User Controls

Gillette use shittier steel in their razor lines as they age

  1. #1
    Soyboy IV: The Flower of Death and The Crystal of Life African Astronaut [the oppositely able-bodied hop-step-and-jump]
    Mickey’s Assignment Desk–The Gillette Cycle of Despair: Here’s an evergreen story idea I’ve wanted someone to nail down for decades: Why do Gillette’s fancy razors seem to work so well when they are introduced, then gradually get worse and worse until a new, fancier razor is introduced? … The most recent example: When I first bought a Gillette Fusion five- blade razor, I thought it was absurd (and absurdly expensive). But it was fantastic. Best shave ever, etc. And the blades lasted for months. … A couple of years later, however–in an all-too-familiar development–I’ve noticed that the expensive replacement blades for this razor don’t seem to cut as smoothly, and they seen to wear out much faster. Experienced Gillette customers intuitively know what this means: the company is about to introduce a newer, more complex, and even more expensive shaving system. … And sure enough, here it is , the Fusion ProGlide! … Its blades will cost more than $4 apiece, according to the WSJ . And I’m sure they will be fabulous–at least for the first year or so. Then, if my experience is a guide, ProGlide consumers may notice a puzzling dropoff. … This cycle has held true with every Gillette product I’ve ever used, starting with the Techmatic in high school.

    My sneaking, completely unproven suspicion, of course, is that the seeming improvement with each newer, fancier, priceier razor has little to do with all the various innovations Gillette advertises (e.g., two blades, three blades, five blades, a “snow plow guard” that prevents hydroplaning, etc.) and a whole lot to do with the quality of the steel that’s used in the blades. The investigative mission, should you decide to accept it, would be to somehow prove that Gillette uses high-quality steel when it introduces a new razor, and then gradually lets the blade quality get degraded, saving the company money until it introduces the next innovative shaving system (the main innovation being that it uses the high quality steel again). … This could all be misguided consumerist paranoia, of course! But if so, it’s a paranoia that resonates widely, I’ve found. …

    P.S.: The equally paranoid corollary is that you should never turn down a promotional razor –e.g. the free-sample kind you get in the mail. They use the good steel in those, to hook you! They last forever, or until the day you go out and buy some replacement blades, whichever comes first…

    from:
    http://www.slate.com/blogs/kausfiles.html

    via:
    http://www.unz.com/isteve/why-arent-gillette-razors-the-best-that-razors-can-be-for-more-than-a-few-months-at-the-beginning-of-each-product-cycle/
  2. #2
    SpaceCakes African Astronaut
    they use high strength steel when they introduce them and mention it in the original commercials when they're a new product but as years go on, they don't mention the high grade steel and only mention the product. the method of making a raser out of shitty recycled steel is the same as steel-first forged.
  3. #3
    Soyboy IV: The Flower of Death and The Crystal of Life African Astronaut [the oppositely able-bodied hop-step-and-jump]
    Originally posted by SpaceCakes they use high strength steel when they introduce them and mention it in the original commercials when they're a new product but as years go on, they don't mention the high grade steel and only mention the product. the method of making a raser out of shitty recycled steel is the same as steel-first forged.

    Sounds about right. I have definitely noticed having gillette blades that lasted months, and ones that lasted barely 3 shaves.

    Apparently the blades they sell for several dollars each cost around 5c to produce. Gillette are interesting, as their business always was more marketing than anything, they more or less started the disposable razor market themselves and promoted the clean shaven look to the whole society, that's why after about 1900 or WW1 or so everyone suddenly loses their beard.
  4. #4
    Madman African Astronaut
    get a safety razor like your grandpa
    The following users say it would be alright if the author of this post didn't die in a fire!
  5. #5
    Erekshun Naturally Camouflaged
    It's not just Gillette. In my business companies are obsoleting replacement parts for equipment around the 10 year old range. This so they can sell new equipment. Pisses me off but I get it, companies have share holders to please, BY LAW!
  6. #6
    Ghost Black Hole
    Shaving is the damnation of Babylon.

    "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."

    Numbers 6:5
  7. #7
    SpaceCakes African Astronaut
    Originally posted by MORALLY SUPERIOR BEING IV: The Flower of Death and The Crystal of Life Sounds about right. I have definitely noticed having gillette blades that lasted months, and ones that lasted barely 3 shaves.

    Apparently the blades they sell for several dollars each cost around 5c to produce. Gillette are interesting, as their business always was more marketing than anything, they more or less started the disposable razor market themselves and promoted the clean shaven look to the whole society, that's why after about 1900 or WW1 or so everyone suddenly loses their beard.

    I might join this

  8. #8
    Ghost Black Hole
    Originally posted by SpaceCakes I might join this

    Make sure to the run the blade across your throat to make sure it's not dull
  9. #9
    poor hairy neanderthals.

    i use cheap no brand razor for up to five years without the need to replace it.
  10. #10
    Lion Yung Blood
    Originally posted by Ghost Shaving is the damnation of Babylon.

    "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."

    Numbers 6:5

    Raetettqtqqyqyqyq (lion roar,+*))0==93%6 363225//50. VG 0/0*45/xa8==. %2+5*5*00
  11. #11
    SpaceCakes African Astronaut
    Originally posted by Ghost Make sure to the run the blade across your throat to make sure it's not dull

    I'll just start with your throat first. if it's sharp enough then I wont need to test it a second time on mine.
Jump to Top