This, in fact, is also a reverse redistributive policy, Robin Hood on it’s head. Perhaps we should stop buying these things…

This may come as a bit of a shock to you, but those razor blades you buy after having been induced by this most cheesy of advertisements (voted the worst), has a remarkable mark-up of up to 5000%…

Yes, you read that right.

These cost as little as 5 pennies (British money) to make, but sell for something like 2.43 pounds. Or, on the European continent, they can be bought for 3 euros, but they cost 6 euro cents!

What does Gilette with all that profit margin? They hire super rich sport stars like Messi, Federer, Tiger Woods and Tierry Henry, give them millions to promote the stuff. Beckham even got a diamond version of the razor, for free (costing 54,000 British pounds).

Take from the poor and give to the rich..

No wonder that this is happening:

• A pack of eight costs £18.53, and the replacement razor heads are so expensive that they are now the most shoplifted product in the High Street. Special security measures have been introduced, including sealing the packs in boxes with an electronic tag which sets off an alarm if it is not removed before leaving the store, and CCTV that activates if the product is removed from the shelf. A pack of four Fusion Power cartridges costs only 20p to manufacture, plus 8p for packaging. But they are sold for £9.72 – a mark-up of £9.44. [Daily Mail]

This is capitalism gone mad. And razors is far from the only product this model is applied to. Ever wondered what those Nikes on your feet cost to make? It isn’t more than $5, somewhere in an Asian sweatshop..

Apart from nicking them, which we don’t recommend, there is one little secret not many people know. These blades can basically run forever given the right care. Apparently, oxidation occurs because of ‘debris’ left after shaving. If you clean them with a strong flow of hot water and then dry the knives, they will stay sharp for much longer. Not that they want you to know, of course…