 Tried Others..So Far The Best! |
| Review Date: June 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mark A. Loppnow, West Bend, WI |
| Have tried Norelcos triple-blade, no good. Tried the top of the line Braun, seemed to take too long to shave, and had to go over the same area 5 times to get a close shave (also VERY noisy)! The Panasonic Arc IV is very quiet, I can ACTUALLY HERE the stubble being shaved, and shaving only takes 5 1/2 minutes (I know this, because the shaver has a timer). I clean it in the stand 4 times/week, which keeps the shaver looking new every time I use it. I like not having to press it hard to my face, to get it to shave close (head is spring loaded, to give the correct amount of pressure). I just bought the cleaning cartridges, 3/$12.70 on Amazon subscriber program, and will have them sent every 6 months. Face still feels shaved after 8 hours (this is very strange, but nice). |
Fantastic!
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| Review Date: December 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jeremy C. Sloss, Los Angeles, CA USA |
| I have always been an opponent for an electric razor for a number of reasons, biggest one is that I have sensitive skin and without pressing really hard on my face, never seemed to get a close shave. After my friend got his, and after a recent visit to the big box store where I got to see a 40 dollar price tag on disposables, I was convinced to try. I opted for the most bang for my buck and a model that was wet dry, you can actually use shaving cream with this model, which helps to nearly eliminate the break in irritation of most razors. The shave I get in just 2.5 minutes (the razor has a timer) is so smooth and so easy, its sad to think of all the money and time I have wasted over the years on traditional shaving products. Fantastic shaver, fantastic value. |
Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV vs. Braun Series 7- 790cc vs. Philips Norelco1090x Arcitec (SHOCKING UPDATE AT END OF REVIEW !!!!!)
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| Review Date: December 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: ThickNjustrite, |
Hi. 1st of all,I am in no way affiliated with,nor have had any history/relationship/problems with Panasonic,Braun nor Philips/Norelco in any way. After reading this review you will understand why I put in that part.
Ok,gonna be a long review so I won't get into too many details about the 3 razors specifics,which may be found in other 5 star reviews.
1st things 1st;
I am a 47 year old,dark skinned Caucasion with thick,dark hair everywhere(ugh),including on/in my ears,and was blessed :( with a face like coarse sandpaper.My chest hair meets my neck hair it's so extreme. Anyway, I have tried many of the more expensive electric shavers since I began shaving,at about 12 years of age,beginning with my Dads old corded/heavy Remington. Every 5 years or so I'd try a couple of the new/latest ones,but always ended up going back to shaving cream & a blade. The last electric I tried before now,about 10 years ago,was the 1st ever 14,000 rpm Panasonic,the one from Sharper Image(purchased online for less than 1/2 the price of Sharper Image). After 1 month of daily use I switched back to a blade again,but that Panasonic wasn't bad for its time,and it was the best at that time,but again,not as comfortable nor as close as a blade.
Why I bought this;
My last(and NOW final)manual blade was the Gillette Fusion Power(3 bladed, not the 5),which is the best manual I have ever used including the 5 blade Gillette & Schick. On Black Friday of this year(2009) I was at Walmart & I came across the Norelco Arcitec 1090x. I figured I was due to try a new electric...I could always return it. Well,I was amazed by the performance. I paid $149.00 plus tax for it. After loving it, I returned it to Walmart & bought it on E-Bay for $120.00 total. After 29 days of using it, I decided to check the prices & reviews of other shavers on Amazon.com,figuring IF I could POSSIBLY even improve on the Arcitec for a comparable price,great! I figured maybe I didn't know any better since the Arcitec was the 1st electric I had tried in almost 10 years,so I'd give others a try. Again,I could always return them.
So,I got the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV and the Braun Series 7-790cc models,unbelievably priced at $129.99 & $149.99 respectively,from Amazon.com. The Panasonic got 5 stars from 5 reviewers,the Braun 4 1/2 from over 700 reviewers,and were 2 of the best I could find in any price range(the Norelco got 4 stars).
When I got this;
First,the Panasonic arrived. After the 1st use,I put my beloved Arcitec back in its very awkward,troublesome & frustrating packaging & called Norelco for a return authorization(Amazon doesn't accept returns on Hazardous materials...the cleaning fluid). Remember,I LOVED the Norelco,I didn't know any better,YET. But,the Panasonic blew it off the charts in every conceivable way,right out of the box! As for the "adjustment period from rotary to foil", there was none, although I imagine it will get even better in time,which is hard to conceive happening! What the Arcitec gave me,which I figured was just the way things are with electrics these days,and considered acceptable or even temporary,(irritation on my neck & upper chest)was a very smooth,close shave. But,it also dealt out very warm/hot shaver heads/foils after 10 minutes of shaving,and hand fatigue,none of which exists with the Panasonic. This Arc iv Nano totally blew me away,even to the point where I was not even going to try the Braun when it arrived. But,I had to,just to make sure,with hope,that it COULD possibly be even better then the Panasonic. Then again,I was almost hoping it would not,since I fell instantly in love with the Arc iv. "How could near perfection be topped",I asked myself?
What happened next;
Anyway,I got the Braun,disliked the looks right out of the box, charged it,tried it out & immediately put it back in the box, then set up a return with Braun(again,no Haz.Mat returns to Amazon). All I can say is,in order,my scorecard (a chart I made) came out like this; On a scale of 1-5,based on 21 different performance,quality,comfort & other criteria; Panasonic 101 points(ok,the case is of the lowest quality imaginable.Guess they had to keep the cost down SOMEWHERE!),Norelco 79 points & Braun 66 points. The ONLY good things I can say about this Braun is it shaved pretty close & has a nice small head (2 cool looking micro foils, a nice angle,& ability to use it plugged in(corded),which the other 2 lack(gr8 case too! Lol)..I may have kept it had the other 2 not existed.MAYBE.
