The question I pose is do you prefer to buy online or in person? This of course relates to Vintage razors. For me I'd rather see it in person, maybe that is the German in me as I can be very picky as to the condition of an item and whether I deem it is worth the investment or not. What say ye?
I personally enjoy the "hunt" of finding razors in the wild, although I am not adverse to online buying. I like digging through old dusty antique stores and such looking for treasure lol
I am an eBay man. eBay first, Amazon next. I take pleasure in having a package waiting at the door for me...it's like a little bit of Christmas. Besides there is a dearth of real antique stores in my vicinity.
Given a choice, I'd rather buy in person. Ideally, I want to hold the razor, inspect it and face-to-face interaction also allows room for negotiation. The downside to person-to-person is not being exposed to the wider variety one can find online.
Online. Searching out many antique stores and driving there only to find they don't have what I want or want to seriously overcharge for something is not something I enjoy.
Since I can't find very much over here in person. So I mostly buy on-line. But I guess it depends on the proximity of vintage stores.
I buy my vintage stuff local and don't search often really, only if I pass an antique store/flea market and have time to kill and find a deal. I never got into ebay but I would buy from the forum BST's if I saw something I fancy.
Big, I've purchased several razors on eBay and each one of them, while serviceable, had issues. I've returned two. BUT the razors I've purchased at estate sales or antique stores and here and B&B have all been just fine. Although I check it regularly, eBay tends to be pricey and much of the stuff not as good as represented.
all the deals I've found have been in person. the ones bought online were ok, but not really deals, especially after shipping
Where I come from (in rural Australia) there is little option as there are VERY few second hand/antique shops around that have anything remotely like shaving equipment. It's online for me !!
I avoid buying anything from the internet as often as I can. I'd much rather spend a few extra dollars extra to get it in my hands right away. I can't stand waiting on shipping.
I voted for in person.. However that said, I honestly make most of my shave related purchases(both new and vintage) online. It's easier to do searches and compare products, there are usually "MANY" more choices available, it's easier to compare vendor prices and many times it's cheaper even with S&H. While I'm a relative newbie to buying online "the shaving hobby", 'knife collecting hobby" and "fountain pen hobby" has turned me into a frequenter of ebay, amazon, as well as the many smaller, independent shave/knife/fountain pen sites. I do have to say that so far, for the most part online buying has been a good experience.
Online. Mainly because there is more of a selection. I have much better luck finding guns than vintage shaving gear in person.
Online. I don't feel like driving all over looking for stuff. Besides, I'd rather buy from another wet shaver because the antique people are starting to catch on about how lucrative vintage razors are.
That being stated prices are getting outrageous. I just saw a Toggle on Ebay for $3,000.00, all because it is "Rare".
I for one have no interest in owning a Toggle. I would rather buy from the BST instead of some idiot antique dealer trying to sell me a beat up straight razor for $80. And it was originally $100, but I told him I would pay a tenth of that price for it. And he wanted $25 for a puck of vintage Williams. Pffft
For vintage, I'd prefer to see it in person before buying because it's tough to determine the condition online. For new merchandise I prefer online.
