Gillette sued Schick, trying to stop the introduction of their new machine, but failed. Another stupidity, akin to the RIAA suing its downloading customers; I mean, how much free publicity did Quattro get from these ill-advised lawsuits? I say that simply adding another blade, creating a "PentaStar", or some such monstrosity, is not the way Gillette should/will go: rather, put a little AAA or AA battery in the handle and give us a vibrating razor, as did the Sharper Image unsuccessfully a few years ago. You read it here first.
Noodling around online just now, I see that the Boston Globe held a similar "shave-off" involving firemen last week. They gave the nod to Gillette in a very close contest.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Joe, you are funny. I see you only put your ad up for a week. If you put up a Blogcritics ad on your site, you can have your ad up here indefinitely
2 - Tom Johnson
Vibrating razor? That sounds quite frightening. I don't want anything sharp that vibrates anywhere near my person.
3 - Zeb
Joe, Joe, Joe. All the information above, while seemingly helpful, is useful to is if we don't know the following information: what kind of facial hair do you have, what's your skin type like, and how often do you have to shave?
I personally have barbed wire for facial hair, so after using my Mach3, I have to use an electric razor and hedge trimmer to get the fine look chiseled look which lies under the dark carpet most people see.
My skin is sensative, so I need to make sure the razors I use aren't abbrasive.
And finaly, I have to shave atleast two or three times a day to get that afore mentioned chiseled look...
4 - bookofjoe
Tom, it's not like you're holding a jackhammer; the vibrating razor is almost imperceptibly in motion, kind of like when you put your hand against a microwave oven while it's working: just a soft buzz. When you look at the blades while it's turned on, you can't see any motion, it's that fast and fine. I'll try to find a picture/description online; if I do, I'll post it at my blogsite, http://bookofjoe.livejournal.com
joe
5 - JM
curious what you mean when you refer to "holder for the razor to allow it to dry with the blades vertical, sharp edges down, as is recommended by experts. I doubt many people will realize this feature exists, though, since nowhere in the very brief product brochure does it show this function. "
i just bought this razor and the holder seems just like that for the MACH 3, ie: the razor lies flat/horizontal in the holder with the blades also facing sharp side down at an angle...
i just don't see any difference...
btw, i think you should refer to the Schick at "the contender" not "the pretender" in your topic title... "pretender" conveys an instantly negative connotation... (which you clearly do not intend based on the content of the review)
thanks for the review!
6 - bookofjoe
Your wish is my command: done!
7 - Dean Massingill
Well, this is a surprise. After using, and being indeed very happy with, the Mach3 for some time, I purchased the new Quattro to give it a try. I have NEVER had such a dreadful shave in all my life. I prepared my face as usual and it seemed as if I were shaving with the dullest blade ever. I literally ( I do not kid here) at one point looked down at the razor to be sure I had not overlooked some type of shield over the blade...I hadn't.
I am still baffled by this. I looked on the package for an 800 number, none, nor a web site.
Tonight a Schick popup appeared which I followed to the point of finally a clickon to reach the mfr. It did not work either, despite repeated attempts and further attempts to reach Schick by various side techniques, including going to Google and pulling it up as a random search. Still will not work.
I would like to give them a fair shot but how can I get an explanation/conversation if I cannot reach anyone? NOT too well done, Schick...
Dean M.
8 - robert f
the schick quattro is the finest razor i have ever shaved with..gillette is no longer the best. i recommend the schick quattro to everyone
9 - jamie
I find any schick razor to be better and lasts longer! I also shave my head the mach 3 is garbage it does't last anywhere as long or do as good as a schick if the law suit puts an end to quattro I will stick to extreme 3, and if gillette puts out a 4 blade I wouldn't even try it if it was free gillette just does't stand up to schick!!!
10 - mickeroni
Quattro is head and shoulders better than the Gilleete Mach3. I much prefer the heavier handle, it affords a much better grip. Also the angle between the handle and the blade head allows for a much more precise contact with the skin and a much better shave. I can't believe the comment above that thought the razor is so bad. Doesn't make sense.
11 - Joe
Being a Mach 3 man, myself, I won't even consider changing unless Schick can produce a marketing plan which leverages the celebrity of Suzi Quattro aka. Leather Tuscadero. My God, this idea practically drips with potential!