And then;
On the down side, the Braun is the loudest of all 3,feels the cheapest,has a poor "grip" feel,has Alcohol based cleaning fluid which evaporates unless you keep putting the cap back on(see other reviews,even 5 star...Panasonic's is Alcohol free),no protective foil cap(Huh???...they include a useless brush...WHY...it's washable and has a cleaning station...BUT no protection for the ultra thin foils!!??? GHASTLY!!! Hellooooooooo), a cheap feeling on/off button & is NOT water submergible/wet shaveable. The pop-up trimmer was inferior to both the Panasonic & the Norelco as well. The other 2 don't have a brush because again,it's unnecessary/useless.Who in their right mind would tediously brush stubbles out of an electric shaver instead of washing it,rinsing it in seconds,or use the cleaning base( my daughter used the brush,on her Barbie doll )??? A brush can actually damage the thin foils...IT SAYS SO IN ALL THE MANUALS !!!!
And so;
As for the Norelco,it gives a nice, close shave(15 minutes minimum though, for an ultra close shave),looks great and is fun to shave with,and has manual clean/rinse ability,but is NOT submergible nor a "Wet" shaver. No "cleaning station" though,which is useful for weekly deep cleaning of oils from the skin,and dries a just-rinsed/cleaned razor. The heads on the arcitec pop up individually to clean & I enjoyed that aspect of this razor(man toys,you know). On the down side, it's tinny,has a cheap sounding motor,is hard to hold onto comfortably for the 15+ minutes it takes to get an almost blade close shave,as my hand starts to come close to cramping up,feels a bit cheap & too light/fragile,caused regular lower neck irritation and the heads get too hot to continue finishing your shave( hadda keep dipping it in ice water,it went 'tssst', then dry it! ). It has a cheap,thin plastic,standing charging stand which is so light it needs suction cups( included! ) on the bottom to hold it up when the razor is in place(or...crunch..it'll fall over)! It does however have a cool thick plastic/rubber "charging case", but it's big & bulky, has no hinge(it opens into 2 pieces). The Razor has an ultra cheap trimmer "switch",which seems like a cutout from some plastic mail bin or something,and is hard to switch on because it is tiny,flat & lacks any kind of "gripping" material,like rubber. The tiny trimmer itself,contrary to other reviews of the arcitec,is useful for getting behind sideburns & ears,and you MUST pull off the shaving head to achieve its full usefullness,something some other reviewers didn't realize. It was the 2nd loudest,and NOT a nice sound...like a grinding/thrashing sound,same as all Norelco rotary shavers. Imagine a Corvette sounding like an old VW bug? Not good. It's a guy thing,you know.
Still with me? Hope so...almost done.You'll thank me later. :)
Finally;
As for my new baby,the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex is PERFECT,in every way I can imagine. (Please check other 5 star reviews for more precise details,as this review is long enough). It is the electric shaver I always dreamed someone would invent. No cons whatsoever(Personally,the case is good enuf for me)! CLOSER than my manual Gillette Fusion Power razor,or ANY OTHER non-electric I've ever tried/used,and I've had em all,which I NEVER thought possible with an electric but always wished would happen! Zero irritation anywhere!(ANY razor,manual or electric,which claims to shave smooth in ONE PASS,is B.S.ing us). I can even use Alcohol based aftershave lotion with this gem, where-is the other 2 caused redness,then burned & caused more redness(irritation)even when I tried alcohol & dye free cream aftershave "lotions"(with a blade too)! With the Norelco,I thought it was just the "adjustment period" from a manual to an electric,but with the Panasonic,nothing!
I cannot imagine where any inventor can go from here! Maybe a lazer shaver,or a "touchless"? And it sounds as sweet as a Mazerati sports car!
Epilogue;
As for the 700+ Braun users who gave it 4 1/2 stars,and the Norelco users who gave the arcitec 4 stars(I'd give it 3 now,Braun 1 1/2),I can only imagine that most of them must be loyal customers to those brands & never tried this or any other highly rated Panasonic shaver.Or,they're stuck with their units & are in denial. Some may actually prefer it,who knows. But,700+ gave this Braun 4 1/2 stars! I'm sure there are millions(ok, hunders of thousands worldwide) of non-reviewers who had a similar experience as myself,as well as millions [ ;) ] of Norelco/Braun users who are as unsatisfied as I was.There is absolutely no comparison between these 3 shavers! Not by a very long shot!
Buy it...buy all 3 like I did,and see what I mean. You will want to shave 3 times a day at least with the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV or any comparable Panasonic model,if that was possible. Wish I could! It's THAT good/enjoyable! Now,shaving is pure enjoyment,something I now look forward to doing & something I thoroughly hated and avoided/procrastinated doing as much as possible with a manual.
Ok,the finish line;(I know,Thank God) :)
The "retail" price of this Panasonic is $249.00 I paid 129.00,free shipping,from Amazon.I'd pay $249 & higher for this razor.The Braun retails for $299.00 I'd pay maybe as high as $100.00 for it...maybe....IF the other 2 didn't exist( but would probably end up, like always in the past, back to shave cream & manual razor). The Norelco retails for $249.00...I'd pay it,but only if the Panasonic didn't exist, & over the Braun even if it were $100.00
What year is this,I've been sitting here for quite some time....???
Happy shaving to all!
(UPDATE); SHOCKING !!! 2/24/10 This ISN'T ez for me... Just got a Panasonic ES7103K Pro-Curve Wet/Dry Triple Head Shaver, Black on Amazon for $45.00-just to see what it does due to its 5 star review, figuring if it came even close to my ES8249S,I'd keep it as a "backup". I could always return it, hehe.
