Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money • Hacker News Board

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

#621

Post by rendall » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

jrootabega wrote: post #47

Shaving is like an Inception-level hierarchy of waste and affectation. It's easy to feel superior because you ditched the biggest brands, and still be wasting your money on unnecessary and crappy products because you were tricked by marketing. Those hipster shave-by-mail clubs are not really better than Gillette. And the safety razor market-disguised-as-a-community is also full of waste disguised by hipster affectati…

> CAN buy a cheap, adequate, no-name safety razor somewhere, and you can buy cheap adequate blades in bulk

Lay it on us, jrootabega. Whence comes these?

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

#622

Post by hattmall » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

rickspencer3 wrote: post #579

cdbyr wrote: post #469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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, an…

Kodi + Real Debrid on a Chromebox is pretty amazing.

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

#623

Post by this_is_eline » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:50 PM UTC

jlarocco wrote: post #583

this_is_eline wrote: post #462

While I believe that many things stated in this post are correct, this still has that hard 'old man yelling at the internet' odor. If you are to compare stuff, stuff like modern razor cartridges and double-edged razors, you ought to mention the convenience side of the things. I hate being the devil's advocate, but shaving with 4-blade cartridge designed for easy shaving is still 'miles' ahead compared to shaving with…

> If you are to compare stuff, stuff like modern razor cartridges and double-edged razors, you ought to mention the convenience side of the things. I hate being the devil's advocate, but shaving with 4-blade cartridge designed for easy shaving is still 'miles' ahead compared to shaving with double-edged razor. Miiiles ahead. And I use a double-edged razor 9 out of 10 times, so I would know a thing or two about it. Fo…

Well, first, I don't shave my head (I understood that as shaving the top of your head), so I will have to take you on that. Secondly, I believe that most people don't shave their head but their facial hair (correct me if I'm wrong). Thirdly, not all double-edged razors are paired with handles with safety guards - there are open blade handles; but even if you amount for safety razors, you still get more accidents compared to a 4-blade cartridge (they are designed precisely to prevent cuts).

Also, I fully agree with the price factor - they are less expensive, and as a bonus there is no plastic waste (at least in most cases, depending on the packaging of your razor blades). But that was not my point.

That said, I don't work for Gillette (or any related company), and don't get commission for saying any of this (this is all just 'IMO' type of comment), and apart from anecdotal evidence (I've had multiple conversations with people with 20+ years of shaving experience, using both 4-blade razors and double-edged razors, and they all, more or less, share my opinion) I can't really provide any data (maybe I could try to find some, but I don't care about this topic 'that' much).

I hope that this clarifies my previous comment.

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

#624

Post by stjohnswarts » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:51 PM UTC

stouset wrote: post #510

gruez wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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…

> Sounds like a lot of work to me. In other words, the teflon pan is actually more convenient. It’s actually zero work, despite the recent uptick in people who think you need to coddle a cast iron pan. Most of the tips people give for dealing with cast iron are pointless extra work or actively make it perform worse. I wash mine with soap and water and it takes about a minute, or about as long as washing a Teflon pan.…

You should mention that you really have to wipe them out at the very least after washing or they WILL rust without a doubt. Also cooking pasta (tomato based) sauce in them for a while WILL remove your seasoning, no matter how you accrued it. Deliberate seasoning does help but it doesn't have to be an ordeal nor treated like your fine crystal, but some people like to baby their cast iron. Even the cheapest cast iron will season and work. My lodge pans are great. There is no need to buy $150 cast iron pans from artisanal makers unless you're just a collector of such things.

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

#625

Post by shostack » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:52 PM UTC

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…

Friend, you need a carbon steel pan. Fraction of the weight of cast iron, just as indestructible, no health risks like Teflon.

Check out the Misen ones, their marketing video is literally all about an egg slipping around it like water.

You have to season it, but it's easy to do. Number one mistake most people make is seasoning with too much oil.

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

#626

Post by pmoriarty » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:53 PM UTC

ARandomerDude wrote: post #422

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…

And I never cut myself or get razor burn with an electric razor. I also don't have to worry about running out of shaving cream or whether my shaving cream is too big to pack on an airplane. I switched to electric years ago and will never go back.

"I also don't have to worry about running out of shaving cream or whether my shaving cream is too big to pack on an airplane."

You don't actually need shaving cream to shave with a non-electric razor. You could just use soap -- which is hopefully available wherever you travel.

You also don't need electricity.

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

#627

Post by Someone1234 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:53 PM UTC

jwilk wrote: post #491

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…

What electric razor do you recommend?

The generic answer is the Braun Series 7 7071cc. That's a "good enough" electric razor for most people.

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

#628

Post by eth0up » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

noam_compsci wrote: post #602

You can get a box of 100 Astra superior platinum double edge blades for £8 on Amazon last time I got them. Something like the Fatip Picolo is a quality razor that will last you 5+ years. It cost me £15 plus shipping. DE shaving is also better for your skin by a wide margin. It also gives a closer shave. I can’t recommend anything more highly. However you may get sucked into the rabbit hole and DE shaving can become a…

I use 2 safety razors; a Merica Safety Razor[0], and an old Gillette Superspeed I bought used. They both shave well and I use either cheap shaving cream, or hand soap when in a rush - no brushes or special sauce. The blades are recyclable and come wrapped in paper within paper boxes of x10 blades. I started with safety razors for two primary reason:

1. Throwing away huge chunks of plastic makes me ill. And it's also terribly unnecessary.

2. The quality of new electric shavers is a sham. I had an ancient Braun, inherited from a friend's father. It lasted years, in heavily used condition, until I overcharged it. The foil was never replaced, yet always worked well. All new models require regular replacing of the foil, which I suspect, is due to cheap metals. The new designs are superior in concept, but not in frugality or endurance.

0. https://wetshavingclub.com/product/made-in-the-usa-safety-ra... made in USA by veterans, machined from 100 percent marine grade stainless steel.

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

#629

Post by betwixthewires » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

avgcorrection wrote: post #610

betwixthewires wrote: post #580

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…

A lot of corporate propaganda has gone into this line that the consumers are the most to blame for “disposable crap”.

They are. You don't have to buy any of it.

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

#630

Post by philihp » Sat, May 07, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

If you use a double edged razor, it may be necessary to also have a disposable because airlines won't let you carry on the flat blades. They have their place.