Gillette Fusion Cartridges

[overst33r]

What's a good deal per unit on ebay? I've been watching numerous auctions and the lowest I've seen is $1.30 per cartridge, considering they are about twice as much at Walmart, is that a good deal?

If not, what is?

 

[Tiamat]

just make sure they are genuine. When I was working at Gillette, I got a chance to look at the fake 'Gillette' blades and they are nothing like the real deal. Some of them were downright scary from a mechanical standpoint, and others were scary from a biohazard standpoint :eek;

I know they are expensive, but if you are unsure of the source of the blades, don't assume they are all the same, you could end up with a surprise. At the best, it will be your skin getting cut open, or getting an unexpected rash. At the worst, well, let's not go there.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
just make sure they are genuine. When I was working at Gillette, I got a chance to look at the fake 'Gillette' blades and they are nothing like the real deal. Some of them were downright scary from a mechanical standpoint, and others were scary from a biohazard standpoint :eek;

I know they are expensive, but if you are unsure of the source of the blades, don't assume they are all the same, you could end up with a surprise. At the best, it will be your skin getting cut open, or getting an unexpected rash. At the worst, well, let's not go there.

I don't have much else to go by beside the feedback of the seller...

 

[Pepsi90919]

gillette makes a ton of $ by selling blades. you should investigate other sources of blades.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
gillette makes a ton of $ by selling blades. you should investigate other sources of blades.

Gillette makes more than a ton of $ each minute by selling blades

But, just about every personal care item makes a ton of $ compared to manufacturing cost (once sales displace the initial research costs).


Mariok2006, just be careful. Order some just to make sure they are the real deal. In every case where there was a fake, I was able to spot it. Whether that was under the microscope, scanning electron microscope, in shave tests, or with the unaided eye. As far as I know, the fusion blades are still made in South Boston chiefly. If the blades are coming from anywhere other than Berlin or South Boston, I would be very careful. The Fusion manufacturing probably wont get to South America or China for a few more years. (Usually Excel come from Brazil and the older ones from China).

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
gillette makes a ton of $ by selling blades. you should investigate other sources of blades.

I am not sure what you mean, could you clarify?

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
gillette makes a ton of $ by selling blades. you should investigate other sources of blades.

I am not sure what you mean, could you clarify?

Basically if you don't like the taste of paying "so much" money for your shaving needs, try other less expensive brands to see if you can save money that way.

 

[Leros]

I bought some on eBay once and they were awful. They tore up my face. Make sure you get real ones.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Leros
I bought some on eBay once and they were awful. They tore up my face. Make sure you get real ones.

I'm sorry to hear that :/

The fake ones are really terrible with no quality control whatsoever. Half of the ones I looked at were a very poor grade of steel that actually had trace rust right out of the package. I worked on the development of the specific blades that are in the m3 power and fusion lines and they undergo several patent protected treatments. The fakes are bare steel without even teflon most of the time. The edges are extremely bad - having nicks and other edge damage which causes "nicks" while shaving. I cant divulge all the details for obvious reasons, but suffice to say, the worst of the fake ones pose medical risks while the other fake ones grant poor shaving performance.

 

[overst33r]

Who makes a good beginner's safety razor for a reasonable price?

How is This one?

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Who makes a good beginner's safety razor for a reasonable price?

How is This one?

Pretty much Merkur is the only game in town. There are some that are coming out of China and India, but they seem to be a mixed bag. Personally, try looking to find an old Gillette. I have one adjustable from 59 and another from the 60's. They both shaved a lot better than the Merkur Progressive (they have problems with different gap sizes between the two sides on their adjustable, don't know if they've fixed that yet).

 

[akshatp]

eBay blades are usually fake. Beware

 

[Mojoed]

I can't speak for the ones on eBay, but I do know there are indeed fakes out there. I bought some "Gillette Fusion" cartridges at a flea market for cheap, and man, those things just ripped my face up bad.

