Uk Members - buying from the prestigious makers from these shores

[Ignatius]

Anyone had a similar experience to me? Whenever I buy a brush from a UK manufacturer I get the distinct impression its a reject, or a second, or a brush a refutable vendor from across the pond has sent back. The knots are invariably crooked, or they're shedders. Plus I have to buy them from vendors who clearly have no idea about shaving brushes. Plus they actually cost more here than they do elsewhere (especially Simpson's).

The exception is Kent, who actually care about their UK customers.

OK this is a whiney thread, but it does have a point: if you want to buy a Rooney or a Simpsons or a Vulfix, but from one of the refutable stateside vendors - they have something over their called 'customer service' - its a difficult concept to explain, but just to give you an idea of what it encapsulates, if you email them there's a good chance they will actually respond!

ps, thanks again to Kent for not ripping off its British/European customers.

 

[Duke Freedom]

Io capisco, A-men!

 

[SHarris]

I haven't had shedder's but some Simpson 2 band knots have been poorly shaped that's for sure. Just send it back and keep sending it.

It's not deliberate I just don't think the QC is up to scratch but it is clearly taken more seriously by US vendors.

 

[Ignatius]

While I have a thread especially for complaining about our manufacturers; Simpson's brushes still bear the legend 'Made in England' - they're not. As do Vulfixes - they never have been.

 

[SHarris]

While I have a thread especially for complaining about our manufacturers; Simpson's brushes still bear the legend 'Made in England' - they're not. As do Vulfixes - they never have been.

Strictly speaking that is true...but the Isle of Man is close enough.

 

[SHarris]

If anything you really should be getting narked about the origin and lack of availability of Rooney brushes in the UK.

 

[Dr Jekyll]

Anyone had a similar experience to me? Whenever I buy a brush from a UK manufacturer I get the distinct impression its a reject, or a second, or a brush a refutable vendor from across the pond has sent back. The knots are invariably crooked, or they're shedders. Plus I have to buy them from vendors who clearly have no idea about shaving brushes. Plus they actually cost more here than they do elsewhere (especially Simpson's).

The exception is Kent, who actually care about their UK customers.

OK this is a whiney thread, but it does have a point: if you want to buy a Rooney or a Simpsons or a Vulfix, but from one of the refutable stateside vendors - they have something over their called 'customer service' - its a difficult concept to explain, but just to give you an idea of what it encapsulates, if you email them there's a good chance they will actually respond!

ps, thanks again to Kent for not ripping off its British/European customers.

Not quite sure who you are having a go at here.

"Vendor" can mean any retailer - that's a lot, even in the UK. There are many UK retailers and on line businesses who offer good quality service and will deal fairly with any quality issues.

Manufacturers in the UK usually means Kent, Edwin Jagger and Progress Vulfix. Each of those provide prompt responses to orders and emails.

Rooney is now just a brand name. The name of their current manufacturer although owned by Lee Sabini is not widely known. The UK outlets selling Rooney brand brushes have not presently got a good reputation for customer service.

When complaining about anything it's best to name names and be specific. It's neither fair nor sensible just to categorise everyone in the same boat.

 

[Ignatius]

Not quite sure who you are having a go at here.

UK brush manufacturers, other than Kent (as specified in the OP)

It's neither fair nor sensible just to categorise everyone in the same boat.

Unfortunately, it is.

Strictly speaking that is true...but the Isle of Man is close enough.

There's nothing 'strictly speaking' about it. Vulfix/Simpsons claims that its products (in fact prints it upon them) are 'Made In England', when they're not.

 

[Ignatius]

If anything you really should be getting narked about the origin and lack of availability of Rooney brushes in the UK.

I'm not 'getting narked'

Don't be so sensitive guys (unless you are a vendor?). But now that you bring up Rooney (the most widely recommended and popular brand here) - try and communicate with a UK vendor about them. Ask Charles Nichols if the Silvertip brushes they carry are genuine or super - they truly have no idea.

 

[moodymick]

Well, i have 3 brushes all bought in the good ole U of K and i can honestly say i have found the vendors very friendly, knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with.

I would recommend my favourite internet vendor to you, but it will just upset the moderators when the alarms and sirens go off when i post it!

 

[Ignatius]

I would recommend my favourite internet vendor to you, but it will just upset the moderators when the alarms and sirens go off when i post it!

Indeed. He only sells boar brushes though.

 

[Michael S]

[But now that you bring up Rooney (the most widely recommended and popular brand here) - try and communicate with a UK vendor about them. [/QUOTE]

FWIW Trumpers/Curzon Street and Truefitt/St James are full of Rooney brushes (but branded with the shops' names) however you do have to go in person as most are not on their online catalogues....

 

[Fozz7769]

While I have a thread especially for complaining about our manufacturers; Simpson's brushes still bear the legend 'Made in England' - they're not. As do Vulfixes - they never have been.

