Hacker News Reader

Comment by eric4smith | Hacker News Reader

Hehe - disposable razors (with the removable head) are also a kind of subscription.

Good piece. So many things are hidden subscriptions these days, even when they don’t have a need to be.

It’s so obviously a money grab.

Worth reading the whole article, I'm only referencing a couple of specifics. The very last sentence of the article is what it was all leading to, and excellently summed up into what is a modern recurring theme: good business practice is consumer-unfriendly practice.

I thought this was specifically called the "Gillette Business Model". Reading the relevant wikipedia page[0], which also mentions printers and ink, calls it the "razor and blade" model.

One must also familiarise oneself with the "Machine that goes ping" Monty Python skit (on YT, watch it, it's much better than just reading the relevant quote). It was my first introduction to the complexities of corporate finance:

"Ah, I see you have the machine that goes 'ping!'. This is my favourite. You see, we lease this back from the company we sold it to - that way it comes under the monthly current budget and not the capital account"[1]

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor_and_blades_model

[1]: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Monty_Python%27s_The_Meaning_o...

I almost lost a friendship on discussing that "good business is consumer-unfriendly". Because it fundamentally alters one's view of the consumerist-capitalism society we live in, it's very hard to accept for anyone invested in the system, even slightly. if one accepts that fact, then the question becomes: is there a level of user-unfriendliness that is morally acceptable? Or is it all pure and simple exploitation? Which cannot be logically answered in a clear and simple way; we just accept the status quo because we think any potential alternative would be worse, which we have no way of knowing.

Even the older double-edged safety razors were designed around such a model, but at least there is a 'standard' for those, with plenty of different companies producing interoperable consumables.

Would it be fair to say that any product with consumables that are proprietary to the vendor, is a subscription?

I actually shifted to using a double edged safety razor when the cost of the disposable blades felt like too much.

It isnt quite as easy, and I still cut myself from time to time but I also am still using the variety pack of 100 blades that I bought two years ago for like 10$.

I have basically stopped shaving and just use my Wahl trimmer. Even though it can't match a close shave, since my work environment doesn't demand a super clean shaved look, it works out for me. No foam needed either. Must have saved hundreds of dollars by now.

Only a few years ago I was the same, but now I've had a little more practice I'm shaving not only my beard but also my head quite effortlessly within 10 minutes and without bloodbaths nearly every day.

It's just a skill that takes some time to develop.

Some general advice, not particularly aimed at you: Try not to focus on the equipment or the blades too much. The Feather blades that are often suggested are overkill and bring the cost back up close to Gilette levels. Even me with my sensitive skin am doing just fine with cheapo Derby blades of questionable and variable quality.

I also switched a few years ago, and found I actually cut myself less than the Gillette I had befote. When I do cut myself it bleeds more though :-)

I usually use Bic blades which you can get in pretty much any supermarket in Europe for 50c a pack. The blades are steel and the packaging is paper, so much better for the environment too.

The reason why I switched is worth mentioning. I was working abroad in another Western European country and couldn't find the blades for my specific razor. They had plenty of other Gillette blades, but not the one I needed (of course the blades are not interchangable with the head). I tried a few other supermarkets and it was the same. I figured ok let's buy a complete new razor, and in the supermarket there was a safety razor next to the other razors for the same price, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Try disposable blades from Feather, a Japanese razor and blades company. It is sold on Amazon. I settled on their cartridge razor just for convenience. Blades are excellent.

The mix packs of blades works best while you figure out which is best for your skin and hair. I personally find Feather too aggressive, Astra and Dorco Prime Platinums worked best for me. You should know after the first shave whether the blade is okay enough to use for day 2, otherwise toss and move on.

Soaps are also quite variable in lather and feel—affecting the shave. Tallow, glycerine, and oil based soaps all coat differently. Get a good brush and it’s a nice way to get ready in the morning.

For traveling I use a disposable 3 blade and aerosol shaving cream because you’re not supposed to take the safety razor blades through security.

<3 my Feather blades, but I agree with the sibling comment - you should buy some sample packs and find what works well for you. I’ve also had good experiences with Shark blades from my sample packs where general consensus online is mixed on them - it all comes down to your preference and how blades interact with different varieties of facial hair.

Feather blades completely destroy my skin. I break out and bleed from small micro-cuts on my face. I’ve found they’re too sharp for me.

There’s no one-size fits all solution here.

Same. I’ve found the key to not cutting myself is to make sure the blade is reasonably sharp (never more than 2-3 shaves with the same one) and apply very little pressure.

It’s a bit more of an art than my ol’ Mach 3, but I’ve grown to really enjoy it. Also, invest in some fancy shaving cream and aftershave for a close-to-barbershop feel.

I switched too a few years ago.

I think I have faster shaves and less cuts now since I change blades more often.

Tried a few. The Feather ones I tried and Bluebeard still cuts me. Others I have tried including Gilette works better for me.

I use alum to stop any cuts bleeding and also as an antiseptic. Works amazingly well.

>I actually shifted to using a double edged safety razor when the cost of the disposable blades felt like too much.

You should actually try straight razor that takes a half of a razor blade. It might appear very scary, but it is not, if you cover 95% with a straight razor, and cover the rest with a safety razor.

The point of using the straight razor to cover the 95% is that the safety razor tends to get jammed with hair, making it a frustrating exercise quickly, if you don't have a habit of shaving every day..

> Would it be fair to say that any product with consumables that are proprietary to the vendor, is a subscription?

Seems reasonable at least as a first approximation / coarse rule of thumb.

Economists specialised in the area may refine it further, but for the layman it serves like the Newtonian approximation to physics, i.e. quite good enough for everyday usage -- I don't move at relativistic speeds all that often.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com