Well,dare I say that it absolutely BLOWS AWAY the ES8249S !!!!! Yes,you read that right. It shaves me in 1/2 the time & the results are even better (guess it WAS possible!)! It's MUCH quieter,has a much nicer "feel" & gets into the "tight" spots much easier(3 "heads", 1/2 the size of the 8249). I think the "slower" motor speed,10,000rpm, works better then the 13,000 on the ES8249S!(Overkill?) Unreal,right!? I even called Panasonic to return my ES8249S , to get my 129.00 back, but my time has expired for a refund. I CAN exchange it for a "comparable model",said Panasonic, but what good would THAT do? Maybe I'll get 3- ES7103K's in exchange...or just keep the ES8249S as a backup...
I NEVER thought this would happen/be possible(as my review of the ES8249S conveys)! Ok,Slight drop in quality of materials, no "cleaning station" (but it's all about the SHAVE,really,& a nice lather rinsing of the unit works,saves electricity & space on the counter,& is FREE. If necessary, "deep clean" with alcohol swabs,or immerse in an astrigent like "Sea Breeze",no big effort), but I'd rather have 3- ES7103K's than 1 ES8249S! Go figure this would've happened after my review of the ES8249S. I mean,it's not even CLOSE (pun intended). Went from an 8 minute shave to a 4-5 min. CLOSER shave! Had to bump the ES8249S to 4 stars, from 5.
So,get a "backup" for $45.00 & have a good cry,like me, a cry of joy & pain! :)
UPDATE #2; 3/4/10 Ok, I've been using the ES7103K THEN I "finish up" with the ES8249S. I think I've found the PERFECT way to shave! The ES8249S seems to "finish up" whatever the ES7103K "left behind",which may sound contradictory now, but by that I mean the "very finest" of stubbles, & THAT'S ALL! Anyway,the 7103K is still THE BEST,alone, & it's my favorite! :)
Update #3; 4/19/10 Well, I have to say I am using both razors, & the ES8249S has held up better, still working like new, while the ES7103K just doesn't seem to be as smooth as it was new. So, get them both, or just the 8249S or 2 of the others & alternate, because I can't seem to make up my mind anymore. |
Excellent shaver
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| Review Date: December 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Vadim Yarovoy, Canton, MA United States |
| I have sensitive skin and hard facial hair, and that resulted in "tired" skin with occasional rashes and redness when using Gillette's blades. I've used them for many years, and was always looking for an alternative to alleviate skin problems. I tried a Remington's electric shaver about 8 years ago, yet didn't like it and returned it. Then I tried Norelco about 3 years ago, with better, but similar result (significant irritation). Recently I decided to give electrics another try, since technology keeps improving, and found this shaver. After reading reviews on Amazon and other sites, and studying the specifications, I decided to give it a chance, and I am very glad I did. I've shaved with it about 8 times now (every time with Aveeno Sensitive Skin gel) in the shower (love the wet mode), and my skin looks much better already, and the process is much more pleasurable than with Gillette blades. I tried the base's washing cycle once, it's a bit loud and goes on for 2+ hours, however it is not really an issue. The shaver washes well in the shower, and once in a while I will wash it using the base. Excellent shaver overall, and it didn't even take the 3 weeks "adjusting time" to prove it. |
Gives an undeniably close shave, look no further than this!!!
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| Review Date: February 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Joshua Soltysik, Seattle, WA |
I was skeptical when I read the reviews, but i was tired of always having to shave with a Mach 3 Fusion Power razor all the time just to get a decent shave. If you are anything like me and have sensitive skin and coarse, thick facial hair, then this razor is what you have been looking for. The first time I shaved with the Arc IV was after 2 days of not shaving, and I just wanted to see how it would cut. I didn't use shave cream or a preshave cause I just wanted to test it out. I was so astounded at how smooth my skin felt that I just kept shaving till my whole face and neck was shaved. And the interesting thing about it was that my face didn't feel all raw, like I had several small cuts all over, in fact it felt just fine. It was the closest thing to a straight razor shave that I have ever had with an electric razor. Granted, I don't shave dry often, most of the time I shave in the shower with shaving cream. My skin has really cleared up since I have been using this because my face has been able to heal from the trauma of using a Mach 3 razor every day (even though a Mach 3 Fusion is awesome, after shaving 5 days straight my skin gets traumatized). The charge lasts a very long time. Using it 5 times a week in the shower for 3+ minutes at a time I am able to get about a week and a half out of one charge. The base/charger also has a nice option to clean the razor as well. This is very nice and convenient and makes the razor perform like new and smell nice. I have heard complaints about how long it takes to clean and how noisy it is. Well, I don't really consider this a problem. In fact, it might just even be a little nitpicky. Just don't charge it in your bedroom when you are trying to sleep and you will be fine. It does take a while to clean (perhaps about an hour), but I just set it and forget it while I am on my way out the door in the morning.
If you have been considering taking the plunge into the foray of the electric razor world, then look no further than this. The wet/dry option is an undeniable advantage in both longevity and rugged survivability. Take it on a camping trip down the Colorado river and you won't worry about breaking it. It is nice looking, relatively small, gives a comfortable, close shave that will make your significant other want to make-out more and not worry about looking like a sand-paper attack victim. I would highly recommend this and it has changed my perception about the viability of electric razors in the modern age.
Cheers! |
He Loves It!
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| Review Date: December 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Susan C., Maryland |
I bought this for my husband's Christmas present. He HATES to shave- absolutely dreads it. Furthermore, he always indicated that he would love to use an electric razor (faster, easier) but the ones he used before yanked at his hair and was very painful to him. After reading the other reviews on this shaver I figured I had nothing to lose- why not try it??!!
