Thread: Avoiding bad buying decisions and wasted money

Originally Posted by rhensley

I think we all drank from that same well. It's the after taste that gets ya.

Luckily I only have one razor in my collection that reminds me of my stupidity.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Luckily I only have one razor in my collection that reminds me of my stupidity.

Funny seeing this since I was digging through a box and found my first razor "items". A Master USA and Sweeny Todd razor. Honestly I only remember buying the Master USA. It was that razor that made me give up on wetshaving for a few months until I found this site and realized my blunder and gave it another go.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Luckily I only have one razor in my collection that reminds me of my stupidity.

If only my razor related purchases were the measure of my stupidity. If only.

But really, what I appreciate most about the article in question is that it relativises much of the discussions on very specific pieces of equipment (be they soaps, razors, hones, etc.). And, the discussion of semantics regarding the difference between 'complex' and 'complicated' aside, it cannot be overstated that all skills involved in shaving, stropping, honing and lathering are very much acquirable for pretty much anyone who has the motoric skills to brush their teeth and tie their shoelaces.

Originally Posted by Pithor

But really, what I appreciate most about the article in question is that it relativises much of discussion on very specific pieces of equipment (be they soaps, razors, hones, etc.). And, the discussion of semantics regarding the difference between 'complex' and 'complicated' aside, it cannot be overstated that all skills involved in shaving, stropping, honing and lathering are very much acquirable for pretty much everyone who has the motoric skills to brush their teeth and tie their shoelaces.

Yup, it ain't rocket science unless you choose to make it so. Lets face it, making mistakes is just part of life the trick being not to make the same mistakes repeatedly. Learn and move on.

Bob

Actually, the trick is not to make easily avoidable mistakes. A certain Wade & Butcher Bow in spalted sycamore driftwood comes to mind. "Branch out", they said, "find the right razor for you." Bollocks. I could have saved months of "experimenting" and thousands of dollars if I had done my own research.

The idea is to help people make informed buying decisions. It's called empowerment. The whole Wiki (aka "library") is about empowerment. Many forum discussions are about enabling and co-dependence. It's what happens if you let others make your decisions

Analysis while not rocket science takes work and research from my point of view. YMMV (been dying to use that)

I am pouring over the library here (very comprehensive, thanks for all the work and effort, made my job easier) reading the forum posts, collecting polling data taking sample size into consideration, and learning the right questions to ask.

Is this overkill? Possibly so but my odds of satisfaction will be increased significantly with my new adventures in wet shaving

Originally Posted by RobinK

Actually, the trick is not to make easily avoidable mistakes. A certain Wade & Butcher Bow in spalted sycamore driftwood comes to mind. "Branch out", they said, "find the right razor for you." Bollocks. I could have saved months of "experimenting" and thousands of dollars if I had done my own research.

The idea is to help people make informed buying decisions. It's called empowerment. The whole Wiki (aka "library") is about empowerment. Many forum discussions are about enabling and co-dependence. It's what happens if you let others make your decisions

"Easily avoidable mistakes" generally are a hindsight thing. You may have done quite a bit of research before buying but may have missed something or misinterpreted some information and in hindsight made am easily avoidable mistake. Mistakes will happen regardless.

As for letting others make your decisions for you I could not agree more that it should not be done. Unfortunately human nature sometimes seeks short cuts as in asking what is the "best" name your product. Compounded by not doing enough research in order to ask the right questions to find out what is best for you personally. The info is there to a large extent if you read the Library and do forum searches.

Bob

The only thing that has saved me from myself in the world of SR shaving is lack of money. As it is, I have spent more than I needed to, and more than I should have. However, you shall soon see some nice newer items in the classified which would be great for new SR shavers, as I have (finally) learned my preference in SRs, and need cash to explore it.....

Wait, this self perpetuating

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

The only thing that has saved me from myself in the world of SR shaving is lack of money. As it is, I have spent more than I needed to, and more than I should have.

I think one of the aims of the original authors was to keep people from making exactly that mistake. Their guide to buying shaving equipment aims at the same result. And I think that is a good thing.

I know that this is a minority opinion, but I think we (as in, people who have been here for several years) should make beginners more aware of the need to learn how to shave before they buy more equipment. A fool with a tool and all that. When I was a learner, I bought dozens of razors in the hope that one of them would somehow, magically, lead to the great, great, BBS, phenomenal, blah-blah shaves advertised by anyone but me. Accidentally, I managed one with a 1/4 hollow 6/8 razor - and stuck with it for two weeks. Afterwards, it was smooth sailing. Because I had finally learned how to shave.

Because I believe that if you know how to shave with one razor, everything else is just a minor adjustment. And that is how it should be.

Funny aside, I bought (for US$50) an NOS Timor 8/8 #14 blade, did not know what to do with it at all, and sold it on for US$35 after two shaves. Yes, that Timor. Would be well worth US$750 (if the Filarmonica madness is anything to go by, because that razor was better made) today.

Having read, and understood the original article would have helped me tremendously. Less is more. It really is. You can "branch out", and "experiment", at a later stage to your heart's content, but not as a beginner.

Originally Posted by RobinK

I know that this is a minority opinion, but I think we (as in, people who have been here for several years) should make beginners more aware of the need to learn how to shave before they buy more equipment.

I agree completely Robin. In several posts when new shavers ask "which Xxxxx should I buy?" my first instinct is to say "None, yet". That is especially true of those that want to leap to hones, pastes, and exotic "fancy" razors. Like you, I made that mistake, and didn't really settle down until a long-time member who is a mentor here PM'd me and wound up setting me up with a few vintage blades, which showed me what (finally) my preference was, so that I could stop buying different size/grind new razors for $2-300 each.

I will continue to advise as many other wise folks here do, to master shaving before buying 5 of everything! Thanks for weighing in with your experience.