James first off I don’t know if you’ve ever had a phone call with Eric and I really like him but it can be a little challenging as he has a fairly strong accent and talks fast and is almost always on Bluetooth so I probably get about 70% of everything he says and find myself saying what? Could you repeat that again! Lol
Just wanted to get that out of the way.
Anyway from what I’ve gotten from my 3 phone talks with him since the razor was released is that most of the issues related to fit and finish are related to him having to change manufactures, not getting good communication from them throughout the whole process and then the manufacturer messing up or should I say kinda putting him in a bad situation as far as assembling the razors properly leaving him to finish that himself. As far as a mirror polish that’s again related to the manufacture finishing the parts as each one has to be buffed individually. I think Eric expected better himself but being the gentlemen he is he decided to take full responsibility for everything that wasn’t what we all expected from this version of the Janus. You know I came down on the razor pretty hard and expressed my disappointment with Fit, Finish and shave characteristics. I felt and still feel bad about having to give a friend a pretty harsh review but I could not lie or soften up my opinion as that’s how I truthfully felt about the razor that was delivered to my door.
I consider Eric a shaving friend and I didn’t want to just abandon him especially knowing he felt/feels bad about many decisions he made but I keep reminding him of what Shane from @Blackland razors said. He had some bumps along the road here and there as I’m sure other razor makers have I’m guessing.
I know he would like to make another Janus but has made it clear he wants to find the right manufacturer to work with. I think he’s gotten some communication going on with a few that actually have experience with making razors. That info he’s not shared with me up till now and I didn’t want to push him for names.
I have told him right up front I think he’s a great engineer and designer but he needs to partner up with someone who knows how to make razors. An I hope the next Janus if there is one will be everything we/I expected it to be.
That’s about all I’ve got James. I’m not sure if you’ve talked to him but if I haven’t answered your question you might want to call him. He’s a very friendly guy. A little hard to get a hold of as he works a lot of hrs at his job but he will get back to you I’m sure.