My husband used the razor yesterday (26 Dec) for the first time. He used it dry and absolutely LOVED it! No pain, easy, fast, and a nice close shave. He cannot wait to use it wet. He said he will be shaving much more often and is certain that he has found a real keeper in this electric shaver.
Amazon price and free shipping with Amazon prime truly made this an affordable gift. My husband being this happy - well, that is priceless! |
Great deal
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| Review Date: January 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: J. Dinkel, chicago |
| Got tired of paying $30+ for replacement blades and thought I should consider an electric razor. Also got tired of trying to cram the small can of shaving cream in the ziploc bag at airport security and having it take up most of the bag. Tried a Norelco about 15 years ago and gave up. Was looking at Braun and Norelco but came across research and all the positive feedback from Panasonic owners and decided to give it a try. Awesome. I tried it the first day dry and the second day with shaving cream. Very close shave both ways (as close as my blade). Late in the day and the growth is probably less than when using the blade. Makes shaving quick and easy. Love the flexibility of choice of wet or dry. Also like the option of having the head either fixed or floatng ("soft"). Has a subtle little hum. The deal on Amazon ([...]) was a steal. About 15% cheaper than I could find it at any of the local electronic box stores or mega retailers. The shipping was amazingly quick (even over the holidays). Ordered it New Years eve and received in Jan 4. Great product. Great price. Great shipping time and processing. |
No more shaver shopping at Wal-Mart
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| Review Date: January 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: L Davies, Southern California |
Bought this for the hubby for Christmas. He had been using a $50 Norelco that he'd had since 1998. Previously, he had purchased a $90 Remington from Costco, but took it back because he said the Norelco shaved just as well (he wanted his $90 back!). Overall, he's a very picky guy, even though he has very fine facial hair that requires a shave maybe every other day. This shaver is a big hit. He swears it gives the closest shave he's ever had, and after touching his face, I have to agree: Soft like a baby's bottom. :-) He also was impressed by the very quick charge, and was stoked about the pivoting blades.
I saw this model advertised in the Brookstone catalog for $250 ... and I'm overjoyed that I paid half that price at Amazon! Hooray! |
FAR Better than Braun Series 7
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| Review Date: January 28, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. T. Bogart, San Jose, CA |
| My husband has had the opportunity to test the difference between the Braun Series 7 Pulsonic shaver and this Panasonic 8249. The Braun had trouble coping with the neck area whereas the Panasonic did a great job there. Where the Braun did a pretty good job, the Panasonic produced a fantastically smooth skin surface (I'm seconding his opinion!) That is why I'm writing this glowing review. I can truly appreciate the difference in the quality shave that this Panasonic gives. So if you are buying a shaver for your spouse, I recommend this one highly since you will definitely be enjoying the benefits of it. It gets five solid stars from me. |
Everything I Hoped For And Then Some!
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| Review Date: December 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: John V. Gajewski III, Phoenixville, PA |
I just received my new piece of technology this year for Christmas. Who would expect I wanted it to be a razor. I remember using one when I was younger with my Grandpop, it was one of the Norelco models. I remember that, even though I didn't have facial hair at that time, after using it my face would be sore. I've always wanted an electric razor, ever since that time, I'm not sure why. Probably to connect some how with my Grandpop who is no longer with us.
I did so much research online prior to buying this. I was completely surprised to find that the top model on every website I found was this one, by Panasonic. I figured I would find Norelco or maybe Braun but not Panasonic...
I decided to trust all the strangers out there who were extremely pleased with their purchases and buy my own. WOW is all I can say, the technology has come so far since that floating head Norelco that they STILL sell. This razor amazed me on the first use. They say to give your skin a few weeks to adjust to the new electric shaver but I really don't think it even needs that. The shave is so close, so smooth, as smooth as a blade. Zero irritation and that is only using it dry. You can also take it in the shower with you, or use it with shaving cream. I could not be happier and want to urge all of you out there looking for a new shave. Give this one a try, you absolutely will not be sorry. Yes it's Panasonic, and yes I am 100% happy with mine, the most comfortable shave ever! |
Awesome shaver
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| Review Date: December 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Eric Plummer, Colorado Springs, CO USA |
| This shaver does its job very well! 3 days of growth of a coarse beard-- shaved off with no nicks or irritation. That is something my previous electric shaver couldn't have dreamed of and would have been somewhat painful with my non-electric razor blades. Day to day-- no problem. Trimming-- no problem. Out of several previous electric shavers, this one is superior. With previous shavers, I had to use pre-shave gel to avoid irritation. This one works perfectly, dry. It is easy to clean, ergonomic, leaves skin smooth like never before, and a clear 5 stars in my book. |
Impressive, Thanks Panasonic!!!
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| Review Date: December 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: R. Liscio, Providence, RI |
In the market again for an electric shaver and wanted to change brands..........
I have used Norelco for years, however I always seem to have stubble later in the day. I have tried a low end Remmington for $60 bucks, it was very loud. Good for cutting the easy open areas. I also had a 14 year old Panasonic which offered a great cut and like all electric razors......they would give razor burn in the tough to shave areas. The Norelco with its fair cut sent me running for a blade and would use the electric for a fast shave.
Tried the ES8249S and Panasonic is totally correct, its as good as a blade! Simply put shaving cream on your face and this razor cuts great. Face feels just like a blade cut it.
Give it a try you won't be sorry. |
Nice
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| Review Date: January 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Danny Creech, Ventura, CA United States |
I got this razor for Christmas and I love it. I have always used Braun shavers but thought I would give this one a try due to reviews and recomendation from a friend. I love it. It's quiet, shaves better, faster and closer than my old Braun. I have a very course beard. Like shaving tree stumps and would sometimes get a little razor burn but not with this razor. I still have a little trouble along the chin area, always have with electric razors but this one does a better job in this area than any I have used before. I like the charger and cleaner to. Gives more options than my older Braun charger and cleaner did. All in all, a good razor and I would recommend you try it if you are thinking of changing your current brand or just ready to replace your old razor.
