I was at the store the other day looking at all the various options on the standard men's shaving razor. There's a whole host of choices. You can get cheap single-blade safety razors for as little at $0.10 per razor, or you can go for razor refills as crazy as 2 for $5 - that's $2.50 per head. Whoa, what?! Yeah, you read that right, little strips of metal, in a plastic housing with a little piece of sponge and aloe for $2.50.
Granted, this might not be that much, but that's because you're used to paying whatever they charge for razors. I am constantly reminded of how ridiculous the price of razors is when I go to purchase more. Some beards/whiskers are finer than others, and I know some of you probably don't shave as often as I do. Well, let me tell you, my whiskers are thick and shaving with those razors, they only last 2 (maybe 3) times before they lose their edge.

So I decided to check out my other options. I looked at the unit price on the disposable razors. I saw the whole gamut, and setted on a Gillette pivot-head, double-bladed disposable razor that came out to about $0.50 per. I figured this would save money, it's essentially the same thing, but for a fraction of the cost. It's Gillette, and they know a thing or two about razors.
So I thought.
The stupid razor was like shaving with a knife. The handle felt like it was made of cork compared to my trusty Mach3 handle, and as for a close shave? Hardly. Gillette must offer these cheaper razors to those that needn't shave often, or have a thick beard, or to mock you when you try to save money. To make you come crawling back to the $2.50-a-pop blades. (And this was at Walmart pricing, mind you!) The cheaper razors just suck, and they are there only to shave peach fuzz and to make you wish you had spent more.

How much could it cost them in R&D, product design, and production/packaging costs to make a strip of metal in plastic? They're selling the whole thing for $0.50 in a bag right below the Mach3 blades - and almost every guy under the age of 40 is using the Mach3 - so that means there's more demand for the Mach3 blades. Why are they stiffing us on price?

And what's with the vibrating Mach3?! Why the crap would I want to buy that gimmick?! What a worthless product. I'm tired of all the commercials about how these shaving systems "microscopically lift and cut" the hairs for the "closest shave possible". They've been telling me it's the closest shave possible for years, and yet, they're still getting a closer shave. How is that possible?!? You just told me last year it was impossible to get a closer shave - and now you're telling me that you've defied the laws of physics and you're now ripping out my hair folicals?! Amazing.

And when does the blade-count stop? I remember turning 16 and Gillette somehow getting my name and sending me a free Mach2 razor. Sweet action, I'm in the club now. It had 2 blades, little rubber fins to "lift the hairs" for the "closest shave possible" (with only 2 blades, but if you add a 3rd? - oh, now that's completely different). Then, they pulled a fast one, they added a 3rd blade, which made the shave that much closer. This tripled the sound barrier, it was the Mach3. It has 3 blades! When do they go to Mach4, 5-, 6-, 8-, 20- blade razors? Soon, you'll be able to rip the epidermis off your face with one swipe for the absolute closest shave possible.

Gillette has gone out of control with their pricing and blade-count. I knew they lost their minds when I saw the battery-operated manual razor that vibrates your face. That's the marketing department telling the mechanical engineers how to do things. If they would just keep the blade-count where it is, and keep prices where they are, or lower them, everyone would be happy.

This is the rant section, and this is my rant.