Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

johnwhiles.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

571–580 of 982 posts

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#571

Post by Zak »

jader201 wrote: post #398

Why is a thread on electric razors not the top comment on a post about the expense/waste of straight razors? I get that they have some downsides, but if we’re talking about the expense/waste of straight razors, then it would make sense to consider electric razors. I’ve seen so many ads about companies trying to “invent” the most effective, lowest cost straight razor and it still confuses me, given we already have ele…

I've tried three different electrics and in every case the performance degraded over time making them less comfortable to use. A replacement head restored the original performance, but it was not inexpensive. I'd estimate the costs were not very different from cartridge razors for a typical user who would not be able to replace the batteries when they wear out. Options that take AC power or use field-replaceable batteries would be better, but those don't seem to be the norm now.

I use a straight razor now. The initial cost was high and there's a learning curve, but comfort is great ongoing costs are minimal: shaving soap (much cheaper than anything that comes in a can, even for premium options) and cubic boron nitride paste for my strop (this is not conventional).

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#572

Post by nerdawson »

gruez wrote: post #427
tristor wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also, claiming that they "seem to be poisonous" without any qualifiers is a little misleading. To my knowledge they're only poisonous during manufacturing (ie. the precursor chemicals) and when they get too hot. 1. The manufacturing process results in those precursor chemicals entering urban water supplies where they are nearly impossible to filter out (only RO is effective and it's not even 100% effective), and on…

>1. The manufacturing process results in those precursor chemicals entering urban water supplies where they are nearly impossible to filter out (only RO is effective and it's not even 100% effective), and once in the bloodstream of people are powerful endrocrine disruptors which circulate and are filtered slowly by the kidneys... and when peed out go right back into the water supply due to not being able to be remove…

I have a couple of good quality stainless steel frying pans.

Sticking is often a matter of temperature control. Once you get used to it, there’s very little difference to a teflon pan.

I know that teflon would be slightly more convenient but the health tradeoff doesn’t seem worth it.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#573

Post by bobthepanda »

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #556
gruez wrote: post #158

>Other examples of products that seem to exhibit a similar trend, where purported convenience leads to higher prices >Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you…

> Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. No one should be surprised that people will pay more for the exact same thing over time. People want to get as much as they can as quick as they can. If you spend $100 for a cast iron pan now instead of $30 for…

A cast iron pan is $19.90 today on Amazon.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#574

Post by chiefalchemist »

> Pay attention to what you buy, especially when you are changing from an old well understood product to a new, more convenient, equivalent.

Key phrase: more convenient.

We haven't been sold products as much as we've bought into convenience matters above all else. Marketers can market all they want. Some times they do well, others not so well. Evidently they've been most successful selling the idea that we as individuals aren't responsible and/or accountable for our (consumer) decisions.

Blame the razor manufacturers. Blame Walmart. Blame Amazon. For what exactly, meeting a need in the market? I'm certainly not in favor of these outfits, but they're not making our collective decisions either.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#575

Post by prepend »

algoatecorn wrote: post #278
gruez wrote: post #158

>Other examples of products that seem to exhibit a similar trend, where purported convenience leads to higher prices >Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you…

My wife and I got rid of our TV last year when we moved. It was a nice break, but we want at least one in the house, so we're currently shopping around for a nice 4K 70+ inch. I've come to realize the market is headed toward a TV without any ports. You'll plug it in and immediately prompted to link with wifi so you can log into your streaming services. Fuck that. I'm hell-bent on getting something with zero smart fun…

I’m pretty happy with my Spectre that I bought from Walmart.com. I think it is only 75 inches but 4K with 4 hdmi ports and I think it was $5-600 or so.

It seems up on the latest hdmi standards and it turns on and off with the appletv plugged in.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#576

Post by throwawayboise »

prepend wrote: post #569
gruez wrote: post #158

>Other examples of products that seem to exhibit a similar trend, where purported convenience leads to higher prices >Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you…

> They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you can, but it requires an absurd amount of oil). A seasoned pan is fine for eggs. I just use a little butter. I switched to aluminum/copper core from Teflon and eggs are easy with a little butter, or oil, or spray. And cleaning is easier with some steel wool. An all-clad pan was $100 but is going strong 15 years later and s…

Yep, I have a small cast-iron pan that I use for eggs. It's well seasoned and the eggs don't stick. The key is you need to get it hot (not too hot, about 275 degrees F is good) then add a little butter and when that has melted, spread it around and add the eggs.

If you add the eggs with the pan too cool and then heat them up, they will stick.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#578

Post by ordu »

You can say what you like about razors, but I like shaving foam. It seems it has some additions to reduce sensitivity and to stop bleeding. So if you blades are dull, you will feel nothing. No more need to overcome pain or to run to a store early at the morning for new sharp blades. Or if you manage to shave off a bit of skin, you will stop bleeding in seconds. No more chewed paper bits on your face to stop bleeding. I really like this.

Though I totally agree about tea bags. Wildly bad tea, I cannot drink it. Did they boil tea for ten minutes to make it as bad as coffee? I think brits in any case boil their tea, so they probably do not know better. But what a waste of tea.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#579

Post by rickspencer3 »

cdbyr wrote: post #469
narrator wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just get one with an HDMI input and buy a Roku. Never give the TV your wifi password.

Sorry to break this, Roku is about as bad for ad data sharing / tracking: https://advertising.roku.com/advertiser-solutions/oneview - any time you hear things like ‘full funnel attribution’, there is a good amount of adtech in the background. As far as I know, Apple TV doesn’t do this, and Kodi + Raspberry Pi seems clear of it too.

For my part, I don't much care about the data sharing. My issue is that our smart tv has ads and the default software is terrible. I can't believe I spent so much money only to have a measurably worse experience. I ended up buying a Roku just because the software is easier to use than the junk that LG shipped. I use 2 other HDMI ports for different games consoles, so the "smart" tv is just a source of aggravation, and I feel insulted whenever it ends up in the default software and they show me a goddamn ad.

Maybe I should have gone with Kodi.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#580

Post by betwixthewires »

My dad bought me one of these bulky 12 speed razors, 5 years ago. I've used 1 cartridge from it about 6 months ago. I hadn't shaved my face since before they came out. I use a clipper to keep it trimmed. Why use any disposable product whatsoever.

His point on single use plastics is spot on. I know a lot of people that love to lecture me about my moralistic views, the types of people who believe in overpopulation and are sad about the plastic in the ocean, not a single one of them pays any mind to the packaging of anything they buy. I do, and I'm not even one of those people. My "footprint" is probably less than 10% of most peoples, and I don't even care the way they do.

People consume too much disposable crap. People act like they have to buy what's on offer. People are convinced they're helpless in the face of corporations. Start refusing to buy things and stop making excuses and until then you should feel ashamed to lecture anyone about anything.

Post reply on HN