This is a revision to my above review. A couple of months after I purchased this item I had a problem with the cleaning system not working, it just quit working during a cleaning cycle. I called the Panasonic service dept. and told them the shaver was still under warrantee and that the cleaning unit had quit working. The told me I could send the unit back to them at my own expense and if they found that the unit was indeed no good, they would replace it with a re-built unit! I was a little upset to hear that they had the policy of replacing new defective parts with re-built units. I don't think that is a very good practice for any business, just my opinion! Luckally, my cleaning unit started working again and I have not had this problem again but I thought I should make Panasonics replacement policies known to all in case they are thinking of purchasing one of their products. I still love the razor and cleaning/charging unit so I am not going to change my rating on this razor, just making you aware of the companies policies.
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Excellent
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| Review Date: January 19, 2010 |
| Reviewer: smart shopper, usa |
I originally had the three blade version (ES8103S) however I found that it was slow and left patches of uncut hair. I replaced it with a Remington F5790 which is an excellent razor however it is bulky and not well built. The F5790 is an excellent razor that is fast with extreme close shave however I decided to try Panasonic one more time. I have read numerous review on this model that it is supposed to be better than the three blade version. This model makes up for the faults of the 8103. It is much faster, quieter, does not miss hairs and provides a shave that is equal to a manual razor. It is built like a tank. For the price, this is a good value due to the features, performance and should last for years.
*Update 04/03/2010: I had to update my original review due to the blades already needing to be replaced. I have had this shaver for a couple of months now however the blades are already dull. I have to shave over and over to get a close shave as when originally purchased. I still think that this is the best performance shaver out there however a blade life that lasts only a few months is unacceptable. The cost of the blades vary from $30-$45 depending where you find them. Having to replace the blades 2-3 times per year makes this a very expensive razor to own. I really like this shaver however the cost of ownership will make me switch back to manual razor instead. |
More than satisfied
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| Review Date: February 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Deacon Church, NMB, SC |
| I have used a blade razor for fifty years and although I had tried an electric razor twice before, they just didn't shave well at all. Now that I have a heart condition and must take blood thinner, I need to avoid any cuts and nicks. Therefore, after researching numerous reviews for Braun, Remington, Phillips, and Panasonic, I was impressed with the reviews of the Panasonic ES8249S ArcIV and made a decision to purchase one via Amazon.com. Even though all of the reviews highly rated this shaver, and a few highly praised the unit, I never expected the results that I have. This electric shaver is terrific and shaves me as close as a blade in just three minutes. I can't believe it and am more than satisfied with this model and would recommend it to anyone. Contrary to some comments, I needed no time to acustome my face to the shaver. Just wash your face before and in three minutes you are finished. It seems to be the best buy on the market. One comment though, the cost for a set of replacement blades and microscreen, which I would consider to be worth much less than 10% of the shaver, actually costs 35% of the total purchase price. Seems that they need to get their money from somewhere. Conclusion: A fantastic razor at a reasonable price. |
Amazed
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| Review Date: March 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Conor P. Cahill, Waterford, VA |
I've gone back/forth between using electric and manual razors several times in my life. I've always liked the convenience of the electric razor while I've appreciated the closer shave that you can get with the manual razor. Nowadays, I travel a lot and because of the restrictions on liquids for carry on, electric razors are just so much easier.
I've been a lifetime customer of the Norelco rotary razor having practically one of every new model including up to the latest Philips Norelco arcitec 1090 Men's Shaving System which I reviewed and gave high marks to.
Recently my arcitec stopped charging and so I went back to manual shaving with the best of the best in a manual shave: Gillette Fusion Power Razor, Phantom, 1 Razor. At the same time I went a looking for a replacement of the Arcitec and ran across this razor which had many impressive reviews. I was a bit skeptical because whenever I've tried a foil shaver in the past I've been seriously unimpressed with the performance.
But I decided to give it a shot since I was unhappy with the fact that my Arcitec had died (and I had grown a little unhappy with how the Arcitec never seemed to get my neck shaven all that well no matter how long, what direction or how many passes I made on my neck -- even after replacing the blades). Ordered it Friday and it came Saturday. Took a quick try with it right out of the box (there was enough charge in it) and was happy with the first impression, so I decided to keep it and give it a full whirl in the morning.
Shaved with it the next day and I was blown away by how close it was able to shave. To put it in perspective, when I shave with the Fusion razor, I shave both with and against the grain (e.g. down and then up on the sides of my face) so I can get the closest shave. The Panasonic was at least on a par with the Fusion and totally blew away the Arcitec. Even more amazing it was done with relatively low effort. Shorter than it takes me to shave with the Fusion (and much less messier) and way, way shorter than with the Arcitec (about 1/4 of the time). No signs of skin irritation on my neck (typical with the Arcitec) or my face.
