Why are razor blades all so expensive?

The people who manufacture razor blade refill cartridges have quite literally got us by the short and curly; with expensive replacement cartridges and incompatible fittings, its enough to make you quit shaving and grow a beard.

The problem is, when you give up on disposable razor blades and opt for a handle and cartridge system, youre stuck with buying replacement cartridges for that particular handle. That might sound straight forward, but when they have a range of similar products it can get quite confusing and mistakes are easy to make.

To give you an example, I have a Gillette Mach 3 razor handle which I have been using quite happily for some time. However, the other day I decided it was time to pick up another replacement pack of blades. I went to the supermarket and unfortunately was in a bit of a hurry so I picked up the Gillette Sensor 3 blades instead of the Mach 3 ones. Im willing to bet others have done the same the packaging and branding is very similar. I didnt spot the difference until the next morning when I went to use them, but I figured theyre all Gillette so they should fit.

Gillette Mach 3 - is this the best shave a man can get? Well how wrong was that assumption, of course they didnt, not even close. I wouldnt mind, but I had an uncomfortable shave that morning and Ive now got a pack of blades that I cant use as I am not about to go buy yet another handle.

You can get cheaper unbranded replacement cartridges for some shaving systems, but quite often the little diagram on the back of the pack which shows how they clip on is often difficult to discern. Why cant they just make all razors and handles with the same fitting? One would presume that this is so that you are forced to buy your replacement blades from THEM and no one else.

By: Poverty stricken beardy

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Another irritating failing I must add about modern cartridge razors is that they are extremely hard to clean because the blades are fixed too close to the razor. And that creates a problem because the blade gets clogged before you can complete your shave. So...you bin it...and pull another one out of its plastic bag. So come on all you potential Alan Sugars, Richard Bransons and Simon Cowell's.......?

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Jack Hutchison Author of ebook Gypsy's Don't Cry. - 29-Jan-12 17:15

Yes. Thanks for that tip Boblet. I haven't looked for a second hand one to use but I'm sure you're right there are thousands about, like old Singer sewing machines Problem is I don't fancy using a second hand razor.

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Jack Hutchison Author of Ebook Gypsies Don't Cry. - 29-Jan-12 13:29

I have a rolls razor knocking about somewhere mine is in an aluminium case you could by them in brass, very posh. Go to your local antique market Jack you will pick one up for a few quid.

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Boblet - 27-Jan-12 20:52

Gentlemen. All your gripes are well founded. In the early seventies when I got married, I had a lovely Rolls Razor. What a lovely shave. Day after day. Never a blunt blade. It had a little guard in front of the blade. If you had a pimple, it simply slid over it. I never once cut my self with it. My wife, (ex now by the way, and who, in Scotland would be described as a bampot ) behind my back, threw it away. Its old fashioned she said. Sadly, Rolls Razors, or their equivalent, are no longer made. And yet there is a market for it. Personally, I would be willing to invest a few quid into a company who would start manufacturing them.

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Jack Hutchison Author of Gypsies Don't Cry - 27-Jan-12 15:48

The problem with cartridge razors is that the user is 'locked' into buying only that blade for that handle, so you can't mix and match. The problem then is that the big manufacturers can withdraw older cartridge types - twin blades for instance, or step them up to triple blades, before withdrawing them altogether. Then you have to buy their newer system razors which only take its type of cartridge, which will nowadays usually have around 4 or 5 blades - ouch! The solution is to either get bulk supplies of older cartridges from suppliers who still have discontinued stock, or use a double edge razor that takes good old (not literally! razor blades.

-30

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Tim B - 13-Jun-11 01:20

yeah, I did the same thing and cartridge refills are as high as printer ink. I know, you get 5 cartridges, wow! I guess the road to take is the disposable one.

-51

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coyotebill11 - 27-May-11 20:41

I would suggest you give up your multi-blade cartridge system and invest in a decent Double Edge safety razor. It is an investment initially as a good DE razor will set you back £20-£40, but you will get your money back on the razor blades as you can get them for 10p - 50p each (depends if you buy bulk) and you will get a much better shave in the process

-98

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Nately - 27-May-11 14:58

Even electric shaving isn't really a viable option. Have you seen the price of replacing the blades? Incredible! I bought a Philishave wet n' dry rotary shaver about 2 years ago, and it is now lying unused because I refuse to pay the cost of replacing the rotary blade heads. I think one costs around £12.00 or more in Boots, and a pack of 3 on Amazon is £30.00. Crazy prices. Rip-off Britain!

