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2011-11-16 2:10 PM

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Veteran
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Subject: The price of razors.
So it had been a while since I purchased any razor blades.  I went to the grocery store last night and saw that the price has increased to $20.99 for 8 blades!!  They were the standard Mach 3 blades.  I just refuse to give in to this and pay what is probably a 1000% markup per blade.  I started researching other options and found that straight razors can last a life time with proper maintenance and use.  Does anyone have any experience with them, or any other suggestions for that matter?  (As a side note, this is just for shaving the face.  I haven't even thought about all the other triathlon related shaving.)


2011-11-16 2:17 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Pro
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Hailey, ID
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Funny you are going through what I just did. I'm getting a shipment of a safety razor and kit from Amazon today. I will let you know how it goes. A little investment up front, but I hear they are great and way cheaper in the long run. I couldn't pay $50 for replacement blades anymore for a crappy Mach 3 either!
2011-11-16 2:45 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Champion
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Calgary
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
I know what you are saying. I buy a new pack every couple years. My wife signs up for some give away thingy and I get a new Gillette razor every 4-5 months, somehow. Not sure how that works.

Also curious about the straight razor thing.
2011-11-16 4:04 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Elite
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Boise
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Have you tried googling them? I bought some a few months ago, it was ~$12 for a 10 pack I think.
2011-11-16 4:10 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Elite
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Spokane, WA
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I have the same Trac II that my dad gave me in high school. Great razor and it gives super close shaves. You can still get generic blades at about $5 per 10. I even found the blades at the dollar store a few years back--they worked great. Score!

For the gym I use disposables--dollar store again, 5 for a dollar. I should say I have a thick beard that grows very fast, so not just shaving fuzz.

2011-11-17 9:46 AM
in reply to: #3904658

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Expert
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Central Mass
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
zed707 - 2011-11-16 2:10 PM

I have the same Trac II that my dad gave me in high school. Great razor and it gives super close shaves. You can still get generic blades at about $5 per 10. I even found the blades at the dollar store a few years back--they worked great. Score!

For the gym I use disposables--dollar store again, 5 for a dollar. I should say I have a thick beard that grows very fast, so not just shaving fuzz.

The razors I use on my head are $3 for 10 .  Generic equivalent of old school Gillette Atra Plus blades



2011-11-17 12:00 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Member
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El Paso, TX
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I think the Mach3 makers employed the Drug Dealer Marketing Plan: First one is free.

I received a free Mach3 razor for my 18th birthday......I am now 34 and have never purchased anything different. Not necessarly because of brand loyalty but because they fazed out the the old school double blade. In any case, I really like the shave I get with these razors.

But they are crazy EXPENSIVE!

2011-11-17 12:09 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Extreme Veteran
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Montreal, QC
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I use both from time to time. A disposable is much easier to use for a quick, decent shave. You are much less likely to get nicks using them. But yes, they are expensive, and no, they don't give you as close of a shave. With the safety razors, I tend to get a bunch of really small nicks. Nothing that a styptic pencil can't fix. 

Also, I suggest not letting the hair grow long AT ALL between using a safety razor. My facial hair doesn't grow quick at all (I can go about 4 days before I start feeling grungy), but after about 2 days, there is no way I'm taking a safety to my face. It just rips the hair out. Not a good feeling at all.

2011-11-17 1:08 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Regular
149
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Grand Blanc, MI
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Now you know why Warren Buffet if the largest Gillette shareholder!

BTW, Go 'Noles!!
2011-11-17 2:09 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Elite
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Boise
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
The one good thing about the Mach 3's (I have the Turbo) is the blades can last for a long time. Not the ultra close smooth shave that you get the first few times, but I regularly keep 1 blade for ~2 months. I shave every other day for work and I probably could keep using them longer.
2011-11-17 2:30 PM
in reply to: #3904658

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
zed707 - 2011-11-16 4:10 PM

I have the same Trac II that my dad gave me in high school. Great razor and it gives super close shaves. You can still get generic blades at about $5 per 10. I even found the blades at the dollar store a few years back--they worked great. Score!

For the gym I use disposables--dollar store again, 5 for a dollar. I should say I have a thick beard that grows very fast, so not just shaving fuzz.

I use a twin blade as well because the prospect of $4 blades clashes with my frugal nature.  I've quit getting the generic blades, too many times where they've got a burr and I prefer keeping my blood inside my body. 



2011-11-17 2:35 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Appearently there was a pretty bad freeze and alot of the razor trees ded so that why the high costs.
2011-11-17 3:02 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Elite
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Oliver, BC, "Wine Capital of Canada"
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Electric
2011-11-17 3:16 PM
in reply to: #3906096

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Subject: RE: The price of razors.

JoshR - 2011-11-17 2:09 PM The one good thing about the Mach 3's (I have the Turbo) is the blades can last for a long time. Not the ultra close smooth shave that you get the first few times, but I regularly keep 1 blade for ~2 months. I shave every other day for work and I probably could keep using them longer.

 

There was a thread about this a while back that got me to try making my blades last longer than a week like I always had. I thought people were crazy, but I'll go for a month or longer on the same blade now and it works out pretty well.

I can't use cheap disposables or my face becomes a bloody mess even on the first shave. Electrics leave me looking like I still haven't shaved unless I go over and over for 20 or 30 minutes and then my face is almost as raw as using a disposable. 

Mach 3s, King of Shaves gel as a base followed by Edge is the only way I've found to avoid looking like I should be in the ER after a shave.

