Why Harry’s Razors Fall Short — And Why Marketing Isn’t the Same as Quality

We Don’t Like Harry’s Razors — Here’s Why

You probably know Harry’s. They’re the razor brand founded by two tech entrepreneurs who raised hundreds of millions in venture capital and famously acquired a historic German blade factory to challenge Gillette and Schick.

When Harry’s launched, we were rooting for them. Competition is healthy, and their arrival did push legacy brands to rethink pricing. But over time, our enthusiasm faded. What we saw was a brand built first on marketing and scale, not on product excellence.

At Imperium, we’ve always taken the opposite approach. Packaging and storytelling matter, but the product itself has to earn the attention. If it doesn’t perform, nothing else matters.

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The “German” Story Doesn’t Tell the Whole Picture

Harry’s frequently highlights its German engineering and manufacturing heritage. That sounds impressive — and in theory, it should be. But when you look more closely, the reality is more complex than the headline suggests.

While Harry’s owns a factory in Germany, not every component or manufacturing step necessarily happens there. To us, this creates confusion around what “German-made” actually means in practice. The emphasis on origin feels carefully curated, and we think many consumers would be surprised if they looked deeper into how modern cartridge systems are truly produced.

At Imperium, we prefer to be direct about where our products come from and how they’re made. No mythology required.

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In Our Experience, Harry’s Razors Don’t Shave Well

Here’s the part that actually matters.

Based on our own testing — and echoed by countless discussions across wet shaving forums — Harry’s blades often struggle with clean cutting. Instead of slicing hair efficiently, they tend to pull or pinch, leading to irritation and discomfort. The so-called “Harry’s pinch” is a recurring complaint among experienced shavers.

Many in the wet shaving community point to poor cutting geometry and an awkward blade angle as the root of the problem. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: a shave that feels harsh, inconsistent, and unpleasant.

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The Cartridge Design Feels Under-Engineered

Another issue we noticed is how the blade cartridge attaches to the handle.

Harry’s cartridges don’t positively lock into place. While they may not rattle loose, the connection lacks the secure, mechanical confidence you’d expect from a product built around precision. For something as critical as a blade interface, “good enough” isn’t good enough.

A razor should feel intentional — not provisional.

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Cheap Materials, Disposable Feel

Harry’s razors are overwhelmingly plastic. Soft-touch, rubberized, mass-produced plastic.

If that’s what you’re looking for, Harry’s delivers. But we believe daily-use tools should be built to last — not to be replaced. There’s no reason shaving has to feel disposable, and no reason the object you use every morning should feel forgettable.

We think people deserve better than cheap materials wrapped in clever branding.

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The “Affordable” Claim Doesn’t Hold Up

Harry’s positions itself as a lower-cost alternative, often emphasizing subscription pricing as a major advantage. But when you actually compare costs, the value proposition becomes questionable.

In many cases, Harry’s blades land in a similar price range to premium blades from legacy brands like Gillette— sometimes higher. The promised savings shrink quickly, while the performance gap remains.

For us, that raises an obvious question: if the price isn’t meaningfully lower, and the shave isn’t better, what’s the upside?

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A Better Alternative

We believe shaving should be intentional. Materials should matter. Design should serve function, not the other way around. And marketing should never be the best part of the product.

If you want a razor that feels substantial, shaves cleanly, and turns a daily task into a ritual — there is a better option.

Upgrade to a handcrafted Imperium razor and experience the difference.
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