You used to have to go to the store to buy a razor but now online shaving clubs deliver discounted razors right to your door. And the service is gaining in popularity, but is it a good buy?
Consumer Reports staffers checked out four razors sold though the clubs. They used each of the brands at home for eight days and then answered questions about comfort and quality of shave. They also had a post-shave evaluation by trained sensory panelists.
Dollar Shave Club’s Humble Twin blade was the least favorite for face comfort and ease of handling but did well on closeness of shave. At about a dollar per cartridge, including shipping, it’s also the least expensive. But for most of the staffers, that wasn’t enough of an enticement.
Two other razors — Harry’s Truman at $2.60 per cartridge and Dollar Shave’s Executive at $3.20 — were a little better for comfort and handling. Both have free shipping.
The Gillette Fusion ProShield was voted the favorite. The seven men who tried it said it gave a slightly closer shave than the other blades. However, at about $7.50 per cartridge including shipping, the Gillette is by far the most expensive.
The pricey Gillette Fusion ProShield is the only one you can find in stores. But you’ll get a slightly better deal if you buy it online through the club.
Once you join any of the clubs, the cartridges arrive automatically. You set the schedule and they’re charged to your credit card. You may cancel the subscription at any time, but it might take some searching on the website to figure out how to do it.
