Rockwell Razors Business Model

I'm very much in the same position as Rockwell, albeit at a smaller scale. I, too, had a Kickstarter and also just ran out of my first batch. As I prepare for the next production run I will likely take preorders in the same fashion. I sympathize with your position, but I also fully understand their situation and motivations. I can't speak for Rockwell, but personally I offer refunds to customers at any time before they actually receive their order. So if production hits a snag you can just pull the plug. I hope that's a fair compromise. Alternatively, there is nothing wrong with waiting until the product actually shows up.

Ditto to Blackland. We're in the exact same mode over here. It doesn't happen often, but we process immediate refunds when people ask. I'm almost certain Rockwell does the same. You're essentially putting money down to hold a spot in line.

We realize (and I'm sure Rockwell does too) that this turns some people off, and hope to transition to full rate production as soon as possible.

While I understand the trepidation and certainly agree it isn't something I'd be entirely comfortable with in a company I'd never dealt with, as a Kickstarter backer of Rockwell (and Blackbird), I personally have complete faith in the integrity of Morgan and Gareth at Rockwell (and of Shane at Blackland). If the financial circumstances of these small companies require them to implement that kind of business model, I'm sure they are doing so fully realizing some people will opt not to take that risk.

That said, in my experience Rockwell are committed to ensuring their customers are satisfied and if I were in a position where I needed to purchase another Rockwell, I'd put my money down without hesitation, though I completely understand why others would not.

Excellent quality of responses. Very valuable information and perspective. I am just not comfortable with in essence providing financing to a razor maker.

Excellent quality of responses. Very valuable information and perspective. I am just not comfortable with in essence providing financing to a razor maker.

And that is certainly fair enough, Stephen.

Excellent quality of responses. Very valuable information and perspective. I am just not comfortable with in essence providing financing to a razor maker.

And that is certainly fair enough, Stephen.

Sure is! I'm sure I can speak for the other companies when I say that we all get where you're coming from and fully appreciate that not everyone will be comfortable with that preorder system.

Excellent quality of responses. Very valuable information and perspective. I am just not comfortable with in essence providing financing to a razor maker.

Stephen I think you might got things wrong, I'm sure Rockwell would not mind taking your money but I'm sure they will refund you if you decide to do that before receiving the razor.

When I contacted Rockwell regarding the version 2 they told me that they didn't had any in stock at the moment but they would have them back in 2-3 weeks. So he asked me do you wanna preorder or you want me to contact you once when I have them in stock, I told him no big deal for few weeks I can wait. So I preorder and actually he got the razors in stock in a week and once he shipped it it was at my door in 2 days....

I do understand your point of view, you don't feel comfortable someone holding your money for few weeks even though you see the obvious reviews of how good the Rockwell 6s is, and they answer emails really fast if you have any questions.

My understanding is they will have something new coming up, hopefully another razor, and they will send out emails to their customers with offers of their new product as in preorder but at a better price, I guess they give first chance on accessing better price. All I will need to know if its new razor and will it be made via MIM molding, that molding is just top notch!!! and the Rockwell blades are outperforming the Personna and they are cheaper.

Again I really appreciate the thoughtful responses. I wish the response I received from Rockwell would have indicated that I could get a refund if things took too long or I changed my mind. Also they did not offer to notify me once the razor became available. They are a hot ticket right now from what I gather are very good reasons. In the mean time I will tough it out with my grandfather's pre-war Tech circa 1939.

Maybe it's just me, but I won't wait for a razor. In today's economy if you can't produce them fast enough for me to get one when I want, I'll buy from someone who can. There are oodles of razors out there and they all do the same job. No one will ever convince me the shave with razor "x" will be so incredibly better than razor "y" that I need to wait months or even a year for razor "x". Hence, I won't ever have a wolfman or some of joe's limited slants and you can add Rockwell to the list especially given their history...... But, you know what? I get amazing shaves every morning from the 30 razors in my den and I didn't have to wait for any of them. As to prepaying for anything..... My Dad taught me better. You can have my money when you give me the product. I'm not a bank and I'm sure as heck not loaning you money for three months at no interest so you can produce the goods you are selling. People that are willing to do that are suckers in my book.

I just checked the Rockwell site. They are stating that any orders placed today should ship by April 30.

Hi StephenG , I was just on www.menessentials.ca and they have rockwell razors in stock - Kickstarter edition, not sure if thats different than what they're making now.
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