Why are razor blades so bloody expensive ?

Red Sleeping Beauty · 20-12-2008 8:48pm #1

€10.50 for 5feckin blades ? What the hell! They're about £3 a pack in the UK.
What makes them so special that they're abhorrently overpriced here ?

Tipsy Mac · 20-12-2008 9:21pm

Apparently the reason is they are the most stolen item in the shops so this drives up costs, funny how the UK don't seem to suffer from this :rolleyes:

shane86 · 20-12-2008 11:35pm

All your dreams are made, when your *blah blah blah* sellin razor blades.....

Tis pretty ridicilous for such an essential item. Is there such a difference between womens leg razors in the UK and us anyone know? Most stolen my arse, just another excuse by the extortionate fcukers. Why instead of placing a huge charge on one item would they not make it up by adding 10 cent to a wide range of items? Bollocks of an excuse tbh.

pcolan · 20-12-2008 11:43pm

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Apparently the reason is they are the most stolen item in the shops so this drives up costs...

How can they be the most stolen item in the shops if AFAIK they are all security tagged!!!

Hogzy · 20-12-2008 11:48pm

And in some shops they are kept in a locked cabinet next to special tills!!!!

mike65 · 20-12-2008 11:50pm

Lidl stock a 20 blade and razor pack for 6 euro I think.

They scrape the face off you if you're not careful for the first 2 days.

Wishbone Ash · 20-12-2008 11:51pm

pcolan wrote: »

How can they be the most stolen item in the shops if AFAIK they are all security tagged!!!

Hogzy wrote: »

And in some shops they are kept in a locked cabinet next to special tills!!!!

Because they used to be the most stolen item!

JPA · 20-12-2008 11:51pm

Wouldn't they be the most stolen item because they are the so expensive?
Which came first?

pebbles21 · 20-12-2008 11:54pm

A cut-throat business to be in apparently!!!!!!!!!

amacachi · 20-12-2008 11:56pm

Because some people will pay ridiculous prices for them.

Wishbone Ash · 20-12-2008 11:58pm

I suppose it's all about clever marketing to those with disposable income.

25 years ago we hacked our way around our jaws with the yellow Bic razors but that was cool because we were modern men and weren't using those awful old fashioned 'safety' razors that our fathers used.

cL0h · 21-12-2008 12:03am

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Apparently the reason is they are the most stolen item in the shops so this drives up costs, funny how the UK don't seem to suffer from this :rolleyes:

Isn't it the other way around. They are the most stolen item because they are expensive and easy to conceal.

jester77 · 21-12-2008 12:22am

Why not get a decent razor like a Merkur and pickup some Feather blades, you can get 50 blades for under £10 here and they will give you a better shave than any Gilette or Wilkinson blade will ever give you.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 21-12-2008 1:13am

amacachi wrote: »

Because some people will pay ridiculous prices for them.

It's a necessaty as someone has already said.

As someone has said many shops keep them behind the counter. Them being the "most stolen" item makes no sense to me really.

While I'm on the subject of toiletries - they're all more expensive here than in the UK...

A while ago I bought an Olbas oil inhaler here - €4 give or take 10cents.
In the UK they're £1.50 give her take 10p.
Mitchum anti-perspirant is neraly €5 I think too and maybe £2 in the UK ?

Maybe this thread belongs in the rip off Ireland forum. What can we do though ? Even disposables are expensive - 8Gillettes were I think about €6.50. It seems no matter how much we moan, nothing gets done. Prices don't get reduced. It's easy to say "well then don't buy them" but that doesn't achieve anything either.

amacachi · 21-12-2008 1:20am

It's not essential to buy expensive razors.

If enough people actually moved to using cheap disposables (which do a far better job in my experience) they'd drop the price or stop selling them. Either way we wouldn't be getting ripped off.

kleefarr · 21-12-2008 1:29am

Wilkinson sword FTW.

Buy online? http://shop.ebay.ie/items/_W0QQ_nkwZWilkinsonQ20swordQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

21-12-2008 1:42am

its cause there are only two decent manufacturers of blades out there - Gillette and Wilkenson Sword, not much competition out there really!

boopolo · 21-12-2008 1:25pm

Saw the guys selling them in Henry Street stalls last week. Presume they are cheap. Not sure if genuine Gillette though.

