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Shaving soaps and the cost per shave- Data mined from the 3017 thread.

The 3017 Thread, AKA "The Fidelity thread" has been chugging along for quite a while now.
It occurred to me that with so many men tracking their soap use and time, it would make for some interesting data collection opportunities.

Below is my usage for the last 782 days and the costs averaged over that time.


09.08.201105.21.2012Tallow AOS soap Lemon
07.02.201210.07.2012DRH Arlington*
10.08.201207.17.2013Tallow AOS Sandalwood
07.18.201312.24.2013DRH Arlington*
12.26.201305.21.2014QED Sandalwood
05.22.201410.29.2014Tallow Pens Fern


9.08.2012 to 10.29.2014 inclusive = 782 days
Discount that 10% for travel and no shave days = 703

Cost of soaps is 90.00 / 703 = 0.13 per shave.


Please add your data to this thread if you keep records of your use and the associated costs.
 
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Here are my costs per shave with my 3017 soaps/creams. All prices are PRE-shipping, USD, no taxes and based on the going rate for price with no sales (WCS, IB, direct etc) and per shave based on my usage.

Obviously shipping plays a big part as does when I buy from Canadian vendors and get charged +12% taxes, but those are not calculated into the numbers below.

Mystic Water - $0.34
QCS Cream - $0.93
GFT Coconut Cream - $0.65
PdP - $0.16
Nancy Boy - $0.48
LaToja Stick - $0.39
PannaCreama - $0.45
Proraso Blue - $0.21
Haslinger - $0.38
RR P.160 - $0.25
Castle Forbes - $0.98
RR Mudder - $0.30 (still in use)

There were a few I couldn't calculate because of the limited use or no longer available. It's funny when I look at it, as the two most enjoyable and some of the best performing soaps on my list are the two cheapest per shave....PdP and Proraso Blue.

ItemPre-WeightUsesg/use
MW Lavender Lime96.4 g234.19 g
QCS Briar Cream87.3 g146.24 g
GFT Coconut Cream152.6 g354.36 g
RazoRock Pro Lube (preshave)120 ml602.00 ml
RazoRock Pro Lube (preshave)120 ml751.60 ml
Pre de Provence140 g881.59 g
Proraso AS Splash100 ml611.64
Proraso Sensitive Preshave100ml432.32 ml
Nancy Boy Signature Cream170 g404.25 g
Scritcnscrub Soap55.5 g252.22
La Toja (sticked pressed in bowl)45.0 g252.25
NB Cooling Gel118 ml1201 ml
PannaCreama Labdano86.5 g223.93 g
Proraso Aloe & Vitamin E150 ml552.73 ml
Haslinger Schafmilch61.6 g272.28 g
RazoRock Moroccan Secret111 g333.36 g
RazoRock P.16093.5 g313.02 g
Vitos Super Extra Coconut100 g422.38 g
Castle Forbes Lavender120 g274.44 g
* I have hard water and don't skimp on loading :thumbup1:
 
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These are guesstimates more than anything, but:

StartedFinishedDaysPrevShavesBrandPriceGramsG/Shv$/Gr$/Shv
8/12/20139/16/2013361046Van der Hagen Luxury$51002.20.050.11
9/17/201311/5/201350050Palmolive Shave Stick$2501.00.040.04
11/24/201312/23/201330737Van der Hagen Deluxe$3501.40.060.08
7/30/20148/20/2014221436RazoRock XXX$101253.50.080.28
8/22/20149/3/201413821Coates Lime$5502.40.100.24
9/4/20149/12/201491019Cella$3502.60.060.16
9/13/20149/30/201418220Tabac (paused)$4502.50.080.20
10/1/201410/18/201418220SCS Pumpkin$7854.30.080.35
10/19/201410/25/201462531Tabac (finished)$4501.60.080.13


(ignore the paused Tabac)

I used to load less in 2013 than I do now, so I'd bet those numbers would be clustered a little closer.
 
It’s been interesting seeing all these numbers come in. Good idea Jim.

These are my stats for the last 10 soaps I used.








4 Oct 2013 to 6 Dec 2014 totals = 428 days
Discount that 4% for no shave days = 411 days
Cost of soaps is 87.90 USD.

87.90 / 411 = 21c per shave




Purchase cost ignores shipping, is without special packaging where available, and is not on sale or with bulk cost.

In the tables above, my costs are per day rather than per shave. It’s just easier for me to keep track this way. When I travel, I travel with my 3017 soap. I often go the whole month without missing a shave and rarely miss 2 shaves in a given month. I estimate that I miss a total of 15 days max in a year. So, to adjust from ‘per day’ numbers in the table to ‘per shave’ costs, simply reduce cost per shave by 4%.

