PAA General Thoughts?

Certainly for me the draw are the unique aftershaves.  The only soaps I have from them came from the love of the AS.  At one point when the market wasn't so wide, they were considered one of the top dogs of soap.  Now with the market the way that it is, too many excellent soap makers with their own spin on things, brand loyalty does somewhat matter.  Others are turned off by the over the top "Don King" type hype.  As I get older I try to ignore that type of thing In favour of finding the diamond in the "hype," but most often I don't.  All that to say, I'm probably less likely to go out on a limb for a soap scent from PAA, then I am with my sure bet soap makers, many of which I have listed on other threads.  The AS are a different story, last long, smell nice and multi layered.

I like the AS only as well. I only have a couple of soaps, but if you have one you have them all. I have never understood a reason to have 15 jars of Catie's Bubbles, or any other soap for that matter as the soap scent doesn't matter in most cases after the shave. AS I do because the scent actually hangs around.

I enjoy the different scents for the time I am shaving. I only have a few AS that I wear with any regularity, but for that 10-20 minutes of my shave, I really love the diversity.


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EFDan, no it is not my opinion. It is reality. YMMV...FWIW, Stirling splashes don't last very long for me either.

Reality and opinion are not mutually exclusive. It is an opinion based on your experiences, which is certainly valid, but is an opinion...

Ok, I guess I stand corrected...

I only have one of their soaps and it's meh. They seemed to have focus more on their marketing.

I noticed that several YouTube reviewers were raving about their products sometime ago almost parroting each other, I unsubscribed to many of them.

Have you all who quibble over the advertising practices on Ronald McDonald come to realize that Mr. McDonald makes a LOT of money?

I am aware that McDonald's takes in a vast sum of money on a daily basis. I even understand that McDonald's has sold "billions and billions" of burgers, if their signs are to be believed. Based upon my personal observations over approximately 48 years, that information is accurate. I admit that I did not consider the amount of money raked in by the companies represented by Ronald McDonald and Douglas Smythe, respectively, when I submitted my personal "General Thoughts on PAA" as requested by the OP. In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA. Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

Nice use of the term "coulrophobia" Tom Slick . Kudos lol!

In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA.   Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

Of course, any fear is a bad fear, but the point was more of "any advertising is good advertising". Every post, every thread, every reference to whatever this guy did only makes him more popular getting his name around. I see him everywhere including hundreds of podcasts and youtube videos including "The Cutting Edge", "moustache and blade", "The shaving roundtable", and numerous shaving conventions. He is everywhere.

The point being as time goes by, especially for new people to the hobby, no one cares - all they know is they see the name and brand recognition. So Ronald makes more money. Sounds like a plan People have short memories - especially newbies who just don't care. So then they look up the website and bam ... more money comes in.

Have you all who quibble over the advertising practices on Ronald McDonald come to realize that Mr. McDonald makes a LOT of money?

I am aware that McDonald's takes in a vast sum of money on a daily basis.  I even understand that McDonald's has sold "billions and billions" of burgers, if their signs are to be believed.  Based upon my personal observations over approximately 48 years, that information is accurate.   I admit that I did not consider the amount of money raked in by the companies represented by Ronald McDonald and Douglas Smythe, respectively, when I submitted my personal "General Thoughts on PAA" as requested by the OP.   In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA.   Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA.   Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

Of course, any fear is a bad fear, but the point was more of "any advertising is good advertising". Every post, every thread, every reference to whatever this guy did only makes him more popular getting his name around. I see him everywhere including hundreds of podcasts and youtube videos including "The Cutting Edge",  "moustache and blade", "The shaving roundtable", and numerous shaving conventions. He is everywhere.

The point being as time goes by, especially for new people to the hobby, no one cares - all they know is they see the name and brand recognition. So Ronald makes more money. Sounds like a plan People have short memories - especially newbies who just don't care. So then they look up the website and bam ... more money comes in.

I'm trying to understand what any of this has to do with the performance reviews of the products as asked for in the OP.

I'm also trying to figure out when starting your own business was required to be for some higher purpose other than making money.

Maybe I missed something?

Have you all who quibble over the advertising practices on Ronald McDonald come to realize that Mr. McDonald makes a LOT of money?