For the OP, I only get four blades in my pack.

taram · 22-12-2008 12:54am

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

A while ago I bought an Olbas oil inhaler here - €4 give or take 10cents.
In the UK they're £1.50 give her take 10p.
Mitchum anti-perspirant is neraly €5 I think too and maybe £2 in the UK ?

Mitchum stuff is around 3-4 euros in Boots, recent price drop.

rubadub · 22-12-2008 10:55am

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

€10.50 for 5feckin blades ? What the hell! They're about £3 a pack in the UK.

So why not order online? they are very light, postage would be feck all

shane86 wrote: »

Tis pretty ridicilous for such an essential item.

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

It's a necessaty as someone has already said.

It is not essential, you can use an electric instead, I am shocked people still pay that much for a shave when you can get very good electrics nowadays.

Jaysoose · 22-12-2008 11:10am

rubadub wrote: »

So why not order online? they are very light, postage would be feck all

It is not essential, you can use an electric instead, I am shocked people still pay that much for a shave when you can get very good electrics nowadays.

Why would people use an electric? then they would have nothing to whinge about...seriously gillette and wilkinson are not the only two razor manafacturers. This is the whingiest thread in a long time.

KTRIC · 22-12-2008 11:13am

Feckin bunch of lady-boys :rolleyes:

Grow a big beard, never have to shave again. And it makes you look really manly.

Colonel Sanders · 22-12-2008 5:53pm

I buy mine on Dealextreme. Price includes shipping. They were even cheaper not so long ago but the price has since increased

There are an awful lot of fakes swimming around on ebay

Kashkai · 23-12-2008 3:38pm

boopolo wrote: »

Saw the guys selling them in Henry Street stalls last week. Presume they are cheap. Not sure if genuine Gillette though.

For the OP, I only get four blades in my pack.

My wife picked up the "2 packs of mach 3 for a tenner" in Henry Street. I had my doubts when I opened the packs and when I tried to use one, the head just bent completely back over and wouldn't follow the contours of my handsome face. These blades will last you for years cause they won't touch your face.

foggy_lad · 24-12-2008 2:05am

mike65 wrote: »

Lidl stock a 20 blade and razor pack for 6 euro I think.

They scrape the face off you if you're not careful for the first 2 days.

the aldi disposable ones 12 for €1.29 are much less abrasive

sickpuppy32 · 24-12-2008 3:09pm

KTRIC wrote: »

Feckin bunch of lady-boys :rolleyes:

Grow a big beard, never have to shave again. And it makes you look really manly.

not a bad suggestion, i grew a beard over the summer, kept it neatly trimmed and shaved my neck (with an electric) to stop the itch ( neck hair will itch, face wont). i got an amazingly good reaction to it from girls, especially those girls who's father also wore a beard ( freud was right obviously)

Fighting Irish · 24-12-2008 5:14pm

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

€10.50 for 5feckin blades ? What the hell! They're about £3 a pack in the UK.
What makes them so special that they're abhorrently overpriced here ?

because people like you keep buying them for €10.50 :pac:

would you take a hit on your salary even though your boss was willing to pay the full salary?

yhwh · 27-12-2008 12:20am

Get yourself a stainless steel Dovo cutthroat razor and learn how to use it. You'll feel like Rambo every time you shave

and if you look after it, one will last a lifetime.

allthedoyles · 27-12-2008 12:36am

I use Mach3 Turbo ( the one with vibration ) and a pack lasts me for 6 months ....... not expensive

Maybe some guys blame the razor for a bad shave , when in fact it may be bad skin ?

Malice · 27-12-2008 12:40am

Cuddleworthy wrote: »

its cause there are only two decent manufacturers of blades out there - Gillette and Wilkenson Sword, not much competition out there really!

Sorry Cuddleworthy but you're completely wrong there. I'm amazed there haven't been more responses like Jester77's:

jester77 wrote: »

Why not get a decent razor like a Merkur and pickup some Feather blades, you can get 50 blades for under £10 here and they will give you a better shave than any Gilette or Wilkinson blade will ever give you.

