Another way to look at it is that the razor blades are not valuable in and of themselves, only when they are put in the hands of the consumer and used. Gillett

Another way to look at it is that the razor blades are not valuable in and of themselves, only when they are put in the hands of the consumer and used. Gillette has not 'created value' when it made a razor blade, only created the potential for value which is then crystallized when a consumer buys the item with the intent to use it. Similarly, a consumer who buys a razor blade has not created value at the time of transaction, but actually accrues value over time as it is used.