12 - Michael J. Blaisdell
I was a mach3 man my ownself. Tried the Schick Quattro and at first didn't like it. Seemed to be dull, grabby. Threw the blades in the can. I really liked the looks of the razor itself though and bought a four pack of blades, gonna give em another chance. Still grabby well, that's the way they are, not a problem just got to get used to the fourth blade. I took the blades that I had canned, installed one and am still shaving on that one. Getting a closer shave than ever, no cuts, no burn, I love it. Never thought that I'd see it but, happy to see that Schick has finally outdone Gillette, good going guy's,
Blaze
13 - Jason
Yes, yet another Mach3 user who 'converted' to the Quattro... I live in Canada, and they don't even sell it here yet(Spring'04 I'm told). So, on a recent visit to the U.S. I picked one up. Let's just say it knocked out the 'champion' in the first shave . Gillette will have to do a little more than changing the name & color of the Mach3 every couple months. As for there upcoming Gillette 'vibrating' razor... uh no thanks, I'll pass.
14 - robert f
at first i thought after using the schick quattro it was the best.after using it for a month,i started getting disatisfied with the shaves took at my gillete mach 3 and instantly felt the smooth shave i had been missing..gillette is number 1 because they are the best,i'll wait for gillette to make the innovations and i'll stick with them
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16 - lpalanikannan
i need to know more about ur product mach3
and the present QUATTRO VERSION
17 - Bruce Nevin
I used the Mach 3 and the Quattro side by side, alternating days, for over 6 months. I had to replace the blade on the Mach 3 long before I replaced that on the Quattro. On this one trial, the Quattro lasted about 40% longer. This of course is likely to vary, and the judgement when you have to change is subjective, but the difference was so substantial it seems beyond subjective. Far outweighs the 5% or so added cost. I had been using the Mach 3 before this.
If I were in Schick's marketing department, I'd pitch this. Selling replacement blades is where the money is, and both companies want to focus our attention on quality of shave etc., they don't want us to try to make those blade last, go for the smooth, effortless experience of a new blade! But we all think about this, and coming from behind, market share is more important to them. Maybe pitch the Quattro as lasting up to 40% longer than Schick's own 3-blade, and (independently) the 3-blade as equivalent to the Mach 3.
18 - Patrick
Gillete's lawsuit put me off and gave me a reason to test the Quattro (they must be scared of something).
Shaving with the Quattro feels like shaving with an older two-blade razor--not as comfortable a shave as the Mach3.
The results, however, were significant. A *much* closer shave with the Quattro--my heavy beard is gone and my face absolutely smooth. Quattro, for me, is the best razor.
I still use my Mach3 from time to time, and when I do, I notice that it's a more comfortable shave--perhaps this is because it's not shaving as close as the Quattro.
Nice to have two choices--Mach3 or Quattro--and buy the blades that are on sale.
19 - Jack K
I not only have used the Mach 3 and switched to the Quattro, I used to be a consumer tester for Gillette. I find that the Quattro shave is the closest I have ever had. Truly superior. I do aggree that there is a slight "grabbiness" to the Quattro, but it is not painful or unpleasant, just different. But what a shave. I really haven't kept track but the blades seem to last and last.
20 - Kevin
wow... wtf.. did you really predict the gillete m3 power razor.. nuts
21 - Phillip Winn
I'll be darned, it looks like he did.
Obvious, I suppose. Except I don't remember anyone else suggesting it...
22 - Ken
I just recently purchased a Quattro......I wonder if there is any way I can get my money back.When I first shaved with it I thought I had a faulty blade in it...........it pulled and wouldnt shave.......so I replaced it with a new one..........I shaved over and over again......patches oh beard left all over the place.......it refused point blank to give me a good shave on my neck.........Im going back to the Mach3..........how utterly disappointing this shaver is
23 - Cerulean
I got a batch of bad razor blades lately too, either Quatro or Mach 3, don't know which.
24 - Patton
I thought I was getting a good Razor and Blades, but I found out soon, I made a mistake. This is the nearest nothing I ever used. I get one good shave out of a blade, then it is pull and left beard on my face. I am very disappointed in the new Razor & Blades