-100

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miserablemoaninggit - 27-Mar-11 18:23

Razor blades / shaving is very cheap if you buy quality longer lasting Double Edge products, and not the crap Gillette scam system!

e.g get a Merkur or Edwin Jagger Double Edge razor, and you won't ever need to replace it... and the blades are literally ten times cheaper.

A pack of 100 derby blades here in the UK is £9.90, or £0.09 per blades, whereas if you're lucky you can find a special offer on Gillette Mach 3 blades for about £1.00 per blade!

And the blades last longer.... and the shave itself is MUCH better.

+11

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Don Draper - 27-Mar-11 14:53

Get a book the lot of you, and read about capitalism, britain taught the world how to rob the masses including the usa-Wake up! You probably all voted for thatcher and in turn supported demolishiof the unions which was your only protection; and furthermore you probably also despise the French who get off their asse's and get on the streets to resist things like exploitation of the people. capitalism has it's base in Devils Island>>>>britain

-36

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minervois - 11-Mar-11 11:40

In most of the ads the boys they use as their models these guys are so young they couldn't grow any kind of beard anyway. When you see them stroking their "clean" chins after a "shave" what they are really trying to do is get their beard to grow by stimulation.

+83

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Mad Men - 11-Mar-11 11:34

Gillet are american and as is their country's will to eradicate the worlds cultures by employing the dark forces to take all the resources of the world and by the way you are only a resource and a consumer to them. Unbridled exploitation via capitalism is the only thing that makes sense to them, oh and of course will use their military might to bomb kill maim everthing that gets in their way. britain is an aircraft carrier of the usa-wake up

+23

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Minervois - 11-Mar-11 11:25

I was floored at the price of the Mach 3 blades .. I called the company and let them know my gripe and that I was going to go and purchase another razor. No WONDER they sent out the razors for free a couple yrs back .. there's always a 'gotcha'.

-54

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Cooki - 18-Feb-11 16:11

If you have a Fusion Power (with the battery) with orange blades you can use the much cheaper Fusion (without the battey) blue blades. They're exactly the same apart from colour. It even says so on the back of the pack!

Also I went to buy some online from Tesco (Fusion) and they were £9.29 a pack. It said the next day they'd be on offer for 2 for £18.50 - which is more expensive! Suprise suprise the individual price has now gone up too.

+84

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Fusion anyone? - 7-Feb-11 14:48

I bought a bow saw also from China it was useless I took it back to the Asian shop keeper to complain, it was like talking to the wall, there was no set on it & it was made of soft metal. I now go to car boots for my tools, British/American/German/ second hand, in fact anywhere bar China,

-99

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Boblet - 7-Feb-11 10:41

I have been using the same replacement blades.Morrisons triple blade,for some time and have noticed that I have progressively got less and less shaves per blade.The only explanation that I can come up with is that the manufacturer, presumably in China has been instructed to use softer metal in order that Morrisons can maximise profit.Rip off Britain again?

+14

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Chorleycake - 7-Feb-11 10:26

Razor blade manufactures are doing what the gasoline companies are doing, raising prices this is what's called supply and demand they have the supply and you are in demand for their items so if you want the items you pay the price. will this trickle down to other companies? yes I think so

-97

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trapperwillis - 27-Dec-10 18:51

Yes indeed thay have you if you succumb to them. The awakening is happening and the exodus is upon men who have had enough. Try taking the fist steps upon the pilgrimage route to a double edge traditional razor. Blades from 50p to £3.00 and the best shave you will ever have!

Try visiting www.shavingshack.co.uk

Be well

Pete

-94

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Petopan - 23-Dec-10 21:38

It really is time that an investigation was launched into the quality (they seem to go blunt so quickly) and extortionate price of razor blades. Someone out there is making a super-profit out of us.

I'm seriously thinking about growing a beard.

+52

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Savvy - 12-Dec-10 14:05

buy a 'proper' double edge razor - better shave and blades 5p each!

+84

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Rob - 16-Nov-10 17:33

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