An inquiry regarding the longevity of electric shaving devices

G

Graham F

New member
I have observed a considerable variance in the reported operational lifespan of electric shaving instruments across various user testimonials and manufacturer specifications, and I am seeking to establish a more comprehensive understanding of realistic expectations.


From my research, manufacturers typically advertise product lifespans ranging from three to seven years, contingent upon proper maintenance protocols and adherence to recommended replacement schedules for consumable components. However, anecdotal evidence from user forums suggests actual performance may deviate substantially from these projections.


I am particularly interested in understanding which factors constitute the primary determinants of device longevity. Is it predominantly the battery degradation that precipitates device failure, or do mechanical components such as motors and cutting assemblies typically fail first? Additionally, does the frequency of utilization correlate significantly with lifespan, or are there other variables that exert greater influence?


Furthermore, I would appreciate perspectives on whether premium-priced models from established manufacturers demonstrate meaningfully superior durability compared to budget alternatives, or if the price differential primarily reflects enhanced performance characteristics rather than extended operational life.


For context, I am evaluating potential purchases and attempting to calculate total cost of ownership over extended timeframes. Any empirical data or personal experiences regarding device longevity would be valuable in informing this analysis.


I appreciate any insights the community can provide on this matter.


Regards,


Graham
 
I suspect, Graham, your inquiry may not have a simple answer as there may be many reasons. First, let's assume we're referring to rechargeable shavers. Pure electric, or plug-in, seem to have the edge by those of us who use them. Simply, with no battery to die, electric motors can likely last for years as their power source doesn't die or degrade like a battery.

Of my many rechargeables, though, I've found no one single answer. I have some rechargeables over fourteen years old and still working well, (with the old Ni-Cd batteries) whereas some recent rechargeable I've had only lasted a couple of years. You mention whether the motor or cutter assemblies may contribute to longevity. Well, anything that is used gets wear, but whether on a particular shaver, it is the battery that fails or the motor or cutting assemblies, is something I think a service person would have to determine. If my rechargeable died, I could "assume" it is the battery and either discard the shaver, or have a new battery installed....if that is the issue. But the person servicng the shaver might say the battery is not the issue, it is something else. In many cases, then, it is cheaper to simply discard the shaver.

I guess I would be curious how many other members have taken a rechargeable shaver to be serviced and was told it was not the battery. In other words, motor failure could be a reason a shaver dies, but unless you or a service person can determine that, I am thinking the answer for a particular shaver is not going to be definitively known.

Other factors contribute to longevity, though. How well do you maintain your shaver? Do you regularly clean and lubricate it? Some people use cleaning machines, others prefer manual cleaning. Some people like me completely disassemble their cutter assembly and thoroughly clean after each shave, some just rinse with water or maybe some soap with it. (If I don't disassemble my Philips' cutter assembly, the retainer gets rust spots from rinsing).

Also, is your shaving technique appropriate and not putting extra stress on the shaver? And what climate is your shaver exposed to? For me, I can't use a rechargeable at the gym as if it discharges, I can't shave; but worse, the desert heat can shorten the life of a rechargeable shaver as it sits in a gym bag in my car while I may be doing after-gym errands.

Finally, it could also be the luck of the draw. I feel for some reason some of my cheapest, oldest, feature-less shavers have lasted the longest (rechargeable). Interestingly, when I bought my recent Philips 9000 Prestige Ultra directly from Philips, they added five extra years to the warranty, so I guess they have faith in its longevity.

I just think there are a number of factors that impact any shaver's longevity. For me, I'm confident my plug-ins will outlive me, but I expect my rechargeable shavers' lives to be much shorter...for a number of possible reasons....battery, motor, maintenance, use, exposure to the elements, and luck.
 
Last edited:
Graham F said:
I have observed a considerable variance in the reported operational lifespan of electric shaving instruments across various user testimonials and manufacturer specifications, and I am seeking to establish a more comprehensive understanding of realistic expectations.


From my research, manufacturers typically advertise product lifespans ranging from three to seven years, contingent upon proper maintenance protocols and adherence to recommended replacement schedules for consumable components. However, anecdotal evidence from user forums suggests actual performance may deviate substantially from these projections.


I am particularly interested in understanding which factors constitute the primary determinants of device longevity. Is it predominantly the battery degradation that precipitates device failure, or do mechanical components such as motors and cutting assemblies typically fail first? Additionally, does the frequency of utilization correlate significantly with lifespan, or are there other variables that exert greater influence?


Furthermore, I would appreciate perspectives on whether premium-priced models from established manufacturers demonstrate meaningfully superior durability compared to budget alternatives, or if the price differential primarily reflects enhanced performance characteristics rather than extended operational life.


For context, I am evaluating potential purchases and attempting to calculate total cost of ownership over extended timeframes. Any empirical data or personal experiences regarding device longevity would be valuable in informing this analysis.


I appreciate any insights the community can provide on this matter.


Regards,


Graham
Click to expand...

Hi Graham,

In a nutshell, I don’t believe paying a premium price for a premium shaver is going to give any longevity over the base level budget units, for the simple reason that the shavers are all inherently the same at a basic level anyway.

Modern electric shavers generally have 2 distinct failure modes - the battery or the blades/head assemblies. Ignoring misuse or poor maintenance for a moment, any item that works on a battery already has a limited life span, plus anything with mechanical components such as motors contains life limited components. It is my belief that shaver manufacturers are swapping out materials in such life limited components in a move to be more “green” and/or to cut production costs, however often these newer materials have more limited life expectancy when compared to the same type of components on older models. Hence, the reason why manufacturers like Philips are now saying on the packaging of their 5000 and 9000 shavers that they have a 7 year life expectancy on the motor. I don’t recall seeing such data on any older models.

You can even see the quality was higher in older models, my Philips HQ 3405 has significantly thicker plastic casing and even the circuitry and wiring appears much higher quality than my Norelco 2000 series, which has several parts that got bent out of shape just when I was trying to take it apart for battery replacement.

Beyond this, it is a question of maintenance. My friends and colleagues who report shavers failing prematurely all share a common theme - that they didn’t clean/maintain their razors regularly. Just speaking about rotary shavers, not cleaning them results in hair buildup in the hair pocket and around moving parts like the spindles. Over time this buildup means there is more stress put on the battery as it has to work harder to achieve the same RPM as in normal service. This eventually leads to premature failure of the battery, which already have limited lifespan anyway.

Obviously the blades will wear out eventually, but this is expected although it is in theory possible to use these forever. I once met a guy on a hospital ward who shaved an entire beard off with a 40+ year old Philips mains powered shaver that still had its original blades! Granted, he did say that it took him significantly longer than normal and his skin was quite irritated afterwards, but I certainly couldn’t detect any cuts. This is of course if the foils have not split or developed cracks, as this is what inherently tears the skin apart.

Anyway, I hope I’ve helped or at least given you some food for thought…


Kind regards,

R
 
Good points, Rmac. I am reminded constantly of the quality differences between my current shavers (made in the last couple of years) versus my Remington XLRs (recently bought new) from the late 80s/early 90s. Even the springs that secure the head are stronger and firmer.

Though I clean and lubricate each shaver after use, I still have had battery issues with recently-purchased shavers (my writing in the Troubleshooting/Maintenance category). Also, although my recently-made cord-only shavers (Philips 1100/Remington R50) are convenient as they have no battery to contend with, they still are not as solid or high quality as my new older-model cord shavers. Thanks for your comments.
 
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