Dollar Shave Club Lands $12 Million to Dramatically Expand Product Portfolio

It all depends on the razor. For myself, I use a Merkur adjustable -- when my beard is really thick, I open up the gap a bit more. For normal shaves, I keep it tightened down. Also, it works best when you use a good shave soap and brush.

The main reason I started using a DE razor is I've found having a single blade is much more comfortable than the double / triple blades. And you can get just as good of a shave, but you need to take two - three passes (once with the grain, once cross grain, and a final one against the grain).

Shave at night! Not only slower and safer, but you wake-up with a lovely smooth face. Feels good to start the day smooth.

Razor blades are very compact, though, not like a year's worth of paper towels.

Amazon offers their "Subscribe and Save" service on many products (not the one linked above, however). Amazon's subscription service provides a continuous stream of many staples such as paper products, toothpaste, tooth brushes, cat food, etc. to my household. It works great.

Aside: I live in Los Angeles and am trying out Amazon Fresh. If anything, Amazon now offers me an almost-confusing multitude of ways to have products delivered to my house. I can Prime things for receipt in two days. I can subscribe and forget. I can Fresh things for next-day delivery. I'm not an Amazon fan boy—many of their services frustrate me in a variety of ways—but they have delivery pretty much mastered versus everyone else.

The reason I don't use this is because the "stream" of blades isn't saving me any money, it's costing me more than what a trip to Walmart or Costco will cost (in Canada, at least). For me, this is entirely a cost-based decision. I don't see blades being delivered on a continual basis as a benefit, just puts more pressure on me to use up my existing blades fast (and that's weird).

To each his own, I think this is the ultimate lazy man's service. Get your ass out to the store and when you're back, mow the lawn.

Stream of blades? Maybe if you work at a barbershop. Even if you only get one shave out of a blade (I think most guys will get 3-5), a hundred pack is tiny and will last 1/3 year. For most people, that's at least a year supply.

Unlike shampoo and other bulky disposable products, razors are quite tiny.

> why are you not buying in large bulk and saving?

Although I'm probably not thinking of a few things, I do buy basically every nonperishable in bulk. I buy paper towels, toilet paper, double-edged razor blades, toothpaste, laundry supplies, and shower supplies at most twice a year. It's not that hard as long as you find SKUs that you like and have somewhere to store them (and I live in a tiny San Francisco studio, so most people should have plenty of room).

people don't buy in bulk because then they are stuck with that one product for a long time. I mean really, am I supposed to use last years outdated butt wipes when I know there is a better way to wipe my ass?

When I started using a double-edged safety razor it took me maybe two shaves to get comfortable with it. I don't nick myself any more often than I did when using other razors. It's really not like a straight razor.

Personally, I feel like the reason they're not more widely used is familiarly and upfront cost--familiarly being the biggest (seeing you mentioned being scared).

Practice wise, they really seem on par with cartridge, IMHO. I don't feel like I have any fancier technique or am especially careful when using it. I really use it like a would a cartridge. Changing blades means loosening a nut instead of popping off the blade--but I much prefer having 100+ cheap spares so I don't give a second thought to swapping for a sharp blade compared to only having a dozen cartridges onhand (because I lament spending $25) and having to remember to buy more. The only clear downside is flying (in which case, use cartridges when on the road until TSA lightens up).

I switched from electric to safety razor and found it easy to use, you can use gel or cream that you already use or try to go fancy with the brushes and poraso in a bowl.

The main thing is that you don't apply pressure you just let the razors weight and sharpness of the blade do the work. Only nicks I have ever gotten is when I messed up my hand placement due to lack of attention when flipping the razor and the corner of the blade got me.

I don't know how long the multiple blade razors take but if I have a weeks growth of hair it takes me 3 times going over to have a smooth shave (once with the grain, once across the grain, and once against the grain) though I usually forgo the against the grain and the shave is pretty good.

Overall time it takes is 10-15 minutes including filling the sink with warm-hot water, lather, shaving, and cleanup.

When my Merkur showed up, I was scared to use it. For me (and maybe your face is different), there was no need. I was really careful the first time, got comfortable with it, and haven't cut myself in over a year of use. I think one trick is to let the weight of the shaving head apply the pressure. Don't dig into your face like you might with a disposable.

It takes a little more time, but I think that's because I now take the time to do a better job. For the same effort as a disposable, I think I'd still get a better shave.

I don't think you gave it enough practice, I have been using a double edge for years and shave faster than I did with cartridge because I only need one pass.

Feather blades and olive oil are the only thing I use. Also double edges were originally called safety razors for a reason.

I tried all three of their offerings, didn't like any of them. Then I tried Dorco's three blade and love it.

I use Dorco too. I think I might give razors as Christmas presents. It's nice to not be nickled and dimed. I started with DSC, I like what they are doing, but I don't think they are building a very defensible business model.

I went down this road too. A long time Gillette Mach/Fusion/whatever is the top end of the year.

I tried DSC and they were ok. I canceled and bought in bulk from Dorco. Exact same shave. Not quite a Gillette but at 20% of the price I could live with that.

As I was about to order another bulk set of blades I decided to try the old fashioned double edge shaver for the hell of it. Amazon has a Merkur 180 for less than $35 and a can of Barbasol is $1.25 at Target.

The DE shave is far better than the Gillette Fusion and much cheaper than DSC, Dorco, etc.

Even as a complete novice I've had no issues with nicks or cuts and actually look forward to shaving again.

Yeah, the few times I used one, I still had a 5 o'clock shadow.

What's not appealing about no longer having to think about purchasing any of these things? When you're low, new items appear magically on your doorstep.

Frankly, I wish most of my replenishables were like this.

Frankly, they're not mediocre. I've been a DSC subscriber for about 8 months, and they sell nice products. I can't use a Safety razor, my skin's too sensitive and I break out, so the multi-bladed comfort razors work well for me and theirs are just as good as anyone else's at a lower price.

First off, I don't think their products are mediocre. The blades are just as good as any other disposable blade. The appeal for me is that it forces me to change out the blades regularly. Before yes I could buy blades at the store, but I rarely had to because I wasn't changing out my blades as much as I should have. Now I get a pack in the mail and think, "welp, I need to use these 4 in a month before I get more" and I change them out regularly.

Like others have said, it completely removed one more thing to think about in my life. That's the appeal for me.

They aren't awful, but then again, I think Gillette and Schlick are overrated. None compare to feather safety razor blades. However the convenience of DSC makes up for it all.