,just the regular Style 1/2/3 in black or ivory are usually available.

I know some US vendors ship international but there's higher shipping plus the possibility of a big Customs bill.

 

[drP]

The truth is: there aren't...the European market is too small for mr. Sabini....apparently.....

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Thank you Peter

 

[Ignatius]

Its sad that Rooney export their best brushes. Well, it is for me.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Its sad that Rooney export their best brushes. Well, it is for me.

Well I suppose they go where the demand is.
It's odd that a product made in England is difficult to get there.I don't recall even seeing the regular Styles in finest,super seem to be the highest available.
Production might have limited capacity and Rooney look after their best vendors.

drP probably knows more about this than my idle speculation

 

[Michael S]

The two Trumpers shops in central London had most of the Heritage models in stock as of three weeks ago. They will mail if you call them and know exactly which model you want...

 

[andrew98]

A couple Rooney dealers in the UK.

This place has some Rooney brushes but no high-end models (heritage and the like).

http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/shaving/rooney/rooney.php

I also found this (my favorite Rooney):

http://www.charlesnicholls.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1101

-Andy

 

[Ignatius]

A couple Rooney dealers in the UK.

This place has some Rooney brushes but no high-end models (heritage and the like).

http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/shaving/rooney/rooney.php

Some of those brushes labelled 'Silvertip' look suspiciously like 'best' - and are also imprinted with italics; which I believe is how Rooney label their lower end brushes?

 

[chicken neck]

Ignatius - I just bought one from Charles Nicholls (which seems to be linked to Executive Shaving) and received a brush with italic writing. Since I have never bought a Rooney brush before, I have no idea what the hair should feel like. Are you sure these are best brushes and not super??? Does Rooney have a contact number in the UK?

 

[chicken neck]

Certainly none of the brushes on the Vintage Blades site have the italic labelling ..

 

[chicken neck]

I have just noticed that the 'super' I ordered from Charles Nicholls does have italic writing and says silvertip. So it seems that I did not get what I ordered but it is at least silvertip rather than best. The difference according to the website seems to be that with the super they use silvertip hair but remove the short and / or twisted hairs. Does anyone know if there is a big difference in performance between silvertip and super?

 

[jhclare]

I have emailed both of the above retailers regarding the ambiguity of the hair grades on their sites (I think they are affiliated).

I have received absolutely no response from either.

Customer service is an alien concept in the UK, in my experience.

John

 

[chicken neck]

Seems like there is an opportunity for a decent UK online vendor to stock the top end Rooney brushes. Paul at C$nnaught won't do it as he won't stock any badger stuff, but there are other good vendors out there ...

 

[andrew98]

...Customer service is an alien concept in the UK, in my experience.

John

Big +1.

-Andy

 

[andrew98]

Seems like there is an opportunity for a decent UK online vendor to stock the top end Rooney brushes. Paul at C$nnaught won't do it as he won't stock any badger stuff, but there are other good vendors out there ...

This economy is making me consider going into business for myself. I'm also shocked that things like Provence Sante and Institut Karite shaving soaps are hard to come by in the UK. Hmm.

-Andy

 

[gister]

Customer service is an alien concept in the UK, in my experience.

Unless you deal with TGS or Vulfix.

 

[andrew98]

Unless you deal with TGS or Vulfix.

Right, but that's only 2 companies out of the whole of Great Britain, which seems about right. Something like 0.01% of all companies here value customer service. Brits even complain about the poor customer service they provide one another. This may just be a Liverpool phenomenon, though. By the way, I say all this in good-natured jest (mostly). The English Shaving Company also has exemplary customer service.

-Andy