Allow me to introduce myself (from Alberta, in the Great White North)

Hi Mike, welcome to DFS from a fellow Albertan.  
I admire your enthusiasm and I especially like your practice of collecting personal milestone razors - I have been considering doing something similar but I find the aftermarket sales arena a bit daunting.  
Do you have any tips based on your own experience on things to look for or avoid?
Cheers,
Mark

Hi Mark

What part of AB are you in?

I can't offer a heckuva lot of advice -- when I started in January I had only previously used eBay once and my Daughter had to help me.
I did learn that using eBay in Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, and so on sometimes yields different items that don't show up on the .ca or .com site. You have to message the vendor and ask if they'll ship to Canada and most will say yes.
You can also try other antique sites (Google it) or Etsy.
Watch out for shipping and currency conversion -- it's real easy to get caught up in an auction and not realize that US$ price ends up being twice as much once you convert to CAD and add the shipping.

I studied the various forums to learn about the different models. There are references online about the Gillette date code system to help pick the right year. Be careful, though about how things are listed in the auction sites -- some of the vendors are either ignorant of the correct information or deliberately choose to confuse. I have seen a "Fat Boy Slim Adjustable No Date Code". A "Fat Boy" is, of course, not a "Slim Adjustable" and no Fat Boy was ever issued, to my knowledge, without a date code. Examine the pictures in detail and message the vendor to ask questions if things are confusing.

The question of replated vintage razors is the source for many arguments both pro and con. I've concluded it comes down to personal preference. Do you want the razor as a collectors item or as a usable razor. I did not replate the King George coronation razor because it has a slight historic significance, but I do have an ABC Pocket edition replated in Rhodium, simply because it looks super cool. Personal choice.

I'm not sure that helps, Mark, but good luck.

Mike

Welcome Mike!

Hi Mike, I'm in Calgary, where are you?  I've never used eBay and I think I have a bit of education to do before I wade in to the vintage world. There is a website that sells vintage razors and offers rebuilding and replating. Razor Emporium, have you ever used it or heard anything about it? This is an enjoyable hobby as well as adding enjoyment to a formerly unpleasant task.  Thanks for the tips and traps, it's definitely buyer beware out there.
Mark

Welcome to DFS.

Hi Mike, I'm in Calgary, where are you?  I've never used eBay and I think I have a bit of education to do before I wade in to the vintage world. There is a website that sells vintage razors and offers rebuilding and replating. Razor Emporium, have you ever used it or heard anything about it? This is an enjoyable hobby as well as adding enjoyment to a formerly unpleasant task.  Thanks for the tips and traps, it's definitely buyer beware out there.
Mark

Hi again, Mark (or is it Marko?).

I live in Edmonton a little south of West Edmonton Mall.

Regarding using eBay -- you might start by looking for some YouTube videos. Here's one
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvuVjvgDrIk][/url]
You will also have to sign up for a PayPal account if you don't already have one because most eBay transactions require payment through PayPal.

Razor Emporium (RE) is well known as far as I can see. I know they have been banned on at least one forum, but the details on why are elusive so the fault may lie with the forum admins rather than RE, so I'm keeping an open mind in the absence of any direct evidence. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) though -- I am not advising for or against them as I have never done any business with them. I would also advise comparing their prices against others as some of their prices have struck me as being a little on the high side.

Best of luck, Mark/Marko

Hi Mike, I lived in Edmonton 3 years while attending UofA and my daughter is in first year Nursing there now. I don't mind Edmonton at all, I used to have more friends and family up there but they've either moved away of passed away so until this past September we didn't have much reason to make the drive up. I can say that the #2 highway is a lot busier now than it used to be.
I appreciate your advice on vintage razors. I think buyer beware is applicable at all times. I've also noticed that some people on some boards (so far not this one) do tend to get really tourqued about perceived indiscretions or activities of the various vendors. I'm not sure why but I attribute it to generational differences. People who have grown up on iPhones and social media etc seem to believe that they are building personal friendships with everyone they interact with in the social media spaces and when a vendor for example behaves in a manner inconsistent with how they believe a friend should treat them, they go off. I suppose its understandable given their world view but it sure puts pressure on a vendor. Imagine that you're operating a brick and mortar business and you pretty much are keeping the customers happy but there's an inevitable customer who may have a bad experience for whatever reason - now he blasts you to the whole world. I think its interesting to interact with the artisans and get an insight into their creative processes or even just whats coming down the pipe but at the end of the day its still a commercial relationship, albeit a pleasant one.
Thanks,
Mark

Welcome Mike, I am also in Alberta.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I appreciate your advice on vintage razors.  

I'm not sure why but I attribute it to generational differences.  People who have grown up on iPhones and social media ...
Thanks,
Mark

Ha Ha!  I will assume from the way you worded that that you are "of a certain age" <grin>  -- like me.  And I don't disagree.

Re the advice:  Advice is free.  It's value? Well that's another thing altogether <2nd grin>.

---

Welcome Mike, I am also in Alberta.

Thanks fo rthe welcome. What part of Wild Rose Country are you in?

Hey Mike, the blue part - City of Cows.
Mark

I appreciate your advice on vintage razors.  

I'm not sure why but I attribute it to generational differences.  People who have grown up on iPhones and social media ...
Thanks,
Mark

Ha Ha!  I will assume from the way you worded that that you are "of a certain age" <grin>  -- like me.  And I don't disagree.

Re the advice:  Advice is free.  It's value? Well that's another thing altogether <2nd grin>.

---

Welcome Mike, I am also in Alberta.

Thanks fo rthe welcome. What part of Wild Rose Country are you in?

The sunny southeast


There's a backwards old town that's often remembered. So many times that my memories are worn.