#1

Cutting Edge Soap
Maricopa, AZ
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2019, 11:32 PM by dfoulk.)
I'm thinking about starting up a soap sample passaround on this forum.  Many of you here know that I'm currently running one on another forum and the guys over there seem to really enjoy it.  Vendors have generously been sending me soap for that box for quite a while now.  

First off, here's a disclaimer...  While I do have my favorite soaps I do my very best to be impartial toward the vendors.  Reviews that I write are based on facts and as accurate as I can make them.  The soaps that vendors send me are put aside to be used for the passaround box and not used by me other than testing and posting reviews in this thread as a participant just like everyone else.  I consider them to be property of the passaround.

I'm not paid or rewarded by the vendors for doing this as they participate with the hope of getting some publicity for their products.  There's really no place to advertise shaving products other than these forums so they are usually very interested in participating.  I can assure you that I don't benefit financially from this, it's just the opposite in fact.  It costs me money to do this.  Money out of my pocket goes toward labels, jars, ziploc freezer bags, packing material and postage.  I'm not looking for and won't take any  monetary donations as I only mention this to assure you that I'm not compensated for this.  There's also quite a bit of time involved to pull this off and have it run successfully.   I've also included some of the soaps that I've owned and no longer use and I have accepted soaps donated by users in the past.   Currently it's not all that common as most come directly from vendors at this point.  

There are some guidelines and rules that I'll share with you in more detail at a later time but the basic idea is:  

You get a box of soap for a week to ten days to smell, lather or shave with any of the samples.  

You can smell, test lather or shave with whatever ones you'd like but you don't keep anything from the box in your possession once you send it to the next person.  

You do not lather on the samples.  Most of the samples are provided by vendors and the sample containers are filled by me from these fresh new soaps.  However, I cannot guarantee what happens to the soaps when they are out of my possession.  If someone adds a sample from their private stash then I can't vouch that that particular soap hasn't been lathered before.  I opened the other passaround box to additions from users but it's not all that common that anyone adds anything.  You can always ask about a particular soap if it's something that bothers you.    

You agree to post respectful honest reviews in the passaround thread about the soaps that you've tried.  Share any thoughts you'd like even about soaps not in the passaround as the more activity in the thread the better.  Refrain from posting damaging reviews as these vendors are doing us a kindness by sending us their products to try.  I like that we all like different things and we're not all going to like everything we try.  I do expect some reviews to be negative but know that it's a bit nicer to say "while someone else may really enjoy this soap it wasn't one for me"  than to say something rude and distasteful.  Just be kind and treat people how you'd want to be treated.    

This will probably end up being more than one USPS medium flat rate box.  Shipping was around $15 per box and included $50 insurance.  Once you send the first box to the next person on the list only then will you be sent the second box and so on until you get through all of the boxes.

You aren't allowed to participate in the passaround on the other forum as well as this one at the same time.  I don't want one holding up the other because participants can't have two boxes at once.  Do feel free to post reviews on both forums if you'd like to do so as many of the same soaps will likely be in both boxes.  Reviews should require a bit of effort on your part and posted in a timely manner.  Pictures are appreciated so it's encouraged that you include them.  

There will be some qualifications for participation based on post count and/or duration on the forum.

You'll be required to share your forum id, address, email address and phone number with me.  I won't use your email and phone number for any purpose other than contacting you should you drop off of the forum while in possession of a passaround box.  I will not share this information with anyone else either.  I delete everyone's private information after they are through with their turn.  

You are responsible for postage to the person after you on the list.  Sorry to our international friends but I've kept this to CONUS because of the time needed to ship it globally as well as the postage expense.  

It sounds like we may also be getting a box with several full tubs from Grooming Dept.  If this happens the lathering on the soap rule for this box would not apply.  You'd be able to skip this box and just do the others if you're squeemish about using used soaps.  

The last rule is that I can make exceptions or alterations to the rules as I choose to do so.  It's not common but I have made exceptions for people in the past when it makes sense to do so.      

I'd be happy to put it together and get this going as long as you guys can keep it moving smoothly.  