I've been using Merkur blades for the last 4 years and I can't recommend them highly enough compared to overpriced rubbish like Gilette and Wilkinson Sword.

If you were brave you could try one of these

.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 27-12-2008 1:01am

Fighting Irish wrote: »

because people like you keep buying them for €10.50 :pac:

would you take a hit on your salary even though your boss was willing to pay the full salary?

Nah, I've not bought legit blades in over a year. At least. I bought 4 dodgy packs from Mary St last year that lasted me the year ... and also cut my face to bits...

I've got some disposables atm that weren't too bad price wise.

I don't really grow facial hair fast enough to be taking extreme measures like them proper bo extreme blades yis psoted.

zen15 · 28-12-2008 11:17pm

lads , I bought a Thiers Issard straight razor and Dovo strop , about 2 years ago , after having a norwegian girlfriend with a shaving fetish, best thing i ever did , it will last longer than you and looks so damn sexy when shaving , women really go for it , Never have to buy blades again, also shaving soap and a mug ,
Grand total spent on shaving last year was a tennor

Red Sleeping Beauty · 28-12-2008 11:17pm

You spent a pavarotti on shaving gear cause your burd's got a fetish for it ?

Wierd

zen15 · 29-12-2008 6:30pm

Picture the scene . in the bathroom , steamy mirror (oak floor and white walls with georgian ceiling) face soaped and girl kneeling by the sink wathchibg you shave and keeping your c*&k in her mouth .
Better then the gillette add or wha

bohsboy · 29-12-2008 6:37pm

The new King of Shaves razor, the Azor is the best I've ever used. Smooth shave and it bends around your face. Blades last a long while too and not too expensive.

turly · 30-12-2008 9:58pm

Yeah, the King Of Shaves website used to sell Mach 3 razor blades before they introduced the Azor. If you chose to pay in dollars you could get 8 Mach 3 blades for under $9 inc shipping!

Plus they were legit blades - there are horror stories about Chinese fakes - be careful out there!

I'll definitely be giving the Azor a try - as soon as I run through the 50 Mach 3 blades first

I shave every 2/3 days and find that a blade lasts over a month - is that unusual?

brettmirl · 31-12-2008 9:36pm

turly wrote: »

I shave every 2/3 days and find that a blade lasts over a month - is that unusual?

I'd be the same as yourself. About one blade a month.

I have both a mach 3 and a fusion. Lately am finding the blades for the mach 3 a bit pants. Don't get as good a shave from them as I used to.

Going to check out the King Of Shaves one. Are the blades for them widely available?

turly · 01-01-2009 1:27pm

mick_irl wrote: »

Going to check out the King Of Shaves one. Are the blades for them widely available?

Apparently not, only from their shave.com website. But it looks like they're reasonably good value.

bohsboy · 02-01-2009 1:46pm

The Azor blades are on sale in Boots. Very good value.

sprinklesspanky · 04-01-2009 6:23pm

I was speaking to a friend about razor blades over Christmas. He was saying that solution is ceramic blades as they are very hard and rarely need to be sharpened, however he can't find anyone who makes them for razors because there's no money in it. Think about it, if you had a ceramic blade, it would be a blade for life, you wouldn't need to pop down to the shops for blades every week or so.

He was also saying that manufacturers design obsolescence into the regular razor blades so you have to buy more. He was saying whenever you cut a hair, you make a small dent in the blade, the dent gets bigger and the after two uses you're blade is uneven and you're cutting yourself.

Interesting stuff really.

Check this out:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/12/wip_top_five_pe_1.php

"Although it unfortunately has never made it to market, this Ross Lovegrove designed prototype is an eminently sound idea. It uses a ceramic blade, which at the time, was claimed to last 40 times longer carbon steel. It’s no pipe dream though - today you can buy ceramic razors for industrial use, that last 100 times longer. If only someone had the balls to make such a razor that didn't go blunt!"

rubadub · 04-01-2009 7:59pm

Just get it permanently removed with laser treatment, think it might grow back a bit again, but you can probably get home kits now. If you add up what you would pay otherwise, and all the time spent shaving each day it probably would save you a fortune.

