Assuming that Gillette actually produces thes razors, it only adds to their bottom line if the price point is high enough. People on this forum might buy out of curiosity, or just for the sake of having one in their collection. However, I bet there's enough hipsters and people with discretionary incomes that will buy these. I think it won't make a dent in cartridge sales, but does become a source of income for Gillette. Also, if people are buying their blades for these razors in brick and mortar stores, they'll be paying top dollar for their Gillette DE blades. So, what would Gillette have to lose? Think of it, the razor market is saturated and the pie is only so big. The only way to grow sales is to take sales from the competition. That has happened in the beer industry. InBev/AB are buying up all of those micro breweries even though the micro brews only account for less than 10% of the market. It's best not to let the smaller companies grow. So, you either buy them up or compete on their terms. If it happens, we all have something to gain and maybe even have another supplier of new DE razors. Cool!
My opinion is that Art of Shaving appeals mainly to dilettantes. I think their sales of these razors will be to people who find them trendy. Then, you'll find them reselling them on eBay when the trend is over. It's possible some may continue and that would be a good thing. I think it will be a very costly way to get started though.
Had to look up dilettantes. A good day when you can learn sumpin new, especially when your havin' fun hangin' 'round TSD.
Don't forget that Gillette has re-introduced their DE blades to the American market. Overpriced when you consider the other options, sure, but this is a sign that Gillette is taking the growing wet shave market seriously. If you look at the top 100 in Amazon's manual shaving, Feather DE blades hold two spots in the top twenty.
Ihave seen contemporary razors with gillette on them. Did gillette ever completely stop making razors, or did they just stop selling them in the US MARKET?
What?!?!? You mean you don't read every single post that's posted in these posts?!?!? Sheesh!! Just kidding. I've tried keeping up, believe me. Darn near next to impossible.
Thank you, Ryan, I hadn't paid attention to that thread. So, conceivably, Gillette could master the U.S. market in both DE and cartridges by reintroducing blades and a new Tech (of some kind) as a step in that direction. Not an either/or scenario as I'd figured it, but both/and. Now it starts to make sense.
