Blackland DART

If a product doesn't generate enough sales, regardless of how I personally feel, then there's no place for it in the lineup. The Era didn't factor into this decision. It's just a coincidence that we sold through all the Dart inventory when we did.

any thoughts as to why it wasn't more popular than it was?  I quite like mine, personally.

I think I dig in a bit deeper earlier in this thread. Basically I think it was a combination of bad early reviews and poor education on my part. When used with a steep angle the Dart is smooth, gentle, and easy to use. Used with a shallow angle it can get pretty aggressive. So maybe it's also a design error and flexibility is bad.

One thing I think is very telling is that the Dart sells quite well to our Italian customers. I believe that since they aren't digesting as much English language content then they haven't been tainted by early reviews which were all in English. So they were able to develop their own opinions in a vacuum and it led them to a different conclusion. I've always found the Italian sales interesting and I think it could be a useful clue to the impact of reviews. Again, I don't actually have any idea, but these are my guesses.

any thoughts as to why it wasn't more popular than it was?  I quite like mine, personally.

I like mine as well.
If it was a $300 razor the Dart would have gotten more respect.

Absolutely this, too. I thought the $99 price point would kill. Turns out I think I should have priced it at $200. Would have sold maybe slightly fewer, but I do think the price point tells people something and, by and large, I suspect that the market for $99 machined razors consists of mostly the same people at the market at the $200 range. Which could also be why not everybody owns the 'Merica razor by Yates/the club name which I'm forgetting.

I bought the ‘Merica razor just because it was a cheap Yates.  I have always thought that the Yates razors are not aesthetically pleasing and to me, that matters. I took a chance for the club price on the ‘Merica.  It’s a nice razor, I use it, but I wouldn’t pay more for a real Yates.  Bad move for Yates…
(See what I did with the tactfulness there?)

Also…Some folks have heavier beards than others, more than a few of them live in Italy.  They buy open comb Fatip razors.  Those fellows expect a razor with the efficiency of the Dart.  As I’ve said before, the Dart isn’t a daily driver for my sissy beard, but if I’ve been lax while being locked in my house for a year…it’s perfect.

I say $400 for polished Darts…with no information about the razor…then adopt a 9 month waiting list!!  
Now there’s a business model that just begs to be…oh wait, never mind.

BRING ON THE ERA!

any thoughts as to why it wasn't more popular than it was?  I quite like mine, personally.

I think I dig in a bit deeper earlier in this thread. Basically I think it was a combination of bad early reviews and poor education on my part. When used with a steep angle the Dart is smooth, gentle, and easy to use. Used with a shallow angle it can get pretty aggressive. So maybe it's also a design error and flexibility is bad.

One thing I think is very telling is that the Dart sells quite well to our Italian customers. I believe that since they aren't digesting as much English language content then they haven't been tainted by early reviews which were all in English. So they were able to develop their own opinions in a vacuum and it led them to a different conclusion. I've always found the Italian sales interesting and I think it could be a useful clue to the impact of reviews. Again, I don't actually have any idea, but these are my guesses.

I like mine as well.
If it was a $300 razor the Dart would have gotten more respect.

Absolutely this, too. I thought the $99 price point would kill. Turns out I think I should have priced it at $200. Would have sold maybe slightly fewer, but I do think the price point tells people something and, by and large, I suspect that the market for $99 machined razors consists of mostly the same people at the market at the $200 range. Which could also be why not everybody owns the 'Merica razor by Yates/the club name which I'm forgetting.

I bought the ‘Merica razor just because it was a cheap Yates.  I have always thought that the Yates razors are not aesthetically pleasing and to me, that matters. I took a chance for the club price on the ‘Merica.  It’s a nice razor, I use it, but I wouldn’t pay more for a real Yates.  Bad move for Yates…
(See what I did with the tactfulness there?)

Also…Some folks have heavier beards than others, more than a few of them live in Italy.  They buy open comb Fatip razors.  Those fellows expect a razor with the efficiency of the Dart.  As I’ve said before, the Dart isn’t a daily driver for my sissy beard, but if I’ve been lax while being locked in my house for a year…it’s perfect.

I say $400 for polished Darts…with no information about the razor…then adopt a 9 month waiting list!!  
Now there’s a business model that just begs to be…oh wait, never mind.

BRING ON THE ERA!

I skipped the Merica because it was said to not be as efficient as the Yates M. I love my Yates H shaves. Regardless of how it looks in pictures my face prefers it

Rest In Peace Blackland Dart Razor

I shaved with my Dart today after reading this thread

One on a popular auction site right now for $85 OBO Shipped......................

Maggard’s still has 8 polished Darts in stock…just sayin.

The  Dart never made it to a Titanium version. I'll be keeping my SS Dart.

If a product doesn't generate enough sales, regardless of how I personally feel, then there's no place for it in the lineup. The Era didn't factor into this decision. It's just a coincidence that we sold through all the Dart inventory when we did.

any thoughts as to why it wasn't more popular than it was?  I quite like mine, personally.

I like mine as well.
If it was a $300 razor the Dart would have gotten more respect.

Price is a fickle signaling device with consumers. It would be interesting to update a razor with new aesthetics/pricing and see how the reviews change.

any thoughts as to why it wasn't more popular than it was?  I quite like mine, personally.

I like mine as well.
If it was a $300 razor the Dart would have gotten more respect.

Price is a fickle signaling device with consumers. It would be interesting to update a razor with new aesthetics/pricing and see how the reviews change.

I love the aesthetic; best of the Blackland razors, which is saying a lot considering how iconic just about all of them are. The only minor tweak that was on my wishlist was a longer central post. But if making a v2, then maybe play around with the blade angle to address the issues that some people had. For me, ATG, it is very smooth and reasonably efficient -- I could never understand the negative feedback on harshness -- so I'm perfectly happy with it. But if you do a v2, then obviously have to change things up.

I like mine as well.
If it was a $300 razor the Dart would have gotten more respect.

Price is a fickle signaling device with consumers. It would be interesting to update a razor with new aesthetics/pricing and see how the reviews change.

I love the aesthetic; best of the Blackland razors, which is saying a lot considering how iconic just about all of them are. The only minor tweak that was on my wishlist was a longer central post. But if making a v2, then maybe play around with the blade angle to address the issues that some people had. For me, ATG, it is very smooth and reasonably efficient -- I could never understand the negative feedback on harshness -- so I'm perfectly happy with it. But if you do a v2, then obviously have to change things up.

Ii was thinking more of an undercover passaround to guage consumer feedback. Same geometry but disguised with a different aesthetic. I love the dart as is though.

Agreed with Dave’s sentiment. I had the Dart for about a week, and sold it because I could not get along with it and the Blackbird was just fantastic. I have not considered the ‘Merica razor because reviews have mentioned that it is milder than the M-plate. There are more than enough “medium” razors in the den - and the Vector has been crushing it for me in this category. The only reason the Vector hasn’t appeared on my Instagram posts yet is due to deliberate “pacing” of my reviews. I can definitely see why people call it a RAD killer.

For my use case, the Yates H and Blackbird stand above all others when I want a closer shave. Another contrarian view - I actually like the skinny, long handle.