Thread: New or Used?

Hello Gents, I'm looking into getting a straight razor. Right now i'm using a dovo shavette and it's fine but I want to get a straight razor. I can never win a bid on ebay so my question is should I just buy new or bid on ebay and if I do, what should I look for in a used staight razor? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

a really good bet would be to try the classifieds here on srp, the razors and stuff are sold by the members here and really worth a look, most are shave ready and at awesome prices. good luck

-dan-

Buy new, buy professionally honed, buy often.

Originally Posted by sinnfein

a really good bet would be to try the classifieds here on srp, the razors and stuff are sold by the members here and really worth a look, most are shave ready and at awesome prices. good luck

-dan-

I couldnt agree more!

Originally Posted by sinnfein

a really good bet would be to try the classifieds here on srp, the razors and stuff are sold by the members here and really worth a look, most are shave ready and at awesome prices. good luck

-dan-

+1 for this idea. Buying through the Classifieds pretty much guarantees you'll be getting a shave ready razor at a good price. The same cannot be said of eBay.

I gave up on e-bay because I couldn't win shit either. As these fine gentlemen have already said, the SRP classifieds is a great place for shave ready vintage razors, especially if price is a consideration and you're not looking for a specific brand. Even if you are it just takes a little patience and that brand/model that you wanted for a while will appear eventually.

If you don't mind paying a bit extra buying new is a great choice too. There are some great razors being made by contemporary makers, and certainly more choice now than just a few years ago. Whatever you decide I know you'll do just fine.

i'd buy new but they stopped making the razors i want.
i don't mind used as long as it's not a piece of trash.
the most important part is the edge of the razor, so whatever route you go make sure it's good to shave.

I would suggest new and shave ready to start with an entry level Dovo from a known vendor. After you're sure that you want to continue with it, start to learn what your preferences in a blade are, you can begin to look at used from the classifieds or ebay. Just IMHO.

I would recommend buying an entry level razor (like a 5/8 roundpoint) from the classifieds. I bought my first razor from SRD, and my next one from the classifieds here. To be honest I probably could have got a razor comparable to my first SRD razor on here for cheaper.
I only say this because then you have a cheaper way of learning your preferences. I have since purchased a few new razors and don't mind spending the money now that I know what I like.
That being said if you don't mind spending a little extra dough to get yourself an unused blade SRD is one of the best places to get it. It will definately come shave ready and they take care of their customers very well.

Nobody's mentioned Whippeddog yet. You can get shave-ready razors for ~$35 there. They're not necessarily pretty but the edges are good. Plus, after you've used one for a while you can send it back and for the cost of honing, he'll send you a different one. That's a good way to try out different grinds etc., unless you want to go the RAD route like so many of us have done.

You'll want to have a strop in the house on the same day your razor comes. Start with a cheap one (again, Whippeddog is good) and practice on it with a butter knife before you try the razor on it. First-time stropping can damage both blade and strop, sometimes badly and always sadly.

Best wishes and welcome to SRP.