Very, very happy! |
My husband really likes this product
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| Review Date: April 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: WhiteLily928, KC, MO USA |
| I bought this for my husband. He was using the same 3-circle shaver for over 10 years so I thought it was time he got a new shaver. After reading all the reviews and showing him the top picks, he chose this one. The shaver can be used directly in the shower which is where he loves to use it the most. He only voiced two minor complaints, but neither was bad enough for him to send it back. First, he noticed the blades feel hotter when using it in the shower than when he uses it dry. Second, his facial hair grows in all different directions and he has more trouble using this flat type to get to all the hairs than he did with the 3-circle shaver. He likes the swivel head, it has a lot of flexibility. He likes the 4 blade/3 type combination. He loves the cleaning machine. It is a little loud so not something you would start before bed time. The cleaning/charging station can be programmed for different combos. The full combo is to clean/dry/charge. He mostly uses that one. You can also just clean the shaver with water and put it on dry/charge. If you just need to charge it, then you can do that, but the cord to the charger also fits the shaver directly for charging so you have options. The display on the shaver tells you how much charge is left and how long it was used. The cleaning fluid is priced low enough that I don't mind buying the replacements. If you use the shaver daily, then you get 1 month from a cartridge no matter how often you clean it. That is because if you save it up until the end of the week, it still has 7 days of dirty to clean so you might as well let it clean everyday so you can enjoy a clean shave every day. |
good price, good shaver
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| Review Date: December 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mattias Wu, |
bought this item [...] a few days ago, very good price [...], and very good expirience / quality.
pro: good price as the top-line panasonic shaver with charging / cleaning base. good shaving, very clean, and quiet.
con: the base is pretty big and ugly, and the charging plug in the base is not easy to connect |
Best electric razor I've ever owned
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| Review Date: December 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: The Cleaner, Tulsa, OK USA |
I went for 6 years with my Braun 7 series. It was time for a new one...but after finding all the great reviews on these Panasonic ES series razors I decided to pull the trigger on one. I got the ES7249S Arc IV on sale for a crazy price on Amazon through J&R (under $100). Waited till Christmas to open it. OMG this razor is wonderful.
My old Braun:
-loud
-cleaner/charger spring that held the razor down broke forcing me to tape it down to clean
-expensive cleaning solution
-took a long time
-only dry shaves
My new Panasonic:
-pretty quiet (not hush quiet, but not as noisy)
-cleaner/charger just needs the razor to sit in it (shouldn't break over time)
-cleaning solution can be picked up on Amazon for 3 pack for around $12
-quick shave
-wet shower shave is awesome
-LCD display is nice to have
-cleaner is quiet...compared to the Braun
This thing is excellent so far....I'd give it 6 stars if I could. My wife commented on how my face and neck were smoother than she ever remembers even with a disposable razor. |
Nice shave for an electric shaver
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| Review Date: January 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Brian Swafford, Kansas City, MO |
| I'm not a big fan of electric shavers. I prefer to use a Mach3. I owned a Panasonic electric shaver before and it did a mediocre job at best but my wife liked me to have at least a semi smooth face when I didn't feel like using my Mach3. The Panasonic lasted me 7 years so I thought what the hey. Surely the technology has improved. Man has it ever. The Panasonic Arc IV does an outstanding job of getting my face smooth. Much smoother than my older Panasonic. I keep my head shaved and this is the first electric shaver that has ever gotten my head completely smooth. This will definitely save me some money on the way overpriced Mach3 razors. Give this shaver 30 days and I think you will enjoy it. |
The Best Shave. Period.
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| Review Date: January 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jim Gray, Tennessee, USA |
Like most other reviews, I've been extremely impressed with the Panasonic ES8249 wet/dry shaver. I also had tried many other electric shavers over the years, with little success. I always found it somewhat funny that the instructions always said something to the effect of, "use for 30 days, as skin may take time to adapt to electric razor use." I could never go 30 days, as my neck would be nearly raw.
My first self-cleaning electric razor was a Braun, bought 2.5 years ago. I've always been high on Braun products, and I will say I was satisfied. The motor "died" recently, and I'd been reading the reviews on the Panasonic models, and thought I'd give one a try. Best decision I ever made. First, the model ES8249 was less expensive now than the Braun was 2.5 years ago. But, most importantly, it shaves closer, with less time and effort, and it is more quiet, both shaving and during cleaning.
Yes, I read the reviews on how expensive the cleaning cartridges are. I just chalk that up to part of the ownership experience of a self-cleaning shaver. If you drive a Corvette, expect to pay more for the tires when it's time to replace them than those for a Camry.
Seriously, you can't go wrong with this razor. Highly recommend. |
A great buy!
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| Review Date: January 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Bennett, Indiana |
| My husband has had many razors over the years, but this one was a hit! He can't stop talking about it. An excellent product! You will not be disappointed. |
It was time for a change
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| Review Date: January 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Cogan, Dan |
| Norelco has perhaps been the most comfortable electric razor I've owned. However, they are slow and I was tired of going over and over the same area to get a close shave. After reading reviews I chose the Panasonic, and I have been delighted from the very first shave. No razor burn. Fast shave. Battery lasts for well over a week. And a very pleasant surprise was the cleaning system that comes with it. Just drop in the razor and turn it on. About an hour later the razor is clean like new, and charged. For travel, the compact travel cord can be packed without the bulky cleaning unit. I'm lovin' it! |
Outstanding
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| Review Date: January 31, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Kathleen M. Sylvester, Tunkhannock, PA United States |
My husband said nothing could shave like a straight razor.
I bought him the Panasonic for Christmas. He loves it. He
said it is just like a razor but so much easier. Would
tell everyone to purchase one. |
Perfect for Women Too!
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| Review Date: February 28, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Lockwood, DES MOINES, IOWA, US |
I bought this to use and I am a female. I was tired of the low quality available in women's razors and wanted something that provided a close shave in less time. I also wanted something that could be used on the underarms as most womens razors pull the hair or pinch the skin in this area.
This electric razor has gone way beyond my expectations. It provides an amazing shave that feels amazingly close to as if I had shaved with a razor. It also is much quicker then anything I have ever found available to women. Just a few passes and it gets all the hair. It works great on upper and lower legs and works amazingly on underarms. It has never pulled or pinched my skin.
