Wolfman Auction

Many of us are fine with using our iPhone cameras, but there is certainly a market for Leica. And so on, and so on. 

Yeah, if you think Wolfman is overpriced check out prices for secondhand Leica M cameras - nevermind new - prices have rocketed for film Leicas lately.

I never said Wolfman razors are overpriced. Speaking strictly for myself, I can't justify the cost since I feel that all razors perform the same function. If I felt there would be a huge difference in the actual shave performance, a few hundred bucks would be well spent. Shaving is a hobby for me, but I pick and choose how far my hobby will be elevated. 

Like I've already mentioned, good for James since he has people lined up around the block to hand him cash. I certainly don't begrudge him, or anyone who wants/owns his products. Whether it's a razor, camera, timepiece, etc. it's up to the individual to decide how and why they choose to spend their money.

Many of us are fine with using our iPhone cameras, but there is certainly a market for Leica. And so on, and so on. 

Yeah, if you think Wolfman is overpriced check out prices for secondhand Leica M cameras - nevermind new - prices have rocketed for film Leicas lately.

I never said Wolfman razors are overpriced. Speaking strictly for myself, I can't justify the cost since I feel that all razors perform the same function. If I felt there would be a huge difference in the actual shave performance, a few hundred bucks would be well spent. Shaving is a hobby for me, but I pick and choose how far my hobby will be elevated. 

Like I've already mentioned, good for James since he has people lined up around the block to hand him cash. I certainly don't begrudge him, or anyone who wants/owns his products. Whether it's a razor, camera, timepiece, etc. it's up to the individual to decide how and why they choose to spend their money.

Agree....all razor perform the same task.

Disagree that performance is similar. There are indeed huge differences in how they go about it. Out of curiosity, what razors do you currently own?

I could be wrong, but I have interpreted the “shutdown” to be for website redesign, product development, potential vacation, and a dip in the auction arena. If a new razor is introduced and the waitlist continues I’m sure all will be forgiven by those upset today.

I wanted a new Wolfman some years ago before the waiting list and even monitored the site with a subscription hoping to get in on a drop. I never did and then I bought a Janus razor and waited quite some time for a product that disappointed me but also allowed for a return and complete refund. My eyes became a little more opened.

Wolfman to me presents the paradox of choice. There are too many options and opportunities to chose wrong. If the wrong choice could be returned, I would likely own a Wolfman today and no doubt enjoy it. I’m not interested in buying something to sell on the BST even if at a profit. I want a product that I will like or I can return. Blackland and Timeless give me that option.

As it turns out, I am so happy with my Blackland Tradere SB, that I’m not currently even interested in a no risk, no wait experiment. But that is me.

Come November, Wolfman will likely receive its biggest marketing and advertising boost from this and other forums as whatever they decided to do will be discussed and analyzed at no cost to the company. We all know they make a good product and it is doubtful that new products available won’t be highly regarded and desired.

The Dr. is in and some of you guys need a girlfriend to occupy your time. You are taking this wet shaving thing too far. 

… says the guy spending his time on a wet-shaving forum …

Just musing, but "art," razors or otherwise, has always been an ephemeral ghost.  Van Gogh sold only one or two paintings during his lifetime (depending on source), one of which (or the only one) was The Red Vineyard, which sold for around 400 francs shortly before his death (last sold in 1914 for an unknown sum, but now a gift to the Pushkin Museum in Moscow).  Not bad, considering the annual rent for a modest walk up apartment in Paris was around that sum at the time.  However an annual salary of 1,000 francs would have been very much the poverty level or below then.  To say that The Red Vineyard today is priceless would be understating, but his painting, Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold in 1990 for almost $90 million (adjusted today at $150 million).  So two points:  1) the wet shaving collectors' hobby is, relatively speaking, fairly inexpensive, and 2)  perhaps James should wait a hundred years to sell his razors.  

Of course, I could be really wrong... He could only be making 1/5 of his capacity intentionally to keep supply down and demand (profit) up.  That's absolutely his prerogative... It's a free market. But I highly doubt that's the case.

that's exactly what he does via pricing and he's been pretty transparent about it. There is a target revenue # and he works as much as is required to realize it.


Wow, I'm floored by this statement. I mean, certainly that type of practice makes good, shrewd, business sense. But if you have that kind of mindset, it seems unintuitive... counterproductive... To flaunt it.

