The interwebs were abuzz about this startup at the beginning of the month, and the pitch made sense to me. I hate electric razors, so I progressed from the dual blade I had as a teen, to a Mach 3, to a Gillette Fusion. Two, three, and now five blades! The Spishak Mach20 was next for me. A package of twelve Fusion cartridges cost about thirty-six dollars, or a year's membership to the Dollar Shave Club (if you include shipping). I have been spending a great deal of money on razors. Now there are folks out there that have all sorts of tips about extending the life of razors, and I could probably make a single cartridge last a month. I have a problem, however, spending more time cleaning and primping my razor than I do actually using it to shave. I don't clip coupons, I don't buy the day-old donuts, and I do not soak my razors in rubbing alcohol and hang them upside-down on a daily basis, only to rub them against some old denim a few times a week. Disposable water bottles and batteries irritate me, but I'm ok with some disposable items. Top of my list: razors and diapers. So I jumped on this Internet bandwagon.
I don't know if I was annoyed or encouraged when I got an email saying that due to heavy demand, my initial shipment was going to be delayed. It took almost three weeks for my razors to arrive. The ironic part was that I stopped buying my old razors, and had to make my final cartridge last longer than I normally would. As a result, I was second-guessing my decision on a daily basis. I could save money by stretching out the cartridges; it wasn't that difficult. Just as I was about to give up hope, the razors came yesterday.
They look pretty dull compared to the shmancy razor I had been using for the last several years. Less than half the blades in each cartridge; no ergonomically designed, super-cool grip; not even a plastic holder for the handle and box of cartridges. The new handle feels pretty flimsy. I felt like I got what I paid for. A dollar's worth of shaving equipment. After actually shaving, however, I felt better. It's a good razor. Nothing great, but it does the job. In fact, I think only having two blades is less irritating to my skin than the what I have been doing for the last decade. So I'm happy again and feeling better about being on the bandwagon.
What I now know, is that if you are paying more then three dollars a month on razors, you're doing it wrong. This option could not be easier, but if you are a name brand snob and want a more intimidating looking razor in your hand each morning, it's not hard to make them last. Find a way to keep the blades from rusting, and they'll stay sharp much longer than you think.
I also now appreciate just how much of a sucker I am for advertising. I thought my DVR was protecting me from most commercials, but clearly Gillette dug their claws in me, and now this new startup.
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