A Close Shave? (shavers.co.uk)

Member Name: helencb

Product:	shavers.co.uk
Date:	13/12/07 (173 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super fast delivery, consumer reviews, price competitive, local

Disadvantages: none

I had not heard of the site www.shavers.co.uk until quite recently when I had the very difficult job of selecting an electric razor for my Dad - something he had requested as a Christmas present after years of using deadly disposable razor blades for a wet shave.
Obviously, being female I didn't fully appreciate what a minefield selecting an electric razor could be! My husband does not use an electric razor either, and as electric razors vary so enormously in cost and presumably specification, I was at a loss where to start. The only clue my Dad had given was "Braun" but I wasn't sure if this is was because he knew the brand or had done extensive research on what he wanted - and I suspected the former. I went to a large high street Pharmacy and electrical store and they only had a couple of brauns - one was quite discounted and all were foil, which was not something I had expected. Thankfully I decided to return home and google the model to do a bit more on line research, and I found www.shavers.co.uk

Despite their name, as well as shavers and shaver accessories they do also stock electric toothbrushes and other electronic health equipment such as heat lamps, SAD light boxes and blood pressure monitors.
One of the nice things about the site is that previous purchasers can leave feedback about their products itself and indeed shavers.co.uk. It turned out I was right not to buy the half price shaver in the high street store as it had been rated a paltry 3-4 out of 10 and had been rated by quite a few people. I found another Braun which was about £20 more expensive and that had a round 10/10, again the result from quite a few satisfied purchasers and I decided it was worth paying the difference. In any event it was still £40 cheaper than the RRP of £120 and the site does seem to offer competitive pricing.

I checked pricing by using pricing comparison sites, and I was able to secure the razor slightly cheaper by using another on line retailer, however I was dubious about their credibility, whereas the reviews I had read on www.shavers.co.uk all praised the store for near instant delivery, and I felt somewhat reassured by this. Shavers.co.uk did offer free postage and packaging, which made them the second most competitive retailer on the internet, and showing a significant saving from some stores.
I had to create an account to purchase, but the process was quick and easy, and I placed my order on Saturday late afternoon. I was therefore expecting the order by Tuesday morning best case, although I did not pay extra for speedy delivery. Sure enough, when I got home on Tuesday night, the postman had left it on the step for me. On opening the package I found that they had actually sent a slightly upgraded/newer model, with a price difference of £10, at no extra cost to myself. It is nice to know that they fulfilled the order at a higher spec rather than made me wait if stocks were low, especially at this time of year and I do believe that the company prides themselves on their order fulfilment processes. Standard rate postage is free for items under £100, such as mine, and premium postage is free for items over that amount.

In terms of design I doubt the site would ever win any awards, after all they are simply a large seller of products which are not exactly the most glamorous. BUT it is clear, and straightforward and easy to navigate and placing an order took very little time indeed.
Their terms and conditions of sale are clearly displayed on the site, and are pretty standard but very clear to understand. The company ships using Royal Mail postage as standard, and are based in Nottingham NG3.

I found the site by googling the actual razor model I was looking to buy, however it is also possible to search by manufacturer if you are loyal to a particular brand. As a specialist retailer, their choice is difficult to beat and they do provide buying criteria advice for the indecisive/unsure purchasers among us.
recommended 10/10

Summary: An essential site to visit for electrical Health and Beauty products