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Comment by andykellr | Hacker News Reader

"But here’s the true innovation: Gillette’s new razor will use P&G’s current blades"

I'm confused. A new handle that let's you keep using existing $4 blades doesn't sound like a new business model. It just sounds like an iteration on the handle that will encourage people to buy their handle over the competitions' handles and thus sell more $4 blades.

What am I missing?

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It sounds like the "innovation" is that the new razor handle will use blades from existing P&G blades, as opposed to them using blades designed specifically for this handle.

Feels like another example of this would be HP making a new printer model that can use the same shaped ink cartridges from an older model.

They'd still be selling a cheap printer with expensive ink. That wouldn't make it a new business model and neither does Gillette selling a new handle with (existing) expensive blades.

Gillette uses a different bladeset for each handle type. For example, the Mach3 cartridges don't work on the Fusion and vice versa.

To entice people to switch, years ago Gillette mailed out free Fusion handles with a sample cartridge. The handle was free and could be used with new cartridges you bought.

Now it appears that they are going to charge for the handle, which is indeed a shift

It probably locks into the blade in a certain fashion that is patented. Therefore if you use their handle, you will also use their blades.

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