Varlet is moving to Order Form

I’ll say it here and I’ll try to move on. One of the reasons I end up disappearing and not making products. Because of these guys who keep bullying me, and bringing up the same stuff over and over again with no added value. I fall into deep depression and don’t feel like doing anything in life.

I’ve apologized, I reimbursed customers. I’m constantly trying to improve my products. I don’t know what else do!

I’m trying to be part of the community, I’m trying to make us get along. I tried to point the shortcomings of both sides to make the wetshaving community a better place. But somehow I get bullied again.

I’ll say it here and I’ll try to move on. One of the reasons I end up disappearing and not making products. Because of these guys who keep bullying me, and bringing up the same stuff over and over again with no added value. I fall into deep depression and don’t feel like doing anything in life.

I’ve apologized, I reimbursed customers. I’m constantly trying to improve my products. I don’t know what else do!

I’m trying to be part of the community, I’m trying to make us get along. I tried to point the shortcomings of both sides to make the wetshaving community a better place. But somehow I get bullied again.

Keep going, friend. The internet has diamonds and turds. Put your head up high and forget those who bring you down.

Mo, you know we all got your back against these idiots! Can we please get back on topic and cut the fools off of this thread??!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll say it here and I’ll try to move on. One of the reasons I end up disappearing and not making products. Because of these guys who keep bullying me, and bringing up the same stuff over and over again with no added value. I fall into deep depression and don’t feel like doing anything in life.

I’ve apologized, I reimbursed customers. I’m constantly trying to improve my products. I don’t know what else do!

I’m trying to be part of the community, I’m trying to make us get along. I tried to point the shortcomings of both sides to make the wetshaving community a better place. But somehow I get bullied again.

It is not you it is them. This dark element in the community is far outnumbered by those who really want to foster community. They just stand out because they like to post things aimed at causing drama and unfortunately they often exceed. You find them in every hobby and in every group where it is tolerated.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Mo, there are plenty of us here who know how invested you are in the community and your products. There will always be detractors no matter what you do and there will always be people with ulterior motives slinging mud to cause you grief for no other reason but to do it. I would only suggest that you completely ignore those people and move on and not let them "win".

No one is perfect and there are MANY products made that have had recalls. Stuff happens! From what I have seen you have always been up front about fixing an issue that pops up. There is a reason your products sell out on a regular basis.

The Varlet makes excellent brushes. Probably the best in the business. The shaving community needs businesses catering to the higher end of the market. God knows there is enough trash out there being offered up to those who believe in getting a good “value.”

I’ll say it here and I’ll try to move on. One of the reasons I end up disappearing and not making products. Because of these guys who keep bullying me, and bringing up the same stuff over and over again with no added value. I fall into deep depression and don’t feel like doing anything in life.

I’ve apologized, I reimbursed customers. I’m constantly trying to improve my products. I don’t know what else do!

I’m trying to be part of the community, I’m trying to make us get along. I tried to point the shortcomings of both sides to make the wetshaving community a better place. But somehow I get bullied again.

Mo, you are among the two or three most generous and friendliest vendors I deal with. I embrace advice I got decades ago, as a young lawyer in my 20’s: “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” As my career is winding down, I don’t think of that advice as much as I used to, but your post brings it all back.

First, Mo made his comment/post because of feeling "bullied" (his term). If the goal was to "bully" Aldo & Mo, several have done a good job. Several have also defended Aldo and Mo.

Second, Varlet brushes are not a cure for cancer or the new coronavirus. Most DFS members will live a long and healthy life without a Varlet brush. Hopefully no DFS member is debating a Varlet brush or shoes for the children.

Third, I have not seen any business plan, supply and demand curves (I mentioned in early post), production capacity, etc. While many have tried, without these, difficult
to discuss pricing.

I really want a Varlet Cauldron or Ranger in black with 27mm knot. I could possibly live with 25mm. My black U2 Everset may be the closest I come. Am I entitled to buy the Varlet brush of my dreams anytime at my favorite price - answer is NO.

If there's one thing today's comments have led me to, it's to consider other normal artisans
like Brett Mozingo and Srdjan Danicic for good hand tied badger brushes if the need ever arises 
again.

I also believe Aldo is doing the right thing if he feels his brushes command that price. A consequence of his decision will limit the ability of some people to purchase his brushes. At the same time, these brushes are rare, and now they might become rarer. If there is demand on the second hand market, these brushes will continue to increase in price.

While it might limit the ability, it might also curtail the will to do so. There are a number of people
we've heard from on this thread who have no problem dishing out big money on deserving goods
normally, but are saying that this move has alienated them from the brand.

I liked your observations on the whole friend/buddy/community angle. I think people (like Reddit bros)
tend to use that thinking to manipulate transactions to suit their own ends.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I took some time to reconsider the pricing and have some news to share. No doubt, the new format has raised some eyebrows and has turned some people away from The Varlet, which is hard for me to see both as a business but also on a personal level. I did have that possibility in mind when restructuring but also was mindful that I'd be losing more because of the way that the drops were being made. 

I'm confident that while the pricing for custom orders is driving some away, that in perhaps a few months' time or maybe in a year or two they might reconsider the value of ordering a custom piece and the experience it will bring. I think this is a much better way of doing it when compared to making drops for brushes that most don't have a chance to purchase, because everything nowadays is done at lightning speed.

As I mentioned previously, I've come to realize is that The Varlet most likely won't be a high production brand. I didn't have the knowledge or the foresight back when I designed the brushes to maximize the number I could make.

What I'm trying to achieve with the new format is balance. I'm trying to achieve a balance in my workload, maximize the quality of the brushes, and increase the level of service and communication I can provide. Also, I'm taking into account the overall purchase experience. I don't think making drops for a limited production brush is the best way to go about it. It creates too much tension out there. If and when I'm able to provide a brush that I can make in larger numbers, I'll reconsider making batch releases.

My order list is actually looking very good right now, it is long enough but it's not overwhelming. However, I feel I might be losing many of you in the long term due to the way that this has been announced. It does mar my reputation and weigh on me personally and that is something I don't take lightly.

I have adjusted the prices of the brushes by about 8%. This puts most builds in the low to mid $400's, which I honestly feel is very fair for what is delivered. The prices for extra options has been lowered a bit as well, and the brushes ship for free. I really don't see any reason why anyone should have an issue with this pricing structure considering the reputation of the brushes and that they are made to order. I have to make sure the prices are fair, but also be fair to myself.

The pricing changes will be applied to all custom orders that have already been paid as well as order requests that are in the queue. I hope that is good news to all.

-Aldo