Please share some thoughts and let me know if you'd be interested in participating.  If there's enough interest I'll put together the formal guidelines, start gathering some materials and post a sign up list.

Thank you,
David

HighSpeed, Blade4vor, andrewjs18 and 1 others like this post
#2

Merchant
St. Louis, MO
Black Tie Razor Company will participate.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

HighSpeed and keto like this post
Shave Sharp, Look Sharp
#3
I would be interested in the GD full tub box
#4
David,
I've followed some of the passaround, on another site, possibly that is the one you're talking about.
I will not mention it because, I don't want to break any rules here but I do like the way this site is less strict about a lot of things.
Back to the soap pass around, I like the idea and have participated in a couple of passarounds, (a synthetic brush and Rex Ambassador)
I would like to participate the only problems in my situation is only get about four maybe five shaves a week because of work, with a box of soaps that's not going to be much usage, but let's see.
I know it's got to be some work and some expense of putting something like this on. These are very good opportunity and very generous of you David and the soap makers/Companies.
Put me in coach, haha
Keith
#5

Super Moderator
I would be interested in participating.

keto brings up a good point in regards to the number of soaps vs days available to try them. If there are multiple soaps from one vendor, then someone should easily be able to judge the performance of the vendor's soap and simply smell the others to determine if they like them. Generally, how many vendor soaps are in a box?

dominicr likes this post
#6

Cutting Edge Soap
Maricopa, AZ
(This post was last modified: 12-09-2018, 12:40 AM by dfoulk.)
(12-08-2018, 04:17 PM)keto Wrote: David,
I've followed some of the passaround, on another site, possibly that is the one you're talking about.
  I will not mention it because, I don't want to break any rules here but I do like the way this site is less strict about a lot of things.
 Back to the soap pass around, I like the idea and have participated in a couple of passarounds, (a synthetic brush and Rex Ambassador)
  I would like to participate the only problems in my situation is only get about four maybe five shaves a week because of work, with a box of soaps that's not going to be much usage, but let's see.
I know it's got to be some work and some expense of putting something like this on. These are very good opportunity and very generous of you David and the soap makers/Companies.  
   Put me in coach, haha
                                Keith


I'm going to have to take a close look at the rules here myself as well to ensure that I'm not breaking any.

There are advantages to both forums so I'm not going to say anything negative about either one. I do prefer the atmosphere here as it's not quite as strict. The higher end gear seems a bit more popular here as well and I like that. I've thought about moving the passaround to this forum before but I've kept the passaround over there due to the sheer number of members that they have. It's a positive for the vendors in reaching more potential customers. In having a passaround up and running here as well as there then it's all the better for everyone involved.

As far as what to do about your situation in shaving less often. I'm flexible here so no worries, I'm sure that something can be worked out so that you get a good experience with the passaround box. Test lathers are permitted as well and provide a great way to experience a soap without actually shaving with it.
#7
I was thinking about the vendor part, and I can see a good opportunity for them.
I'm too enjoy different people and the forums too.
I'll keep an eye out here , see how many we can get involved. Sounds good here though.
#8
I would like to get in this one David. Thanks!
#9

Cutting Edge Soap
Maricopa, AZ
(12-09-2018, 06:51 AM)Kehole Wrote: I would like to get in this one David. Thanks!


Sean,

No problem. It'll be a little while as I'm currently reaching out to some new vendors to add to the ones I already have on board for the other passaround. I should be able to put together a couple boxes of some of the very best soaps available from all around the world.

I'm looking forward to getting it up and running soon.
#10
(12-09-2018, 06:28 PM)dfoulk Wrote:
(12-09-2018, 06:51 AM)Kehole Wrote: I would like to get in this one David. Thanks!


Sean,

No problem. It'll be a little while as I'm currently reaching out to some new vendors to add to the ones I already have on board for the other passaround. I should be able to put together a couple boxes of some of the very best soaps available from all around the world.

I'm looking forward to getting it up and running soon.


No worries. I have enough soap to last me at least 5 years. No rush and let me know if i can help. I still like the idea of doing some sort of razor pass around too.

Brobill likes this post


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