Used electric razors - worth buying or avoid?

[tommy2000]

Been looking at electric razors on craigslist and facebook marketplace cause I dont have alot of money right now but need something better than the cheap disposables im using. Theres quite a few brauns and panasonics being sold for like $30-50 that usually cost way more new.

My question is are used electric razors worth it or is it gross/unsanitary? Most of them look pretty clean in the photos but you never really know what condition there in or how the person took care of them. Also wondering if the batterys would still be good after someone used it for a few years.

I see alot of people selling them cause they "upgraded" or "switching back to manual" but makes me wonder if theres something wrong with them. Would hate to spend $40 on something that breaks after a month you know.

Anyone bought used razors before and had good luck? Or should I just save up for a new one even though it will take me longer to get the money together. Really tired of cutting myself with cheap razors every morning but cant afford $100+ right now.

What do you guys think is it worth the risk or should I wait it out?

Tommy

 

[Shaverman]

Having bought and sold shavers for five years on eBay, I can say you can get some decent shavers "used". But it can be challenging. Of the 20 shavers in my collection, I bought them new or open-box, which means someone opened them and it can be hard to determine if they were used. Yesterday, I saw several shavers advertised "open box", but looking at them carefully, I could easily determine that they were "used"...based on the debris, wearing away of the lettering,, etc. I have bought brand new vintage shavers for as little as $20 in the last year (like the classic XLR 800). But you have to be very careful. There are some dealers who say an item is New, yet at best, it is a "demo" that somebody tried. Sealed items generally indicate it is new.

On a few occasions, I did buy used shavers, refurbished them, and re-sold them Like barbers and beauty salons, I used Barbicide, a germicide, fungicide, and viruside, that kills anything. Soaking cutters and foils and cleaning stalks and springs insures all germs are gone. I think it is necessary for the first time you buy something used. Don't forget, when you go to the barber shop, beauty salon, or a restaurant, you are using utensils, or devices, that have been on other people's faces, head, or in the case of eating utensils...mouth. Barbicide is more effective than what most restaurants use to wash their eating utensils.

The bigger challenge, though, Tommy, is determining what shaver, and what type of shaver, you would want. You could buy five shavers and find none of them are to your liking. Many of us on this site have found it takes awhile to really find out what type of shaver, even brand, that works for us. I prefer plug-ins for simplicity, but also have rechargeable as they can be convenient too. Foil shavers generally shave close as their foils are thinner than the combs of rotary shavers, but rotaries can handle longer whiskers easier for many. So, the hunt may first be on what type of shaver might work best for you.

Again, perhaps because I check eBay, Craigslist, Etsy, etc., each day I do see "bargains" among new shavers too. Often you can tell if a shaver is slightly used or severely used, and people are not always completely truthful when they sell items...so you have to be careful.

But I would, again, say determining the type of shaver would be your first step. And, it might be easier to buy a lower-priced NEW shaver on let's say Amazon, and see if you like it, be It foil or rotary, Remington, Philips, Braun first. It is harder to find pure-electric (cord only) so you might have to look at just rechargeable. I would say that might be a better option than just buying a used shaver online that you won't like. Also, with shavers bought from the company (like Philips or Remington), you might have the option to return.

Others on the site might have some better options, but good luck as it will require some legwork on your part.

 

[culcreuch]

Cleaning is easy enough and lots of the clipper sprays are alcohol based for hygene purposes. My big worry would be the condition of the battery as most modern shavers are cordless only. It might last a few years.....and it might not!