Contacted customer service today and they sent a return label. I wasn't offered a replacement for whatever reason. I gave a fairly detailed description of the issue and said if a replacement would be the same then just issue a refund. I think they sold a bunch of them so maybe we'll hear about others with the same issue.
Funny, a few people say they are pleased and getting really great shaves .. are their razors made different to where there is not the pivot effect?
It could be one particular bad batch, I suppose. I also get the impression from what I've read that the Beta plate has less issues than the other one.
Someone else said maybe they've received so many inquiries about problems with them that they quit selling any more?
I was told today that they will email all on the email list an update on an improved baseplate. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
@J Philip - Funny... I have email from PAA and "The razor is how it is supposed to be." Is it better with that shim? I shaved today with yellow plate - BBS after 3 passes - wasn't bad but for me R41 is much more enjoyable... Blue plate is to mild but maybe after a few shaves and finding correct angle it will change (It`s my first SE razor). @Str8on2 Have you already received a replacement?
A V3 in Stainless is available for under a Ben Franklin. I did not get along with either of the Aluminum versions and gave up on them very quickly. Not sure if this one will improve the shave performance but, the quality alloy is definitely an upgrade. Looks pretty good to. Both base plates included in the purchase price.
No it doesn't. It has the worst machining marks I've ever seen on a razor. That is straight up garbage machining, and I can't believe they used that as the photo op razor. Do you not see the horrendous gouges? Any other manufacturer would either straight up reject it, or sell it half price as a second. Edit: granted, they aren't in a spot that would be readily visible, and there's limits to how much polishing you can do to that area without changing the aggressiveness and fit of the razor, but still, it doesn't bode well for the precision of the fit. That kind of sloppiness has a way of filtering into other aspects of the razor.
"No sir! You see, those are out special hydrodynamic 'rings' designed to swirl away water and soap from the shaving surface for an unbelievable shave!" - some sales weasel
What can I tell you? Hopefully, that particular sample won't be sent to anyone and was an oversight on PAA's part. Overall, they have produced some quality razors at some very affordable prices. To quote one of the great motivational speakers of our time; "I'd rather be lucky most of the time than be great some of the time." -Vince Lombardi Credit also to Lefty Gomez I'm assuming and hoping most shave enthusiasts who purchased one will get lucky.
I agree, having owned and shaved with various PAA razors over the years. I asked @twhite to take a look at this one, and he agreed that it's "bad machining." His best guess is that "the parts are not secure enough and are vibrating during machining...or too slow of a cutter speed," resulting in "pulling on the part." Both of those scenarios are mistakes in the set-up and layout portion of the process, not inherent flaws in the design itself. One hopes that the actual design flaws in the previous iteration haven't made their way into this model as well. The world needs more good modern GEM razors, not less. Edit: Official statement from PAA: "...A note on the machine marks. You will notice little circular machine marks on the bottom plates. We thought these marks emulated soap bubbles, which seemed fitting and gave a nice texture and effect, making these razors even more unique." Oooookaaaaay. That's like a used car salesman talking about orange peel in the paint, (a defect), and passing it off as helping 'the aerodynamics of the vehicle.'