Where are they made?

 

[Dr Jekyll]

Isle of Man.

The island is not part of the United Kingdom but its foreign relations, defence, and ultimate good governance are the responsibility of the Government of the United Kingdom.

So Simpson and Vulfix brushes are not made in England. I suspect that the fact that these brushes bear the Made in England tag is not a matter of consequence to non pedantics.

 

[SHarris]

I'm failing to see the point of this miserable thread...Diamond Edge will give you a 10% discount for being a B&B member on all Simpsons. If you can get them cheaper from the States where they don't pay VAT and the quality control is supposed to be better then do it. By the sounds of it you just need to get yourself laid.

 

[Ignatius]

These boards provide an unbelievable source of free, targeted advertising for vendors and manufacturers. When they provide a good service, they will get their qudos here. Several members have reported great experiences with Kent in recent weeks. That chimes with my experience. On the other hand, if you have a bad experience with a vendor or manufacturer, you are free, and in my opinion somewhat obliged, to tell the membership here about it. That is how, gradually, an informal anecdotal resevoir of knowledge is built up, and we can help point members towards more refutable vendors.

In this thread I, for example, have expressed my opinion that Kent is a great company to deal with as a customer, whereas Charles Nichols is a terrible one. I also think the limited number of Simpsons vendors in the UK are ripping people off. If you agree, say so. If you don't, say so. But taking offence to the point where you start throwing personal insults at other members seems, to me, a little strange and counter-productive.

 

[Fozz7769]

Isle of Man.

The island is not part of the United Kingdom but its foreign relations, defence, and ultimate good governance are the responsibility of the Government of the United Kingdom.

So Simpson and Vulfix brushes are not made in England. I suspect that the fact that these brushes bear the Made in England tag is not a matter of consequence to non pedantics.

Imagine if they said made in the Isle of Man on them. No one on this side of the pond would have a scooby where that is

 

[Dr Jekyll]

These boards provide an unbelievable source of free, targeted advertising for vendors and manufacturers. When they provide a good service, they will get their qudos here. Several members have reported great experiences with Kent in recent weeks. That chimes with my experience. On the other hand, if you have a bad experience with a vendor or manufacturer, you are free, and in my opinion somewhat obliged, to tell the membership here about it. That is how, gradually, an informal anecdotal resevoir of knowledge is built up, and we can help point members towards more refutable vendors.

In this thread I, for example, have expressed my opinion that Kent is a great company to deal with as a customer, whereas Charles Nichols is a terrible one. I also think the limited number of Simpsons vendors in the UK are ripping people off. If you agree, say so. If you don't, say so. But taking offence to the point where you start throwing personal insults at other members seems, to me, a little strange and counter-productive.

This is fair comment.

Do you really mean "refutable" ?

I just dislike sweeping generalisations. Much better to focus on specifics. It's simply wrong to label all Simpson vendors in the UK as rip off merchants. And I have no personal interest in this.

 

[jhclare]

I agree 100% with the original poster.

The Rooney retailers here, namely Charles Nicholls and Exectutive Shaving (they are connected in some way, correct me if I'm wrong), have appalling customer service. I have emailed them numerous times with genuine enquires about their products and how they could improve their websites (CN - namely by listing knot and loft dimensions, not too difficult...) I have been very polite.

I have not received any responses whatsoever.

It really riles me that such companies are trying to cash in on "English" and "Traditional", and such, and are just a bunch of money grabbers hiding behind a web store, with no knowledge of their products or interest in their customers' genuine enquiries.

I have emailed ES company about their Rooneys - are they Silvertip or Super? Any plans to stock more Supers? Any plans to stock any more Heritage brushes? No response.

Shame on you. I will take my business elsewhere, and I urge others to do the same.

John

 

[SubmarinerLV]

I agree 100% with the original poster.

The Rooney retailers here, namely Charles Nicholls and Exectutive Shaving (they are connected in some way, correct me if I'm wrong), have appalling customer service. I have emailed them numerous times with genuine enquires about their products and how they could improve their websites (CN - namely by listing knot and loft dimensions, not too difficult...) I have been very polite.

I have not received any responses whatsoever.

It really riles me that such companies are trying to cash in on "English" and "Traditional", and such, and are just a bunch of money grabbers hiding behind a web store, with no knowledge of their products or interest in their customers' genuine enquiries.

I have emailed ES company about their Rooneys - are they Silvertip or Super? Any plans to stock more Supers? Any plans to stock any more Heritage brushes? No response.

Shame on you. I will take my business elsewhere, and I urge others to do the same.

John

Indeed they appear to be owned by the same folks whilst I can't comment on their rooney's I can say that they didn't give me any trouble when I ordered from them. However I do agree with the OP with regards to the fact that many uk companies are rip off merchants with their customers.

Thanks Grant