The New Ikon...one at a time?

Tardisbasher

Tardisbasher

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313
Location
London U.K
Hello Chaps,
During my lurk around the bay, I found this:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/iKon-Rostfrei-Wet-Shaving-Safety-Razor-Gillette-Blade_W0QQitemZ160581506488QQihZ006QQcategoryZ31764QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/iKon-Rostfrei-Wet ... dZViewItem</a><!-- m -->

Now, there's no moan here from me about this. I'm hoping that Greg will make these available through the regular retailers though.
The thing that made me giggle was the comment some weary shaver put under the Q & A bit at the bottom of the listing... :lol:
 
Well - if he can sell for $135, I'm not blaming him.

But doesn't it quite look like a Pils? And they are more expensive. If Pils sells for E175, the US$135 is not that bad. Of course, if it is a copy of the Pils, you're not paying for original work. Or is it an improvement on th original design? Can you protect a design in Thailand?

/marcel
 
If he is doing these in low volume and still "tweaking" the design the costs will be higher than the item in mass production. I don't know if the price is worth it but I guess you either pay it or you don't. As with any item if no one buys it the vendor then has to sell for less, reduce costs or ditch the product. I have a Pils and the Ikon does look very similar which is no bad thing; the addition of a knurled handle may suit some people more but the brushed finish Pils I have doesn't slip in my hands so for me knurled is purely an aesthetic preference (or not). To see how good it is as a razor you would need to shave with one; the level of aggressiveness and a few other factors will determine whether it suits you or not.

The more people producing DE's the merrier, competition is good for the users and I welcome it. Just a shame it is quite an investment to find out otherwise I would probably buy one.
 
Audiolab said:
If he is doing these in low volume and still "tweaking" the design the costs will be higher than the item in mass production. I don't know if the price is worth it but I guess you either pay it or you don't. As with any item if no one buys it the vendor then has to sell for less, reduce costs or ditch the product. I have a Pils and the Ikon does look very similar which is no bad thing; the addition of a knurled handle may suit some people more but the brushed finish Pils I have doesn't slip in my hands so for me knurled is purely an aesthetic preference (or not). To see how good it is as a razor you would need to shave with one; the level of aggressiveness and a few other factors will determine whether it suits you or not.

The more people producing DE's the merrier, competition is good for the users and I welcome it. Just a shame it is quite an investment to find out otherwise I would probably buy one.
Click to expand...

+1
It's true, you either pay or you don't. I don't mind paying a little over the odds for something a bit special and,as it's Greg's work, my interest has been sparked.
From what I gather, Greg has said this model could be a bit more aggressive than the Bulldog...may not suit me if that's the case, but, the proof of the pudding etc...
 
I tell you what, that is a bit of razor porn! :cool:

WARNING RAZOR PORN PICTURE!
ikonmodern31.jpg

:shock:
 
To be fair to Greg, his products have always been (relatively) low volume, artisan-made items - compared to say, Merkur or Muhle. I was always surprised how cheaply his Bulldog razors sold for initially (shame I was a little later getting one), and even with (presumably) cheaper Thai labour costs, I wasn't surprised to see the price go up a bit - though latterly the price also seemd to be driven by percieved (and possibly actual) rarity value.

Having been using a Gillette New for a few days, I'm surprised at just how mild the OC Bulldog shaves in comparison. A little extra aggression on the new razor might well suit some people better.
 
It's almost the price of a new PILS, and for me, I'd take the real deal over a copy anyday.

As was stated (correct me if I'm wrong), these are now CNC milled, , so the whole "artisan" bit goes out the window in my opinion.

But as they say, anything is worth the price someone is willing to pay for it, so good luck to Greg.
(he might need the money when PILS hits him with a lawsuit)

Max
 
Others that manufactors DE razors don´t use stainless steel and that´s one factor (it´s much more expensive as a material) ... another is to get people to talk about your razors :lol:
 
Mikael said:
Others that manufactors DE razors don´t use stainless steel and that´s one factor (it´s much more expensive as a material) ... another is to get people to talk about your razors :lol:
Click to expand...
I always was gullible :oops:

Having said that, seeing as I started the thread, then surely I should get discount for...? No? Thought not. :lol:
 
iKon said:
Skin Glider said:
I wonder how many he will sell ?
Click to expand...


Probably only 3 or 4 .....
ROFLMAO.gif



DSC08563.jpg
Click to expand...

You say 3 or 4 - but as ever its supply and demand - look how much your handles are going for on eVilbay these days ($75!!!) and second hand iKons fetch £150 (one just gone for more than that). Limited supply will mean people will pay more for an item.

Twin head - standard bar and open comb - interesting approach. The best of both worlds perhaps or the razor for a man who wears a belt with his braces?
 
FrenchBlade said:
It's almost the price of a new PILS, and for me, I'd take the real deal over a copy anyday.

As was stated (correct me if I'm wrong), these are now CNC milled, , so the whole "artisan" bit goes out the window in my opinion.

But as they say, anything is worth the price someone is willing to pay for it, so good luck to Greg.
(he might need the money when PILS hits him with a lawsuit)

Max
Click to expand...

A lawsuit for what?
 
49er said:
A lawsuit for what?
Click to expand...
Well the Ikon is very much a copy of the pils, and I presume they have some sort of copyright on the design.
(I'm not sure how the copyright infringment would be enforced, since PILS is in Germany, and IKON isn't, but I'm sure there are some international trade lawyers that are willing to make some money on that)

Then again, IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer)

Max
 
FrenchBlade said:
As was stated (correct me if I'm wrong), these are now CNC milled, , so the whole "artisan" bit goes out the window in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Max, I take your point about the CNC milling. However, I think there's a fair bit of hand finishing and polishing (certainly on the Bulldogs) and that can be a fair bit of work on stainless steel - not just a question of popping it in a mill with abrasives.
 
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