I just buy them at BJ's wholesale club now. IIRC 16 blades cost $39. Not the cheapest, but no shipping costs and I know I'm getting the real deal.

 

[erub]

hmm, my dad and I have been using eBay blades in our M3 Powers for more than a year now with no complaints. Have bought two or three batches that way. At about $1.30-1.40 a pop..didn't even think that they might be fake, hte performance seems the same. Maybe I got lucky?

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: erub
hmm, my dad and I have been using eBay blades in our M3 Powers for more than a year now with no complaints. Have bought two or three batches that way. At about $1.30-1.40 a pop..didn't even think that they might be fake, hte performance seems the same. Maybe I got lucky?

Pisst...
Try using mach 3 turbo blades on the M3 power handle if you want to save even more money.

 

[paulney]

I get my fusion blades from Costco.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: erub
hmm, my dad and I have been using eBay blades in our M3 Powers for more than a year now with no complaints. Have bought two or three batches that way. At about $1.30-1.40 a pop..didn't even think that they might be fake, hte performance seems the same. Maybe I got lucky?

Pisst...
Try using mach 3 turbo blades on the M3 power handle if you want to save even more money.

I suspected as much. Does that work for the Fusion line as well?

Could you elaborate on your work on the development of the Fusion blades? I don't really have any specific questions, but would be interested in hearing about how and why they were designed. Any cool stories?

 

[Cal166]

Really? I recently purchased 100 M3 Turbo Blades on ebay and should be coming in this week. Will let you guys know if they are fake or not.

 

[steppinthrax]

How often are you tossing out blades. A 8 pack is like 17 bucks. But for me that last about 2 years if used cheaply. I mean I shave probably every week or so.

If you want to go cheap you can use a straight razor shaver. The blades a dirt cheap. You can get a pack for like $1 or so. It's just you lose a lot of the conforts of a disposable blade. And it takes longer to shave. If you not careful with a straight blade you can cut yourself. You also have to be careful to change your method when doing different parts of your face.

But that is why they came out with disposables.....

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Who makes a good beginner's safety razor for a reasonable price?

How is This one?

here


I got mine there and still use them for blades / cream.

Not too bad on prices but probably not the cheapest.

 

[kinev]

How do you tell if the blades are genuine or not?

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: kinev
How do you tell if the blades are genuine or not?

http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-M...ugidZ10000000002807961

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
How often are you tossing out blades. A 8 pack is like 17 bucks. But for me that last about 2 years if used cheaply. I mean I shave probably every week or so.

If you want to go cheap you can use a straight razor shaver. The blades a dirt cheap. You can get a pack for like $1 or so. It's just you lose a lot of the conforts of a disposable blade. And it takes longer to shave. If you not careful with a straight blade you can cut yourself. You also have to be careful to change your method when doing different parts of your face.

But that is why they came out with disposables.....

I usually change it every 2 months or when it starts pulling by the hairs... Where did you get an 8 pack for 17 bucks?

 

[biggestmuff]

How in the heck are you guys making blades last 2 months or stretching an 8-pack 2 years?! Are you guys blond-haired Asians?

When I shave everyday, a Fusion blade lasts me a week. Can't you tell when they go weak or do you guys really have that thin, light facial hair?

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Who makes a good beginner's safety razor for a reasonable price?

How is This one?

I have that exact model, no complaints here, bought from classic shaving. I buy my blades from WalMart, pack of 10 for ~$1.50. I forget where I got my brush from. You can get a good one for ~$30 from Crabtree and Evelyn, I use their shave soap, very good.

I shave everyday, fairly heavy growth, blade lasts a week. I couldn't get more than 4 or 5 good shaves from the Mach 3, that is why I went with the DE safety razor, blades are CHEAP.

I had some nicks the first week or 2 when I switched, now I never get nicks or razor burn (which I would always get from the Mach 3 if I went past ~5 shaves on a blade).