2011-11-17 3:29 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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New user
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Columbia
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

Heard in college that it's not the actual shaving/hair that dulls the blade, but simply oxidation of the cutting edge.  

 

Try drying the blade heads after a shave....went from 3-4 weeks/head to 2-3 months/head on my Sensor and/or Mach 3.  Have heard to use alcohol or a clean towel opposite the direction of shave. Maybe a mental game, maybe not? 

2011-11-17 3:30 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Elite
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Minnetonka
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I use my Wahl hair trimmer for all grooming.  I haven't had a close shave in 20 years, nor have I paid for a haircut in about 10 years.

Yep, I'm real pretty....



2011-11-17 3:38 PM
in reply to: #3906233

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

Is this for body or face?

To be honest, I get the generic twin blade bag at walgreens or cvs or something.  Usually have about 24 in the bag for 10 bucks?  They last forever, but I only use them on my face and the occasional body trim (but never complete body shave).

2011-11-17 5:03 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Shave Secret for the win. http://www.shavesecret.com/You use 4 to 6 drops on your wet face and shave. I do this with disposable razors and get about a month per razor. I swear what kills the razor's blade is shaving cream/gel.

I'm a little closer to our common ancestor too, get a 12 o'clock shadow and Shave Secret works for me. Very close shaves.

2011-11-20 5:36 AM
in reply to: #3904496

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Bronze member
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I see deals like this all the time:

Buy 1 Schick Quattro, Intuition or Hydro Systems and Cartridges at $8.99, Get $4 Register Rewards
Use $2/1 coupon from the 10/30 SmartSource insert
Or use $3/1 printable
As low as $1.99 after coupon

This deal is at Walgreens this week. There are always razor coupons in the Sunday paper, stack them with a sale and you won't be spending much at all!

2011-11-20 7:43 AM
in reply to: #3904496

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Master
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Ferndale, MI
Subject: RE: The price of razors.

I used to use a straight razor on my legs for a long time.  I don't believe I ever cut myself using one.  I use soap or conditioner, too, not shaving cream.

 

I know, not much help for the face, but getting the hang of a straight razor isn't that hard.  

2011-11-21 12:37 PM
in reply to: #3904496

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Veteran
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CT
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Buy one Schick Hydro. The blade on the Hydro lasts forever.


2011-11-22 8:05 AM
in reply to: #3904496

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Veteran
136
10025
Wesley Chapel, FL
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
I don't use a straight razor but I did switch to the double edge safety razor.  I ended up with an Edwin Jagger DE89 and a sample pack of blades.  As mentioned in another post, there is a cost upfront, (razor, brush, creams, soaps, mugs, blade sample pack) but after you find what you like it will last a long time.  Plus you can find good deals on ebay for vintage Gillette razors that are still in very good condition.  It find it to be a very good shave and it only takes me a few minutes more in the morning.
2011-11-22 9:39 AM
in reply to: #3904496

Master
1946
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Memphis, TN
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
My wife buys me the disposable razors and with coupons pays NOTHING for them.  I can ask her the strategy on how it works.  That and deoderant is one of those things with coupons you never have to pay any money out of pocket for.  She's not a horder extreme couponer but she is using some of the strategies.
2011-11-22 3:53 PM
in reply to: #3908706

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Elite
3223
20001000100100
Hendersonville
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
trigal38 - 2011-11-20 5:36 AM

I see deals like this all the time:

Buy 1 Schick Quattro, Intuition or Hydro Systems and Cartridges at $8.99, Get $4 Register Rewards
Use $2/1 coupon from the 10/30 SmartSource insert
Or use $3/1 printable
As low as $1.99 after coupon

This deal is at Walgreens this week. There are always razor coupons in the Sunday paper, stack them with a sale and you won't be spending much at all!

This. Us crazy coupon people never pay more than 2 dollars or so for a razor system (Schick Hydro or Gillette Fusion or Power Fusion usually). You learn that it's usually cheaper to buy the razor with it's first free 5 cartridges when a deal like this comes up (I did this deal at Walgreens this week AND had a coupon for a free razor) than it is to buy refills. At least every three months or so Walgreens will give you back the full value of the razor in Register Rewards, so if you also have a coupon you get paid to buy the razor. I got 4 dollars in Register Rewards this week and a Shick Hydro razor with 5 refills for just the tax on the item.

2011-11-22 9:20 PM
in reply to: #3912217

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Bronze member
Subject: RE: The price of razors.
Tri Take Me Away - 2011-11-22 3:53 PM
trigal38 - 2011-11-20 5:36 AM

I see deals like this all the time:

Buy 1 Schick Quattro, Intuition or Hydro Systems and Cartridges at $8.99, Get $4 Register Rewards
Use $2/1 coupon from the 10/30 SmartSource insert
Or use $3/1 printable
As low as $1.99 after coupon

This deal is at Walgreens this week. There are always razor coupons in the Sunday paper, stack them with a sale and you won't be spending much at all!

This. Us crazy coupon people never pay more than 2 dollars or so for a razor system (Schick Hydro or Gillette Fusion or Power Fusion usually). You learn that it's usually cheaper to buy the razor with it's first free 5 cartridges when a deal like this comes up (I did this deal at Walgreens this week AND had a coupon for a free razor) than it is to buy refills. At least every three months or so Walgreens will give you back the full value of the razor in Register Rewards, so if you also have a coupon you get paid to buy the razor. I got 4 dollars in Register Rewards this week and a Shick Hydro razor with 5 refills for just the tax on the item.

HA! Love it!

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