* Gillette makes it even easier to buy razor blades
* Shave clubs and online retailers often have better prices than stores
* Amazon has the best deals on razors
If you’re tired of waiting for a store associate to unlock the razors, you just got a new option for having your shaving gear delivered. Gillette On-Demand is a new service that will see the venerable shaving brand compete against booming upstart Dollar Shave Club.
Gillette customers will have the option of either texting their order to get a shipment, or subscribing online to get a monthly delivery. In addition to a $3 discount on all first orders, subscribers also receive a free fourth order for the life of their membership. You can choose a package of eight disposable razors ($11.00), five Mach 3 Turbo blade refills ($13.00) or four Fusion Proshield refills ($21.45). Blade refill subscriptions receive a free handle for the first order and free shipping on all orders. A $2 shipping fee is attached to the disposable razor service.
Dollar Shave Club uses similar price promotions, although they are a bit more generous. The first month for all subscriptions costs only $1.00. The price for five, twin-blade refill cartridges stays at $1.00 for the life of the order, but a $2.00 shipping fee is attached, bringing the total cost to $3.00/month. A subscription to DSC’s 4-blade and 6-blade razors respectively cost $6.00 and $9.00 each month with free shipping included. All membership levels receive a free handle in the first order. The caveat: unlike Gillette’s new service, you can’t text in your order here.
While DSC offers more attractive prices, it really comes down to personal preference as to which service works for you. I shave with a Mach 3 and I like that I can go to any store in the country to buy cartridges when I’m in a pinch. That being said, there’s no reason to keep paying store prices for a commodity that ought to be much cheaper. A five-pack of Mach 3 Turbo razors costs $18.99 at CVS. A five pack of standard Mach 3 cartridges at Rite Aid Costs $15.99. The best price comes from Amazon, where you can score a fifteen pack of Mach 3 cartridges for only $20.18 — the lowest unit price.
So what’s the real lesson? Stop buying your razors at the store. Not only will it skip the hassle of finding an associate to unlock the case, but it will also save you money.
As for Gillette, their new On-Demand service is the latest attempt by the brand to fight back against the online business and shaving start-ups. Whether Gillette’s customer loyalty extends online — and to a subscription service — remains to be seen.
