I used to buy a lot of the items like the limited edition razors and soaps and aftershaves and generally, I was able to get them. As I grew tired of buying more software after have a container worth of soaps, I stopped purchasing software for a few years. It was more of a personal choice and I have shared my experiences and feelings with newer friends in the hobby.
I’ve mentioned to them that the market and options we have available to don’t require you to get anything limited or special to get a top notch shave. That goes for both hard ware and software. For one example, I may be more inclined to purchase hardware like a brush or razor as those tend to be produced in smaller numbers due to the labor where a larger batch of soap is possible and they may have much higher amount of stock ready to be shipped.
I have many artisans I am a fan or or you could say have relationships over the years dealing with them as vendors. A couple examples to share. I have always been a fan of Barrister and Mann from early on and had many, almost all of the releases for the first 3 years he was making soaps. I can’t remember many right now but I would try to buy the limited stuff and as mentioned above, I had success in obtaining them. Lucky me, what can I say? Anyways, I see this hobby being dependent on the community to some degree and as I got years into it, I didn’t like using rare or limited items because by nature, or at least to some, it becomes a thing like look at what I have. Personally, I don’t buy or use anything because it is rare or expensive.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have or use things that happen to be rare or expensive. I purchase items if I seriously think they will get used. Early on in the hobby, there would be times to pick your sotd gear based on what would be most rare or expensive. I won’t knock anyone for that. I personally just think it’s dumb for my ego being stroked to dictate what will get used in my shave.
Anyways, getting back to B&M for a moment. Will has graduated to sharing when a release may be coming up and when it does become available, we will let you know that you may have 6-8 weeks to purchase it and then it will be taken off the site. I really applaud him for doing this and it takes away the need to buy something in case you feel like you only have one chance to get it. It’s also nice as people mention do something is a seasonal release, you may snooze on it this year but chances are you could get it again in a year or two.
A more recent experience, I think I missed purchasing a Carbon graphite during the first and second release. I didn’t get upset or anxious even though I was really looking forward to trying one. Then I checked the website a couple of weeks ago and saw stock so I said screw it, why wait a day and miss out again so I pulled the trigger. I’ve told some people that I really can’t think of anything in my time in wet shaving that I couldn’t get. I really think if you want something, you will get it but it may take a little time, maybe some diligence in checking for it and chances are, the stars in shavedom will align and enable you to purchase more for your den. Yes, there are a few items like maybe certain older brushes or rare straight razors that may be really really hard to get but you can get a lot of what you want. The forum and its members usually are able to make that possible.
I prefer to purchase and promote things that are available for others to purchase. I don’t care for loving something and saying how great it is if I can’t for the most part say you can try it too if you want. It’s nice when you can share where it’s available and ready to purchase something. My caveat to that is I have no interest in telling you if it’s worth the price to you. My graphite Carbon was $450. I’m not here to tell anyone if that’s worth it to them. I bought because I wanted it and I already know there are other razors I can get for cheaper. Maybe that’s a different conversation but I bring it up because something the items that are available aren’t always the cheapest options.
SV is a good example. Many people like the soaps. Many say they have lots of other soaps that work better. Many will say they think it’s too expensive. Whatever the case it, no SV release has ever been a limited number where you had to get it at a certain time. So if you don’t buy it because of the price, that’s your choice and I respect that. More importantly though, they make a soap in high enough quantity, they has never been a feeding frenzy over their products because of some hype. If anything, some people will “knock” them for being a big soap company and maybe they aren’t considered artisan, but it is indeed made by a person, an artisan, and it’s on a level, maybe you could say industrial scale, and that allows for a release that isn’t going sold out and leaving people with it in a basket but unable to checkout with a successful purchase. I think that is a really good thing. Is this post long enough yet? Haha
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