The internet is a wonderful thing. Well, most of the time it is.
The web has also forever changed the way we shop, giving us endless possibilities and options.
One of the best parts is the ability to quickly search and find great deals for a particular product.
In this article, I will share a few basic, but effective money-saving tips to keep in mind when buying a new electric shaver.
Please note that I will only cover the financial part — purchase price and running costs — so I won’t be touching on other aspects of buying a new shaver.
Your goal should be pretty simple: to buy the right shaver at the lowest price and to spend as little as possible on replacement parts.
So you did your homework, searched through forums and review sites and you have a pretty good idea of the type of shaver you need.
You may even have a specific model in mind that would suit you the best.
Now, if you were to buy a particular product, but came across an almost identical one that costs significantly less, would you go for it? Of course you would.
Luckily, this can actually be done.
How to find better alternatives for a particular shaver?
By better alternative I mean a shaver that costs less to buy and/or to run, but will perform the same.
So what to look out for? Here are four important tips to guide you in finding a more convenient product.
1. Look for shavers with similar MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price).
This one is particularly relevant for shavers from the same manufacturer.
Naturally, a good place to start your search would be the manufacturer’s website. Similarly priced shavers are usually similar in performance and features.
Again, I am referring mostly to products from the same manufacturer. Once you’ve identified them, write them down and continue to narrow down the options with the next tip.
2. Look at the replacement foils and blades and find razors that use the same or similar replacement parts.
Another good indicator that two razors are similar in their performance is the use of the same cutting system.
For example, the Braun Series 3 3080s uses the same replacement heads as the 3040s, but their prices are often different, the latter being significantly cheaper.
As I’ve said in my Series 3 comparison, the only significant difference between the two is the presence of a precision lock in the case of 3080s that retracts and locks into place one of the two foils.
While it is a nice addition in the specs sheet, it’s hardly necessary.
But the most important factor here is the price, so in my opinion you should simply buy the cheaper one.
Another relevant example concerns two models from Panasonic: ES-LT41-K and ES8103S.
Both use the same foil and inner blades, have the same motors and are pretty much identical in performance and function.
Price-wise? Not so much. The best pick is pretty obvious here as well: just buy the one that costs less.
In taking this extra step, you will also find valuable info regarding the availability and cost of blades and/or foils.
And this is an often overlooked, but important step when deciding to buy an electric razor. Which leads us to the next point.
3. Check the cost and availability of the replacement parts.
A nice side benefit of electric shaving is not having to buy multi-blade cartridges on a monthly or even weekly basis. And they are pretty expensive.
Switching to electric shavers can save you quite a lot of money in the long run. In order to make sure this will actually be the case, here’s what you should do:
- Check the price of the replacement parts. For example, Braun’s cassettes usually cost less than Panasonic’s blades & foils combos, at least in the case of entry-level shavers.
- Check the availability of replacement parts. You don’t want to buy a razor that uses a discontinued part.
- Check how often you must replace the foils and blades. Most manufacturers recommend changing them once a year, but Braun for example requires a replacement once every 18 months. Things will likely be different in real life as there are many factors at play, so a better approach would be to check out user reviews and forums.
4. Finally, check them out in a store if you have this possibility.
Get a feel of the weight, ergonomics, grip, build quality and noise level during operation.
A review can’t match a hands-on experience. Once you get a good feel of the product, you can apply what we discussed earlier and buy the most convenient one.
Happy shopping!