The Razor Blade Business Model

Surely at some price point people will just move back to old fashioned safety razors.<p>Mine costs me a few cents per blade and gives a very close shave.

I guess I'm one of the few dupes here :). I recently switched to using Fusion blades (not the power ones where you also have to worry about the battery) because I forgot to bring my shaving kit when traveling.<p>I have to say I was pretty pleased by how quickly and consistent the shave was relative to Mach 3. Being accident prone and generally impatient in the morning, it's resulted in no blood loss so far (it's been about 2 months since I started using them). I've used 2 blades in this time which to me is worth the cost relative to the time I save and the quality of the shave I get.

The software equivalent of this model is probably Freemium. You give away part of the package for free, but then you charge a "subscription" for the rest. Razors are the free, Blades are the "subscription."

This sort of reminds me of the HP printer cartridges (cheap printer, expensive cartridges). I saw a TV interview with a HP executive who was asked to justify why the cartridges were so expensive. He said that it was because the most sophisticated technology was in the cartridge.<p>Of course this business model is quite immoral in a world where disposable, non-recycleable things are known to be unsustainable.

I use the Gilette Fusion and have a heavy beard, but one cartridge lasts me two weeks. Here's how: I shake the water off my razor and then use a blow dryer to completely dry the blades after each shave. Supposedly it's not the cutting of hair that really dulls the blades, but rather the corrosion that occurs on the wet edges after you put it up.

I think I read somewhere that Mach 3 refills are the most shoplifted item ever. Gillette's marketing is a truly incredible machine. I finally gave up on their extortionate cost about 5 years ago and bought myself a Merkur Futur. Blades cost £3 for 10, and cut as close as you want but require a little more of a delicate touch. So I still keep a Mach 3 on standby for my hung-over mornings.

Razor and Blade?!? They're freaks!