My husband has been using it too and he loves it just as much. Does a great close shave on his face and neck in a very short amount of time. He loves it and we will never go back to any other razor! |
"I didn't know an electric razor could do that"
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| Review Date: March 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Jackson, Pittsburgh, PA USA |
Got this today. Waded through a lot of extra words in the instruction book to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Charged it, cleaned it, then shaved.
I didn't know an electric razor could do that. Dang. My face is amazingly smooth in under five minutes. My skin isn't irritated the way it often is with a blade.
Assuming the thing is reasonably durable, this is full of win. 5-stars; would buy again. |
Panasonic ES8249S
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| Review Date: April 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Udai Prakash, UK |
Excellent service from Amazon - thank you. Excellent price too. I live in the UK but got this item delivered to a local US address and collected the item later. The same item is at least $100 more in the UK!
With regards to the product, well, it is certainly the best shaver I've had. My last shaver was a panasonic ES8043 which was great but this one is even better. The shave, particularly with a pre-shave oil like "King of Shaves" is brilliant. King of Shaves For Men Kinexium Shaving Oil, Sensitive Skin .68 fl oz It works brilliantly as a wet shave too with a standard shaving cream. It usually takes me 4 minutes for a very close shave. I deal with odd hair in awkward corners with a razor blade. The shave is completely atraumatic and quick. The cleaning system is great. I don't understand how it gets rid of the hair with the foil still attached but it does! The screen tells you when to clean the shaver. I get about 8-9 days of shaving with one single charge.
I've used Philishaves, Brauns in the past but Panasonic is clearly better. I think it is the fast motor which makes it a little more audible that the my previous shavers but not too loud. |
Better than Norelco/Braun for me
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| Review Date: April 22, 2010 |
| Reviewer: WVU1776, |
Used Norelco for years, then switched to the latest Braun a couple of years ago. Norelco was better at getting the hairs on my neck, but Braun seemed better on my face and came with a nice cleaning unit. The Panasonic combines the best of both. Nearly as good as Norelco on my neck and better than Braun on my face. Shaves closer than the Braun and less irritation than either of the two.
Noise-wise, it's about the same loundess as the Braun, but at a higher pitch. The noise level of the cleaner is about the same as Brauns. If you're looking for quiet operation, go with Norelco.
I prefer this cleaning unit over Brauns. The heating/fan mechanism does a great job of drying the razor. With the Braun, there was always a dampness to the razor in the morning. The Panasonic is bone dry. |
Fast & Smooth!! Great Solution for Sensitive Skin
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| Review Date: July 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: MoLev, |
| Over the years I have tried many, many shavers. Some good, some bad. However, even the good ones (i.e. high-end Philip Norelcos and Brauns) gave my sensitive facial skin irritation. This Panasonic is a winner! It cuts the hair quickly and smoothly with minimal irritation. To be honest, I was hesitant to buy a Panasonic shaver since I was always under the impression that "You gotta get a Norelco or Braun" to get a quality shave. But after years of getting red, irritated skin on my face and neck from $200.00+ machines, I decided to give this Panasonic a shot. And I haven't looked back. The only downside as far as I could see is that it's hard to find the replacement cleaning cartridges in the local Target or Wal-Mart. However, Amazon does have them available for around $8-11 for a 3-pack. Not a bad deal. |
Don't bother with the other brands - Panasonic makes the best.
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| Review Date: July 20, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Kirk K. Lane, Mesa, AZ USA |
I've been a fan of electric razors for a long time now, ever since I had a dorm room without a sink - buying an electric meant I could shave without hoping whether the bathroom down the hall was empty or not. However, neither of the razors I've owned before this Panasonic really did the job all that well.
My first one was a Norelco 8825XL Spectra Shaver (factory refurbished), though mine wasn't a refurb. Cut decently, though never great, and never did that good of a job under the chin. Worst of all, if you missed a day, it would penalize you in a big way by ripping and tugging at my stubble-turned-whiskers; painful. The rotary blade setup is also very complex and tedious to clean properly, and in my case, prone to mechanical failures too.
After about three years of shaving with it, I got tired of dealing with it and replaced it with a Factory Reconditioned Braun 7526 Syncro Smart Logic Shaver purchased from Amazon. Nothing wrong with the refurb and I found the foil-type razor to work much better than the rotary, but it was still not as effective as I'd hoped. It took too many passes to get anything off from under my chin, to the point where I'd end up with razor burn (and some patches that, once missed for a day, I'd have to use the popup trimmer on). This one at least wouldn't penalize me with ripping my face if I skipped a day, but it did mean I would have to spend twice as long working on my shave the next day.
Fed up with this, my wife bought me this 8249S earlier this year. First shave out of the box, I knew it was something far better than anything I'd ever used - three minutes and I actually had a truly smoothly shaved face. Unlike my previous razors, this one doesn't penalize you for skipping a day. If I skip shaving all weekend, Monday morning I spend about 30 to 60 seconds longer (according to the timer) than my normal three-minute shave. I don't have to take as many passes to cleanly shave my face, which means I no longer have razor burn mixed with missed whiskers.
To top it off, the cleaning station is a very welcome addition. The Panasonic WES035P Vortex HydraClean Cleaning Cartridge and Filter (3 Cartridges) are supposed to last a month but I've been getting closer to 40-45 days out of each one, and that's with a clean after every single shave. I definitely recommend getting them with Subscribe & Save here, though unfortunately Amazon doesn't have a "once every four month" option which would be perfect.
