Review (1/5): Worst razor I have ever owned!
I have been using electric razors since 1962. Most have been Norelcos. I purchased the Arcitec 5 months ago and stopped using it 2 months ago. The first week I was reasonably satisfied with the new razor and the closeness of the shave. Then I skipped a day of shaving and had a very difficult time getting the longer hairs to cut. I found that after two days I had to use a disposable razor to shave. The Arcitec won't shave long thin neck hair either, so I have to use the straight razor there as well. After the second week I found I had to scrub my face with the razor to get a good shave. After the forth week on that blade I could not get a good shave. I was cleaning the razors hair daily and washing the razor weekly. The instructions said to wash it regularly. I purchased a new blade and washed the razor every day. The trimmer would not cut nose or ear hair and it left the side burns so long that the regular razor cutting head could not trim them smooth. Now my side burns also required the use of a different razor. After one month with the second blade, it also would not give a close shave. I purchased a third blade and for 3 weeks I got a decent shave but still with the above issues requiring the use of a straight razor. By the end of the third week on the third blade I was having trouble again getting a close shave. These blades were costing me more that one dollar a day to shave and giving a poor shave at the three week mark. I have since gone back to using disposable twin blade razors now.
After reading some of the positive reviews; I don't understand why their experiences can be so radically different than mine. If I got a lemon ok, but I put three different heads on that Norelco and all had the same results. I don't have an unusually tough beard and have not ever had any problems like this with any of my other Norelcos. That's almost 40 years. One thing I can say is: over the years the time between blade replacements has gotten shorter. Its gone from 2 years down to 7 or 8 months for me. The older Norelco cut fine and the blades lasted more than a year. I am very disappointed in Norelco for charging so much for a piece of junk. I am offering to sell my 3 months old used Norelco Arcitec to any of those who have written those positive reviews cheap for $75. If you really like them so much how can you pass up a deal like that? I have only used Norelco for 40 years and have never tried Braun. Perhaps they have gone the same way as well. I don't know. I am retired now and won't pay one dollar a day to shave. Over the years there has been a steady decline in cycle time of the blade replacement and an increase in price. I have gone back to straight razors for awhile until I can find a better way.
With such a diverse range of opinions on this item: how does one make a decision? 60 Day free trial sounds like the way to go. If I had done that I would not be writing this. [[ASIN:B000PKNPES Philips Norelco arcitec 1050 Men's Shaver]][[ASIN:B003V360NY Philips Norelco 1150x/40 SensoTouch 2d Electric Shaver, Metallic Blue]][[ASIN:B000VXJYCQ Philips Norelco Arcitec 1050 Rechargeable Cordless Razor + Accessory Kit]][[ASIN:B004AWDPEC Norelco/Philips Arcitec Rechargeable Men's Shaver with Jet Clean System]]