I am aware that McDonald's takes in a vast sum of money on a daily basis.  I even understand that McDonald's has sold "billions and billions" of burgers, if their signs are to be believed.  Based upon my personal observations over approximately 48 years, that information is accurate.   I admit that I did not consider the amount of money raked in by the companies represented by Ronald McDonald and Douglas Smythe, respectively, when I submitted my personal "General Thoughts on PAA" as requested by the OP.   In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA.   Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

In my defense, I did not consider it because that information is irrelevant to my general thoughts regarding either McDonald's or PAA.   Or maybe its just a manifestation of coulrophobia.

Of course, any fear is a bad fear, but the point was more of "any advertising is good advertising". Every post, every thread, every reference to whatever this guy did only makes him more popular getting his name around. I see him everywhere including hundreds of podcasts and youtube videos including "The Cutting Edge",  "moustache and blade", "The shaving roundtable", and numerous shaving conventions. He is everywhere.

The point being as time goes by, especially for new people to the hobby, no one cares - all they know is they see the name and brand recognition. So Ronald makes more money. Sounds like a plan People have short memories - especially newbies who just don't care. So then they look up the website and bam ... more money comes in.

I'm trying to understand what any of this has to do with the performance reviews of the products as asked for in the OP.

I'm also trying to figure out when starting your own business was required to be for some higher purpose other than making money.

Maybe I missed something?

Shaving is exceptionally subjective. Particularly, in my view, our niche community allows us to know the faces behind the things. Rod and Mandy of Stirling, Darren and Carrie of Soap Commander, Anthony of DeLuxe, and Douglas/Hodges of PAA.

Because it's such a small niche, and those faces are directly related to the product (they're not removed by ten layers of middle management) the products, the delivery, the customer service, and the community interaction of the company is a direct correlation to the owner, artisan, or vendor. It's highly personal.

By extension, what you stand for as a vendor is displayed in your products. Charging $25 for an aftershave because you can isn't bad. But, when others do it for a much lower cost and there is a question about quality or design intent, what does that say about the person behind the product? And ultimately, the company.

You're exactly right, one starts a business to make money. But what one delivers, how one acts, and the manner in which one holds themselves, in exchange for money is a direct relationship to the product in this community. There is little room to separate the individual from the product. This is why we buy from artisans and not conglomerates. We're supporting the small town, hard working business owners. But those artisans ARE their products, and the products ARE them. The price, delivery, and execution is a direct relation of the person.

Shaving is exceptionally subjective. Particularly, in my view, our niche community allows us to know the faces behind the things. Rod and Mandy of Stirling, Darren and Carrie of Soap Commander, Anthony of DeLuxe, and Douglas/Hodges of PAA.

Because it's such a small niche, and those faces are directly related to the product (they're not removed by ten layers of middle management) the products, the delivery, the customer service, and the community interaction of the company is a direct correlation to the owner, artisan, or vendor. It's highly personal.

By extension, what you stand for as a vendor is displayed in your products. Charging $25 for an aftershave because you can isn't bad. But, when others do it for a much lower cost and there is a question about quality or design intent, what does that say about the person behind the product? And ultimately, the company.

You're exactly right, one starts a business to make money. But what one delivers, how one acts, and the manner in which one holds themselves, in exchange for money is a direct relationship to the product in this community. There is little room to separate the individual from the product. This is why we buy from artisans and not conglomerates. We're supporting the small town, hard working business owners. But those artisans ARE their products, and the products ARE them. The price, delivery, and execution is a direct relation of the person.

That's fair enough, but again, these topics are not the place to continually rehash rumours and accusations that never amounted to anything 2 years ago, and amount to even less today. People just choose not to look past what they already believe.

Some people believe he did something wrong. Other people do not. So move on.

New shavers are going to find his products because he markets himself to the umpteenth degree. They are going to like his products because they perform well for most people. His products have a HUGE following of dedicated customers. They aren't getting the stuff for free, they are paying for it, because they like it. They like it because it performs.

This constant effort to try and get people to boycott him over some ridiculous internet nonsense(and yes, I know the story. Both sides) that occured 2-3 years ago is just ridiculous. Put it in your forum signature, "I hate PAA and will never give them my money. Ask me why" and be done with it. Start your own topic with a title like that and go nuts! Anyone that wants to find it can!

Stop hijacking actual discussions about the actual products and how they perform.

If you can't do that because your personal feelings against the character created to promote the products are so strong, then ignore the topic. This topic is supposed to be about the products, not the tools used to market the products.

Gentlemen, back on topic, please.