I sometimes just give my self a "blade zero" with my normal electric hair razor. Just gives you a little stubble but is really quick.

Latchy · 04-01-2009 8:06pm

Pack of 5 disposable gillette razor blades cost betwen £ 1.35 / 49 in most stores and I get 3 shaves from each .3 shaves a week for 5 weeks ,not bad value imo and not as expensive as the other barnds of razor .

therewillbe · 04-01-2009 8:13pm

Lets get a campign going. "Get yourslf a beard" save on blades:)

Latchy · 04-01-2009 8:16pm

therewillbe wrote: »

Lets get a campign going. "Get yourslf a beard" save on blades:)

Would love to have the Bruce willis look but I am more ' down and out ' after a 5 day growth

sickpuppy32 · 04-01-2009 8:28pm

therewillbe wrote: »

Lets get a campign going. "Get yourslf a beard" save on blades:)

i'll join, stasrtedgrowing my beard just before christmas, keep it trimmed and shave my neck to help give it a "tidy" look. Getting lots of compliments!

Dublinstiofán · 04-01-2009 8:32pm

amacachi wrote: »

Because some people will pay ridiculous prices for them.

Thats exactly it amacachi. Prices are so ridiculous for a lot of things in this country because some people are stupid enough to pay them.

Then you think your smart when you hear 'two packets of mach three blades for a tenner' on Henry st and they end up being fake and cut the bleedin face off you. Oh what a great country we live in. All out to con us.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 05-01-2009 1:08am

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

Thats exactly it amacachi. Prices are so ridiculous for a lot of things in this country because some people are stupid enough to pay them.

Then you think your smart when you hear 'two packets of mach three blades for a tenner' on Henry st and they end up being fake and cut the bleedin face off you. Oh what a great country we live in. All out to con us.

Your post seems like it could be slightly subversive. Tell me more, have you MSN ?

Are you one of these consumer powah/you get what you pay for louts ?

Dublinstiofán · 05-01-2009 12:36pm

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

Your post seems like it could be slightly subversive. Tell me more, have you MSN ?

Are you one of these consumer powah/you get what you pay for louts ?

I try to get value no matter what i buy, was caught with the blades on Henry street myself though. ****in hate findin out after i've been ripped off.

Have to be wathing everything.

One at the moment is English websites/shops in Dublin charging over the odds for stuff.

For example, looked at a game for a present on a certain website the other day. It was £22 which was converted into €38 by some amazing price inflation currency converter. But that wasn't the worst bit. The game even at its overpriced €38 is still a full €22 cheaper than it is to buy everywhere in Dublin.

This effectively means that the cnuts in Dublin put the maximum price they can get on these when they come in and actually get it for probably over a year before they even contemplate reducing it. This is because people will pay the ridiculous amount for it without thinking about it.

It will never happen but if shoppers thought along the same lines and said right €60 for that is too much and nobody bought it at said price. The seller wouldn't be long dropping the price in an effort to boost sales. Then other shops of the same nature would then have no choice but to drop the price of it too.

MediaTank · 05-01-2009 6:04pm

Cuddleworthy wrote: »

its cause there are only two decent manufacturers of blades out there - Gillette and Wilkenson Sword, not much competition out there really!

If by decent you mean expensive. True they are the only games in town for multiblade cartridges. However, double edge blades are made by Gillette, Wilknson Sword, Merkur, Feather and http://www.connaughtshaving.com/razorblades.html for a fraction of the price. Worth considering.

danzig · 05-01-2009 6:09pm

the reason why is because like with most things in life, they are selling the actual razors at a loss, and the way they make up the difference is by charging the extras such as blades at a very high cost. its the same with consoles, they sell the console at a loss and charge through the roof for things like games and controllers.

often is the case that you can buy a new razor with spare blades for cheaper than a pack of blades!

keane2097 · 05-01-2009 6:27pm

How long would one of those Merkur blades last?

Why are razor blades so bloody expensive ?

Comments