*Extrapolated from my current use speed
 
Here's what I've got from my list, at least for the items that I can find an invoice for:

3017 List with prices paid

Soap/CreamWeightShavesCost$ per Shave
SCS Pumpkin91g18$7.00$0.39
Ralph Lauren Safari98g26$12.50$0.48
Tiki Surf's Up! Tallow104g31$14.00$0.45
D.R. Harris Lavender112g110$18.00$0.16
TFS Barbe Rosse120g30$1.75$0.06
Palmolive Shave Stick45g35$3.00$0.09
TOBS St. James Cream150g50$12.50$0.25

Don't judge the SCS Pumpkin by my usage here...it was my first SCS soap ever, and I overloaded like crazy the first ten days or so. More reasonable loading should have gotten me to 30 or so shaves.

The TOBS cream was a MyHabit purchase where you can two for $25, free shipping. Don't know if TOBS still does those, but the price is pretty good.

I bought the TFS Barbe Rosse in a 1000ml brick (about 900g) for 10.50 euros, and carved off a piece to 3017.​
 
I wish I could be a part of the 3017 gang, but I just can't stick with it. especially since I only shave every other day, it will take me for-stinkin-ever to go through anything, least of all see any real depreciation while sticking to one product exclusively. I tried to 3017 a nearly new puck of TABAC and couldn't even stay loyal enough to wear off the imprint!:lol:

you guys are my hero's!
 
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Here is the analysis of my 3017 journey so far:

- All weight measurements are of the soap/cream only
- Cost was what I paid for a new tube/tub/puck/etc.


StartEndSoap/CreamWeight (g)# of Shavesg/ShaveCost$/ShavePerf.ScentAdditional Comments
11/14/20131/5/2014Barrister and Mann Nocturne Soap106303.53$12.00$0.40********
1/7/20146/17/2014The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream1501141.32$25.00$0.22*********
6/18/20147/30/2014RazoRock XX Soap (White Tub)103482.15$10.00$0.21******
7/31/20148/22/2014Stirling Soap Blue Sample52212.48FreeFree*******
8/23/20149/1/2014Stirling Soap Sport Sample22102.20FreeFree-**Allergic reaction
9/2/201410/9/2014C.O. Bigelow Shaving Cream (Partial Tube)75381.97$6.67$0.09*******$/Shave was extrapolated
10/10/2014-Truefitt & Hill Rose Shaving CreamIn Progress
 
Very impressive, 3017 and spreadsheets. Then there are people like me who wander into the den soak the bow, razor, and brush, and then decide on the soap or cream right them. Disorganized, but fun.
 
Thanks, gentlemen. It's interesting to see that the cost per shave range is so small, really: from about 10¢ to under 40¢, with most in the middle of that.

It's worth noting that those 3017 fellas load hard. Those of us who only load it like we hate it--not like we want to kill it--will probably do even better. :biggrin:
 
Excellent post! Lucky me I am naturally part of the 3017 club with my one soap.. Oh no.. I've got a new cream and a puck coming... Dang it :p
 
Thanks, gentlemen. It's interesting to see that the cost per shave range is so small, really: from about 10¢ to under 40¢, with most in the middle of that.

It's worth noting that those 3017 fellas load hard. Those of us who only load it like we hate it--not like we want to kill it--will probably do even better. :biggrin:

I agree. Nice to see a high end shave cost less than 40c.

I also agree about usage. I use that much product because I use enough to make the best lather regardless of how quickly I go through soap. But, I tend to bowl lather and have excess soap when done. And, I typically use a 30mm badger, 24mm boar set at short loft, or Finest brushes. If I were using 20mm or 22mm badger or even 22mm synthetic every day and face lathering exclusively, my usage rate could probably be cut in half.
 
9.08.2012 to 10.29.2014 inclusive = 782 days
Discount that 10% for travel and no shave days = 703

Cost of soaps is 90.00 / 703 = 0.13 per shave.

4 Oct 2013 to 6 Dec 2014 totals = 428 days
Discount that 4% for no shave days = 411 days
Cost of soaps is 87.90 USD.

87.90 / 411 = 21c per shave
I seem to be a bit higher, but it is likely based on a lot of soft soaps and creams the first year and a half of 3017ing


500 days documented with 3017 products
Cost of soaps is $182.07 USD

$182.07 / 500 days = 36c per shave
 
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