Your customer base, and potential customer base, is going to be much more agreeable to doing business with you if you say (truth or not), " we are a small operation, and perfectionist at heart. Production is slow, as we never want to put out anything that isn't the very best in the industry. "

However... However! I can't fathom anyone being happy to hear, "oh yeah, we keep production down so we can really stick it to your wallet."

What does he get out of that? It just isn't making sense to me.

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I should have worded that differently. Price, in part, is being used to drive demand down while maximizing revenue. Different lever, same result.  IIRC, at the beginning of his solo venture James mentioned price increases were a means to ensure the business was sustainable and to remedy complaints about the sales/production. Think work/life balance also came up.

Thanks surfboat , that definitely makes it a bit clearer. That also makes a lot more sense. He's a small time operation. He wants the business to flourish, both fiscally and as a quality company. He definitely seems to have done well in that choice. He's been around for years, so the business is somewhat sound. He has a waiting list, so customers are agreeable to price. The review I've seen, both from the masses and from friends, are stellar... So his product is quality.

As far as I'm concerned, all is well (then again, as I've said before, I'm not his target demographic).

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Yeah, if you think Wolfman is overpriced check out prices for secondhand Leica M cameras - nevermind new - prices have rocketed for film Leicas lately.

I never said Wolfman razors are overpriced. Speaking strictly for myself, I can't justify the cost since I feel that all razors perform the same function. If I felt there would be a huge difference in the actual shave performance, a few hundred bucks would be well spent. Shaving is a hobby for me, but I pick and choose how far my hobby will be elevated. 

Like I've already mentioned, good for James since he has people lined up around the block to hand him cash. I certainly don't begrudge him, or anyone who wants/owns his products. Whether it's a razor, camera, timepiece, etc. it's up to the individual to decide how and why they choose to spend their money.

Agree....all razor perform the same task.

Disagree that performance is similar.  There are indeed huge differences in how they go about it.  Out of curiosity, what razors do you currently own?

Compared to many folks, my selection is limited (but I still have too many). I have a number of vintage razors - GEMs, Schick injectors, and a few Gillette DEs. For modern razors, I have two Blackbirds, a Vector, Sabre, Dart, a CG LV2 in brass, Rockwell 6S, Karve, Timeless .95 and a Supply V2. There are a few others such as the 3D printed TNNSER, a Parker SRX, Baxter of California (rebadged Muhle R89) and a dollar store razor. 

Now that I look at it on paper, so to speak, I need to thin the herd.

I never said Wolfman razors are overpriced. Speaking strictly for myself, I can't justify the cost since I feel that all razors perform the same function. If I felt there would be a huge difference in the actual shave performance, a few hundred bucks would be well spent. Shaving is a hobby for me, but I pick and choose how far my hobby will be elevated. 

Like I've already mentioned, good for James since he has people lined up around the block to hand him cash. I certainly don't begrudge him, or anyone who wants/owns his products. Whether it's a razor, camera, timepiece, etc. it's up to the individual to decide how and why they choose to spend their money.

Agree....all razor perform the same task.

Disagree that performance is similar.  There are indeed huge differences in how they go about it.  Out of curiosity, what razors do you currently own?

Compared to many folks, my selection is limited (but I still have too many). I have a number of vintage razors - GEMs, Schick injectors, and a few Gillette DEs. For modern razors, I have two Blackbirds, a Vector, Sabre, Dart, a CG LV2 in brass, Rockwell 6S, Karve, Timeless .95 and a Supply V2. There are a few others such as the 3D printed TNNSER, a Parker SRX, Baxter of California (rebadged Muhle R89) and a dollar store razor. 

Now that I look at it on paper, so to speak, I need to thin the herd.

FC: that’s a nice little haul you’ve got there!

How much for the Dollar Store Razor? Pics?

Agree....all razor perform the same task.

Disagree that performance is similar.  There are indeed huge differences in how they go about it.  Out of curiosity, what razors do you currently own?

Compared to many folks, my selection is limited (but I still have too many). I have a number of vintage razors - GEMs, Schick injectors, and a few Gillette DEs. For modern razors, I have two Blackbirds, a Vector, Sabre, Dart, a CG LV2 in brass, Rockwell 6S, Karve, Timeless .95 and a Supply V2. There are a few others such as the 3D printed TNNSER, a Parker SRX, Baxter of California (rebadged Muhle R89) and a dollar store razor. 

Now that I look at it on paper, so to speak, I need to thin the herd.

FC: that’s a nice little haul you’ve got there!

How much for the Dollar Store Razor? Pics?

I’m into it for a whopping $1.06 with tax. Given what USPS rates are, you’re gonna be getting up there pretty high.