Game Changer: best selling "fairly recent" razor?

It seems any time I start to research a razor across the web, inevitably someone chimes-in and either says it's like an RR Game Changer (RR GC), or recommends getting an RR GC instead. And of course when someone asks for a general recommendation, the RR GC is mentioned by at least one person.

So...

I'm wondering -- is the RR GC (in any of its configurations) the best selling "fairly recent" razor? I use the term "fairly recent" instead of "modern" to filter out the ubiquitous R89/D89/34c razors and "shave-alikes".

BTW, I've never tried an RR GC, but have the 2 DSCosmetics clone/knockoff/copycat (though not "exactly alike") heads. I didn't find those to be anything special, however.

 

I have the GC .84 OC and it is a fantastic tool. The fit and finish rivals razors with a MUCH higher price point. The .84 gap is a good mid-range opening that'll shave any beard, easily.

 

I shaved with my Game Changer .68 this morning and it's among my favorites. Excellent quality for any price but for its price point, frankly, it's stunning.
If I were limited to one modern razor, it's quite conceivable this is the one I'd choose.

 

When you cut through all the hype and BS when it comes to modern razors this one will most likely stand the test of time. It is a solid razor and if the secondary market is any indication, you almost never saw these come up for resale a couple of weeks to months after it first came out or with subsequent iterations on the base plates.

 

What did I tell ya?

Seriously, though...

I doubt anyone could know if it was the best seller, other than RR, who could probably only say whether it was their best seller or not.

How close did DS Cosmetics get it with theirs: the D8 (GC .68) and the S9 (GC .84). I am curious to know if I was "penny wise, pound foolish", to go with those instead of the Real McCoys a few years ago. TBH, I've never given them a fair enough try, but for me, I've found if I'm not enthralled by a razor on the first shave, it never really becomes a "go-to" for me. Can I get decent shaves eventually with those or any other razor I don't at first like? Yes, but usually the first impressions are very telling. For me, that is.

 

I would say it sold very well. I remember it being Out of Stock, quite often. I was able to purchase mine on a BST thread, and like @BBS stated, they appear infrequently on those threads.

 

Thanks.

It's still listed for sale on their website. Less $$$ than their SS Lupo.

 

Based on observed buzz across the fora over time, yes it certainly could be an all-time best seller. Given enough time perhaps the newer SS razorock Lupo line might impress similarly. It’s kind of a moot point until if and when IB chooses to share their sales numbers.

I owned three Game Changers. 68 SB and OC and the 84 solid bar. Of the three the .68 solid bar was my favorite. It was my go-to 6AM auto pilot shaver for many years before I retired. The posts on the base plate never grew on me (personal bias) and I eventually sold them all because I like other razors better and the $ went to fund other purchases.

 

I tried my D.8 today for probably only the 2nd time -- and the 1st in 2 years, if I remember correctly.

It looks to have a neutral exposure, and the shave was mild. It felt very smooth with no blade feel. It had a very narrow effective angle, but that angle was natural for me -- just between steep and shallow.

It took more work to get the shave I'm used to, but the end results were satisfactory -- CCS overall and DFS on parts of my face, no irritation, and no sting from the alum or after-shave.

I really don't remember much about the shave I had 2 years ago -- I don't know why I hadn't tried it again until now.

I have used the S9 more, including fairly recently. I would need to try it again soon to make a fair comparison, but I believe it was more aggressive (of course) and not as smooth.

Both my D.8 and S9 have the scalloped cap.

 

I have one in the medium configuration. It’s good around my earlobes, not so much on my face.

 

I got one a couple of years ago when the hype was deafening. I chose the medium, in black, which was the only option available at the time from the vendor who had it on sale. I think I paid $60 shipped.

I got great shaves from it -- very efficient, and very smooth. The novelty of it wore off quickly, though, and I set it aside after a week or so. It just wasn't challenging to use, and I have (and still have) many other razors in my collection (mostly vintage) I wanted to try.

Earlier this year, I shaved with it once -- wouldn't you know it, I got some pretty bad weepers, and lots of irritation. I don't know what the heck happened there. I know I used the Astra SPs that came with it when I first used it (and that used to be the one and only blade I used), but I think I might have used a different blade the last time. I need to revisit the Henson again.

BTW, on their website, Henson recommends replacing the blade every 2-5 shaves. They also say blades cost 10 cents apiece. They also say that most people will spend $2 to $3 a year on blades.

$3 gets you 30 blades. Assume 5 shaves per bade. So they think most people shave 150 times a year, max? I shave 365 times a year. At 2 shaves per blade, that's only shaving 60 times per year for $3.

Assume 2 shaves per blade. Assume you do only shave 150 times per year. That would cost you $7.50.

They're math is off, to say the least.

They also show pics of their 4 founders -- only 1 out of 4 are clean-shaven, lol.

 

I know it's not the same as the Game Changer (or is it?), but I shaved again with the DS Cosmetics D.8. I got a closer shave today than yesterday. I rode the cap, and it seems this razor is more efficient that way, thought it still shaves smoothly using a neutral angle. You really get the benefit of the scalloped cap when riding the cap, of course.

So, I'm still interested if anyone has used both this and a bonafide Game Changer .68 straight bar to compare.

I have one shave left on an Astra SP blade, so I will use this combo again tomorrow. Then, I might try using it with a Perma-sharp Gold or a Gillette Platinum (light blue tuck) this weekend, or perhaps stick with an Astra SP, but in a DS Cosmetics S9.

 

Well, would you go to a dentist who had bad teeth? Or get a suit made by a tailor whose clothes didn't fit him?

 

my old doctor smoked like a chimney..

 

True story:
My father once told me that he went to a new doctor, and during the exam, the Dr. asked him, "Do you smoke?"
My father said, "Yes."
Then the Dr. said, "Great! Let's have a smoke!"

 

There's a reason that in the twilight of their careers, Marlon Brando and Orson Welles were never approached to do weight-loss commercials.

 

No kidding, your post got me thinking about Joe DiMaggio and Mr. Coffee. Why? Right? I just love the interwebs!
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/mr-coffee-inventor-convinced-joe-dimaggio-pitchman/story?id=32871845