Why doesent Gillette bring DE's back?

Considering the popularity of the vintage DE's(slims, fatboys, SS's etc) and the reemergence of wet shaving, why hasn't Gillette(or P&G) taken the initiative to bring these beauties back to life?

Because all of those patents expired long ago. And that would prevent them from making profits, as they nowadays make from the modern razors.

Also, vintage DE's are popular, but only among a small minority of people - us!

Well, but I must say that I think that there are good options being produced nowadays. I feel no need for a Gillette DE comeback.

The market is too niche for them to make a decent profit on.

Blades were always their main line of business which historically drove sales forward for Gillette (along with acquisition of other companies such as Oral-B); razors were just the means of getting people to buy more blades.

The situation is similar today for P&G. Their main income comes from the sale of replacement cartridges for Mach 3's and Sensor's etc. There's also the new razor they introduced in India called the Guard (for info see here: http://www.pg.com/en_US/downloads/innova..._Guard.pdf ).

Until there is a worldwide ban on the use of plastics in razors (which is unlikely), then I can't see Gillette going back into the DE market. Even if they were to I think that they would only produce razors made out of cheap alloys in the same vein as aluminium handled Tech's.

P&G/Gillette actually produces a Tech-like razor nowadays.
The Gillette 7 O'Clock Sterling razor is basically a Tech that is produced nowadays in a Gillette factory in India:

I've wondered that myself.

A couple of things come to mind.

1. 99% of the people don't care.
They want something fast that produces an acceptable shave and doesn't make them bleed.
For the guys who want cheap, they still make and sell Good News and Foamy for them.

2. The market is well served by the niche producers available today. What could it add to their bottom line? Not enough to justify the start up costs, at least to P&G/Gillette standards.

3. Because the cost to mfg a first rate safety razor would be outrageous.
Because it would be branded Gillette, it would have to be as well made, or better than the old ones, or it would be rejected by the public. If they just contracted the mfg out to India or China, it would be "just another safety razor" and the perceived value by the public wouldn't justify the higher cost. Would you pay $79.00 for a 2012 Gillette SuperSpeed made in India? Or $199 for a 2012 Chinese FatBoy?

4. It goes against their long standing business practice of making their money on the proprietary replacement blades and nothing on the handle. If they made a DE that took a new proprietary DE blade, it would flop.
Why make a DE blade for .02 and sell it for .25, when they can make a ProGlide cart for .25 and sell it for $4.00?

5. They have spent the last 60 years driving everyone to more expensive carts and away from DE.
See the Gillette Guard for the most recent example to drive longtime DE users in India the proprietary replacement cartridges

My brother found me the same razor in a gas station in Mongolia, of all places. It comes with a Chinese blue blade with similar packaging for the razor. I have no clue where it's made, since the only English on the box is "Super Gillette Blue Blades"

(03-29-2012, 06:51 AM)MrGuy Wrote: My brother found me the same razor in a gas station in Mongolia,

Sounds like an interesting guy.

The marketing would be too expensive for them and why bother to unconvert the converted back to the way it should have always been. It would be a complete hypocrisy to try it. i think they may attempt it when they are desperate.

Who's Gillette?

(03-29-2012, 06:24 AM)oversaturn Wrote: P&G/Gillette actually produces a Tech-like razor nowadays.
The Gillette 7 O'Clock Sterling razor is basically a Tech that is produced nowadays in a Gillette factory in India:

That is about as close as Gillette will go. All their casting and machinery are long gone which produced all the fantastic Gillette double edge razors. They make all their money from cartridges. Remember Gillette is owned by P&G.

Can't make the money that they currently do with the razors and cartridges of today. It's all about the bottom line.

Safety razors and double edge blades are not a big enough market to attract Gillette's interest, although that may soon change. As ridgerunner correctly noted, it is all about the bottom line. Gillette does resell Merkur razors through its Art of Shaving stores, although they are now hidden away along with the straights and cartridge razors. The focus seems to be using straight razor shaves to sell the creams, soaps and aftershaves.

(03-29-2012, 04:02 PM)ridgerunner Wrote: Can't make the money that they currently do with the razors and cartridges of today. It's all about the bottom line.

+1

I've emailed Gillette/P&G twice. The first time I naively asked why Super Iridiums went off market.
I received a obtuse reply right out of a form.
My second was a scathing review of their recent advert.
I wasn't even honoured with a reply that time.
For all practical purposes the name Gillette means a vintage razor for those inclined to buy one
and a unsettling shell game of blade manufacture overseas.
I'm buying b lades with an eye to a lifetime supply.
Everytime I spot a sleeper Superspeed on EBAY I pause: Will it help our vendors and manufacturers
more if I buy my father's razor or a Jagger next?

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

(03-29-2012, 06:24 AM)oversaturn Wrote: P&G/Gillette actually produces a Tech-like razor nowadays.
The Gillette 7 O'Clock Sterling razor is basically a Tech that is produced nowadays in a Gillette factory in India:

very interesting. where can one be purchased?

(04-01-2012, 09:11 PM)andrewjs18 Wrote: [quote='oversaturn' pid='10935' dateline='1333031064']
P&G/Gillette actually produces a Tech-like razor nowadays.
The Gillette 7 O'Clock Sterling razor is basically a Tech that is produced nowadays in a Gillette factory in India:

very interesting. where can one be purchased?

I'm pretty sure they can be had off ebay

I believe that tech razor is a common design used by many brands and not so much a Gillette item.

For what benefit would this be to Gillette to market a razor that you would not have to return to them to refill it. Thats why they invented the cartridge system and market new ones as the patents expire.

Let's forget about Gillette ever doing this. And if they ever do you would see something made in china on the level of the best grade weishi. Please do not tell me you expect something made in Boston to the lasting quality of 1960s level razors.

(03-29-2012, 07:59 AM)Johnny Wrote: Who's Gillette?

His company eventually was absorbed into the soap opera, I mean soap makers known as P&G!

Sad but true. In dreams, I wish every Gillette were available again but then realize the modern versions would be shadows of their former selves. Maybe just one or three models?