Thread: How long does it take to get your razor honed?

Hi guys,

Last month (on February 16th) I bought a Thiers-Issard straight from classicshaving.com. I took advantage of their honing service, and specified that I'd like to have them send my razor to their honemeister directly to be honed.

Well, a week or so later I received the other thing I'd ordered from them (Lynn Abrams' DVD), and since I also had gotten e-mail confirmation that they sent out my order, I had no reason to assume that they'd done anything but send my razor on to be honed.

Well, I haven't received my razor yet. This actually isn't too big a deal, because I'm waiting on a scuttle that probably won't get here for another week or more, but I'm starting to be concerned that maybe something got lost along the way. A month is a long time...

But, I'm a newbie, so I have no idea how long honing normally takes. Is it normal that it should take so long?

Thanks in advance for your help...

That isn't too unusual. People with honing skill in straights get backed up easily. Classic has a history of shipping things out slowly too. I love Classicshaving, don't get me wrong, and over the last year they have been very, very fast, but Lynn may not have received it immediately.

I'd give them another few days and then contact them. I'd say a month is a good basis for the day you should call and ask Classic to check on it.

Being in Alaska might have a bit to do with the delay too. Usually its about 3 weeks.

I had a TI ordered from classicshaving for almost 3 weeks. Lynn got it to me yesterday...so hope this helps. You could send an email to classicshaving, they responded to mine quickly.

Originally Posted by atpinak

Hi guys,

Last month (on February 16th) I bought a Thiers-Issard straight from classicshaving.com. I took advantage of their honing service, and specified that I'd like to have them send my razor to their honemeister directly to be honed.

Well, a week or so later I received the other thing I'd ordered from them (Lynn Abrams' DVD), and since I also had gotten e-mail confirmation that they sent out my order, I had no reason to assume that they'd done anything but send my razor on to be honed.

Well, I haven't received my razor yet. This actually isn't too big a deal, because I'm waiting on a scuttle that probably won't get here for another week or more, but I'm starting to be concerned that maybe something got lost along the way. A month is a long time...

But, I'm a newbie, so I have no idea how long honing normally takes. Is it normal that it should take so long?

Thanks in advance for your help...

I'm going to apologize up front on this one but I hate this kind of stuff and particularly this kind of thread. As if the group will help me hone razors faster. Or if publically indicating that this is the worst problem on the face the earth and you are being taken advantage of and that you need help from here. This kind of post is BS and not sporting in any fashion. It takes on average three days to get from Classic to me. It can take me over a week to get to one if I am travelling for work or backed up a little. Not every razor hones up immediately. Then it takes at least three days to get one back from me, so it can easily be a 2-3 week process and sometimes unfortunately a little longer. Sometimes I may even wait a day or two and take 20 or 30 to the post office vs. making 2 trips. As a matter of fact, 30 to the post office in the morning. Dude, I understand RAD and being anxious as much as anyone, but if you want a razor back immediately or you can't PM me with a question rather than this kind of thread, please send your razors to another honemeister. I'm a fan of great service as much as the next guy, but honing razors is not an exact science. My goal is to get every razor I get in back out the door within 7 days unless it's one that needs full edge restoration. I do the best I can always.

Have fun,

Lynn

It might be a good idea for Classic and others who offer honing service on razor sales to set the standard with the customer. Maybe have a disclaimer on the website when selecting the honing option stating an estimated timeframe. For those who don't understand the time and effort that goes into honing a razor, they may expect a perfectly sharp straight within 2 weeks.

However, it is in poor taste to make such a post in a forum ran by the person currently honing your razor....

I think we should cut the guy a newbie break and give him a bit of slack. I'd hate to see him run off the board.

I don't recall last year when I had Classic send a TI to Lynn (I was perfectly satisfied with the entire transaction) if they posted a timeframe, but if they don't, they should. I think newbies DO have inexperienced expectations; we're not ordering a pre-packaged mass produced product here, we're ordering a skilled service from someone that is in extremely high demand. New people just don't understand this. No one freaks at the fact that hand thrown scuttles take weeks to a month + to get to their door, and I consider quality honing to be an artisan skill as well.

I will agree, as an objective person, I can only view this person's post as meant either purposefully or even passively to illicit a response from Lynn which is IMO simply not appropriate when he or others in the future should contact the service provider or vendor first regardless of who the service provider/vendor is.

