Paradigm Shaveware and Grooming Dept To Collaborate On Apogee Razors

I hope everyone gets competent legal advice before proceeding. Remedies for breach of contract are one thing. Intellectual property claims are something different . Again, I don’t know the particulars in this case, but I do know that folks can go astray if they act out of emotion rather than reason that’s based on a fully informed (and balanced, and impartial) assessment of the facts, and the benefits and costs of various paths. I once watched some guys throw away a multimillion-dollar motorcycle franchise because they couldn’t agree on what to do with an $11,000 bike. That was an emotional mistake, not a reasoned decision. The primitive brain is still very powerful when it operates unchecked by the pre-frontal cortex. Pass the popcorn....

Phil has presented his side of the story. Paradigm is welcome to do the same. I'm inclined to believe Phil at this point. I've been terribly put off by Paradigm's fickleness when moving from project to project. They can barely put one razor into production before moving on to the next. Phil's story seems to be consistent with that behavior.

I hope Mo reconsiders this partnership, as he seems like a nice guy and partnerships with Paradigm don’t seem to end well for the partner (Bullgoose, WCS).

The stories which have been circulating concerning Paradigm and Bullgoose Shaving are true in part, but but the facts and circumstances are very different from the way they have been presented. Much of this is personal, and I would never discuss it, but I feel the need to set the record straight. I also believe that an explanation is owed to the community. It was never my intention to simply make off with Phil’s money.

Let me say something loud and clear. I will soon be able to come square with Phil and Bullgoose. Phil has known about this for many weeks now. Please see accompanying screen shot of texts. I mean Phil no malice in any of this. Never have. While several optimistic ideas to pay him back earlier fell through, I have never had anything but the intention of returning his money to him. If not for this public storm, I would simply have waited until the money was in hand before approaching him again.

Here is what happened. In late June, 2018, my wife became mentally ill. She walked out one Sunday afternoon, taking all our money with her, including funds which had been earmarked to produce razors for Phil. In June 2020, she killed herself. I am the beneficiary of life insurance proceeds, and it is from these funds that I can pay Phil back as well as fund the production of new razors with Grooming Dept, as has been announced here on DFS. I am currently awaiting a copy of her death certificate from the Department of Health. This has to be handled via snail mail because of Covid and the fact that we were divorced. I can’t hurry along the City of New York.

I contacted Phil concerning this again yesterday and repeated my intention to pay, together with the details elaborated here. No response has been forthcoming.

However, Phil has announced publicly his plan to produce the Paradigm 17-4 razor. That would be worth a great deal of money to him, far more than what is owed. I granted no such permission; it is possible that my former machinist sold the design to him. This colors the situation, obviously. Perhaps Phil will respond to me today and indicate his willingness to accept cash in repayment, and not try to profit more greatly than that by the unauthorized use of my design. We shall see.

I think this thread should be locked and let him and Phil hash this out in private.

In my opinion this deserves to be discussed. If you don't want to follow by all means don't open the thread, but I believe we deserve both sides of this story.

I think this thread should be locked and let him and Phil hash this out in private.

Yes, except that Phil has declared open war on Shavenook, where I have been banned. I have no other means of defending myself publicly. I only wish that this could have been settled privately.

Andy,

Regardless of all the other circumstances, I’m sorry to hear about your wife. Suicides are awful.

I think this thread should be locked and let him and Phil hash this out in private.

Yes, except that Phil has declared open war on Shavenook, where I have been banned. I have no other means of defending myself publicly. I only wish that this could have been settled privately.

Question, did you share the backstory with Phil that you did here?

Thank you. It's been very difficult. The irony is that it is only by virtue of her life insurance proceeds that I myself am still kicking — and in a position to repay Phil, if that’s what he wants. This plan he's got to use my design on the 17-4 .... Not quite sure what to make of that.