4 ms·

Brought to mind “Over 400 Startups Are Trying to Become the Next Warby Parker. Inside the Wild Race to Overthrow Every Consumer Category” https://www.inc.com/ma

Brought to mind “Over 400 Startups Are Trying to Become the Next Warby Parker. Inside the Wild Race to Overthrow Every Consumer Category” https://www.inc.com/magazine/201805/tom-foster/direct-consumer-brands-middleman-warby-parker.html https://www.inc.com/magazine/201805/tom-foster/direct-consum... and the corresponding YC discussion from a few months ago https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16992301 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16992301

mc32 8y ago
Which reminds me, I went to the drugstore, a few weeks ago, to get a razor and blades; I took a look at Harry’s, I think, and, surprise-surprise, they are priced about the same as the incumbents...
- twblalock 8y ago
  What's your point?
  - mc32 8y ago
    That often times "disruptor" is just marketing to get people on board thinking it's novel and advantageous to the consumer. But in reality, after initial buzz, they are mostly just another player in the market offering little in the way of differentiation, including price.
    - raverbashing 8y ago
      Also see all the foam rolled mattresses "different companies". They buy from the same OEMs, they just have different websites.
    - mbesto 8y ago
      > just another player in the market offering little in the way of differentiation You're right. For commodity products, branding is the differentiator. Like...what's the honest difference between Crest and Colgate toothpaste?
- levelist_com 8y ago
  I'll tell you right now, as a person that got sucked in by the look and feel of the packaging at a time I was looking to replace my razor, it is by far the worst most cumbersome razor I've ever owned. The blades rust almost immediately. From top of blade head to neck is just so long (5 blades plus lots of space) and the weird rubberized flex of the head makes following contours of face virtually impossible. Leaves patches of hair. The razor was probably designed by a woman for legs or an early 20s geek that hasn't sprouted facial hair yet. Either way, you'd be better off buying a razor from a dollar store. [Edit] This video link explains the head issues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JRaAyJz_E&t=2m10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JRaAyJz_E&t=2m10s

mc32 8y ago

Which reminds me, I went to the drugstore, a few weeks ago, to get a razor and blades; I took a look at Harry’s, I think, and, surprise-surprise, they are priced about the same as the incumbents...

twblalock 8y ago
What's your point?
- mc32 8y ago
  That often times "disruptor" is just marketing to get people on board thinking it's novel and advantageous to the consumer. But in reality, after initial buzz, they are mostly just another player in the market offering little in the way of differentiation, including price.
  - raverbashing 8y ago
    Also see all the foam rolled mattresses "different companies". They buy from the same OEMs, they just have different websites.
  - mbesto 8y ago
    > just another player in the market offering little in the way of differentiation You're right. For commodity products, branding is the differentiator. Like...what's the honest difference between Crest and Colgate toothpaste?
levelist_com 8y ago
I'll tell you right now, as a person that got sucked in by the look and feel of the packaging at a time I was looking to replace my razor, it is by far the worst most cumbersome razor I've ever owned. The blades rust almost immediately. From top of blade head to neck is just so long (5 blades plus lots of space) and the weird rubberized flex of the head makes following contours of face virtually impossible. Leaves patches of hair. The razor was probably designed by a woman for legs or an early 20s geek that hasn't sprouted facial hair yet. Either way, you'd be better off buying a razor from a dollar store. [Edit] This video link explains the head issues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JRaAyJz_E&t=2m10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JRaAyJz_E&t=2m10s