My 2 Cents.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Lynn

I'm going to apologize up front on this one but I hate this kind of stuff and particularly this kind of thread. As if the group will help me hone razors faster. Or if publically indicating that this is the worst problem on the face the earth and you are being taken advantage of and that you need help from here. This kind of post is BS and not sporting in any fashion. It takes on average three days to get from Classic to me. It can take me over a week to get to one if I am travelling for work or backed up a little. Not every razor hones up immediately. Then it takes at least three days to get one back from me, so it can easily be a 2-3 week process and sometimes unfortunately a little longer. Sometimes I may even wait a day or two and take 20 or 30 to the post office vs. making 2 trips. As a matter of fact, 30 to the post office in the morning. Dude, I understand RAD and being anxious as much as anyone, but if you want a razor back immediately or you can't PM me with a question rather than this kind of thread, please send your razors to another honemeister. I'm a fan of great service as much as the next guy, but honing razors is not an exact science. My goal is to get every razor I get in back out the door within 7 days unless it's one that needs full edge restoration. I do the best I can always.

Have fun,

Lynn

Lynn,

First of all, let me apologize if I've offended you. As I said in my original post, I'm not in a hurry to get my razor, and I really hoped to emphasize as much. Even if you got me the razor tomorrow, I would not be able to use it yet. I'm not in a hurry and I have absolutely no intention of rushing you.

I was more concerned that it might have gotten lost.

As for not private messaging you, again, let me apologize. There are two reasons I did not. The main reason is that I did not know that you were the honemeister in question -- it seems everyone else knew that, so now I feel like a dick. But I am a newbie... so I'm sorry about that.

The other reason is that I don't actually know how to PM people I don't spend much time on these sorts of forums.

I hope you'll forgive my faux pas. I really appreciate the service you provide and would happily wait 3 months for it if people told me that were the norm.

I feel really stupid right now...

So is this how new folks are treated here? The man asked a legitimate question, wondering if he should be concerned that perhaps his razor was lost in shipping, etc . . . Were I in his situation, I would wonder the same thing. Should I be concerned? Is it possible that my razor (being new, perhaps his only or one of a few) was lost in the post? Was it, perhaps, misplaced by someone along the way?

I don't think Atpinak is the one that owes an apology. He is owed one by a few of you.

Originally Posted by atpinak

Lynn,

First of all, let me apologize if I've offended you. As I said in my original post, I'm not in a hurry to get my razor, and I really hoped to emphasize as much. Even if you got me the razor tomorrow, I would not be able to use it yet. I'm not in a hurry and I have absolutely no intention of rushing you.

I was more concerned that it might have gotten lost.

As for not private messaging you, again, let me apologize. There are two reasons I did not. The main reason is that I did not know that you were the honemeister in question -- it seems everyone else knew that, so now I feel like a dick. But I am a newbie... so I'm sorry about that.

The other reason is that I don't actually know how to PM people I don't spend much time on these sorts of forums.

I hope you'll forgive my faux pas. I really appreciate the service you provide and would happily wait 3 months for it if people told me that were the norm.

I feel really stupid right now...

Hey Atpinak, as I mentioned in my post, I gave/give you the benefit of the doubt. I stand by that and welcome you to the forum. I may have made some incorrect assumptions.

The main reason I purchased my TI last year from Classic Shaving is for the very fact that they mention on their site regarding their honing service:

"Have your straight razor Professionally Hand-Honed

ClassicShaving.com can now offer honing and sharpening service for New and Used straight razors regardless of brand, size, age, when, or where purchased. We are proud to have retained the exclusive services of Mr. Lynn Abrams, known far and wide as the "Honemeister" for his ability to produce the finest shaving edge possible on virtually any razor. His many years of experience in sharpening hundreds of brands and styles of razors makes him one of the world's most knowledgable craftsman of the kind. If he can't get it sharp it can't get sharp!"


Chris L

It's very true, a newbie may not know what is involved in the process and may not expect their razor to be out for such time. As stated before, it would be a good idea for Classic to plainly post an estimated timeframe when selecting the pre-honed option.

Also, TroutBum, I do have to say that I am a new member as well, and this has not been the norm so far. New folks are typically greeted with a welcome and answers to questions. Unfortunately, I think this is simply a post taken the wrong way.

Don't run off, atpinak. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.