All told, I've never been as happy with a razor as I am with this one. |
Great shaver
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| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. McCloud, Corinth, Tx United States |
| The Panasonic es8249s wet/dry shaver is the best shaver i have ever used, Its quiet, Fits good in my hand and shaves really close in about 6 minutes. I bought this for myself for Christmas but im going to buy another one for my dad, Im very happy with it. |
really impressed - really cool for sensitive skin
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| Review Date: January 22, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Christopher Rush, Long Beach, CA |
i got this a couple of weeks ago. i first used it dry on a few days growth. seemed similar to the last electric razor i tried 10 years ago; not too impressed. waited a couple of days and tried using it 'wet' using my usual shaving cream. it took longer than my blade but i was really impressed, i felt as clean as using a blade!
i have sensitive skin and have not shaved two days in a row for probably 10 years or more. within 24 hours of my first electric wet shave i tried electric wet shaving again; guess what, it was perfect! i can now shave everyday if i wish and feel as clean as a using a blade! it used to bother me having two days and more stubble going to meetings and such, but now i need not worry.
it takes me longer than using a blade, probably around 9 - 10 minutes. i think it takes me this long as i'm figuring out all the best angles to get the different grain directions of my hair. i expect this time to come down as i get more familiar with the style of shaving.
i definitely recommend this both for the price and the shaving results. |
Panasonic beats Braun 5
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| Review Date: January 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Taylor, Illinois, USA |
| I purchased both this razor and the Braun 5 series to compare head to head. I tested both dry since the Braun will not shave a wet face. I preferred the Panasonic shave to the Braun period. I will tell you the same results can be achieved with both razors, however, it takes more time and (in my case) irritation with the Braun. I give the Braun a slight edge for self-cleaning and sideburn trimmer. These were only slightly better, but, (to be fair) they were. The panasonic is the better shave and that's what I was paying/looking for. |
Best Razor I have ever owned !!!!
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| Review Date: January 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Ratley, |
| I have used many different razors over the last 30 years, and this tops them all. It gives a close, comfortable shave without grabbing or yanking the hairs like some of my older razors did. It is self-cleaning which is a great bonus, and it hums instead of growls. I also got the best price right here on Amazon. The only thing I wish was different is that the trimming attachment were wider. Other than that, this is an awesome razor and I highly recommend it. |
Best Electric Razor Yet
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| Review Date: February 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: C. Richard Coffey, Kannapolis, NC |
| I have used an electric razor all my life. Remington razors have always been my favorite razors until I bought this Panasonic. This Panasonic, undoubtly, is the best razor yet. |
Fantastic Panasonic Shaver
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| Review Date: February 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R. Lugar, Hanford , CA USA |
| From day 1 this shaver outperforned all previous wet/dry Panasonics I have used in the past, 15 years. The close shave is unparalleled and is very quiet. Its a great shaver. |
Great Shaver
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Joe Daddy, Phoenix, AZ |
| After some research I found the 8249 to be a good balance of price and quality. I am very pleased by the shave and performance. I do not use the cleaner. I would only use it once a week if I did and since the manual says the cleaning pad is only good for a month no matter how many times you use it. I felt like it was too expensive for the amount of use I would get out of it(I travel a lot). It is really easy to clean using a little shampoo and water. |
Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex Wet/Dry Rechargeable Shaver
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: randy anderson, ny state |
| Awesome product. Does wonders for minimizing razor burn/irritation. Also, it charges amazingly fast. |
Great razor!!!
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| Review Date: February 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Booom, Left Coast, USA |
| I switched to this razor from a terrible Norelco, which couldn't even handle my peachfuzz-like beard. This razor ROCKS! Clear, easy to read display, comfortable foil head which is flexible and the self-cleaning charging station makes this just an amazing package. I would give this product the maximum amount of stars, be it five or 5,000 for any review anywhere! |
best shaver i have used
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| Review Date: February 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Cody D. Moore, bossier city, LA |
| in my job i have to shave every day so i was getting sick and tired of using a blade every day, have irritation, bumps, acne ect.... so i made the switch to this beauty. it gives a great shave both wet or dry. almost zero irritation, no cuts, no ingrown hairs. the included cleaning station is a huge bonus and does a great job of cleaning the shaver head. over all could not be more satisfied with this shaver. |
Best shaver my husband has ever had!
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| Review Date: February 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: K. Larsen, San Rafael, CA |
| I purchased this shaver for my husband, who has fast growing & coarse facial hair, but likes to always be clean shaven. He is so happy with this shaver and constantly says it is the very best he has ever had (and he's almost 55)! According to him, it shaves closer than any other razor he has ever used and it takes less time to do it. Next to his car and our cats, it's the best thing that ever happened to him...besides me, of course!!! |
Great shaver!
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| Review Date: February 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: LKJOHNS, Boca Raton, FL, US |
| I recently purchased this for my husband. I had read another review by a man who was also on blood thinning medication as is my husband. A small cut from a normal razor can cause a lot of bleeding. This fantastic shaver eliminates that possibility! It also provides a very close shave and is completely self cleaning. My hubby is very happy with his Christmas present! It was worth spending a little extra to get the best. |
Best razor I have ever owned, blade or electirc.
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| Review Date: February 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: John Gibson, Raleigh, NC |
The razor arrived in excellent condition. After a full charge, I used my razor. It took several days to get the grain of my beard growth down, but after that my shaves's are better than any I have had in the past.
I will buy this razor again if necessary.
Swiss watch nut. |
Panasonic Shaver
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| Review Date: February 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: C. R. Perry, Waco, Texas |
| This shaver cost more than I usually spend for a shaver, but I think it is worth it. It is really a smooth shaver; easy to use and easier to clean. I am very please with this purchase. |
Everyting the Other Reviews Said
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| Review Date: February 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Raymond J. Harshbarger, NC Mountains |
| I have tried many electric razors over the years, but none really worked with my situation. I have a very tough, white beard and very soft skin. This razor is everything that Panasonic claims it is. I get a closer shave than with my Gillette razor and no razor burn. All of the positive comments about it convinced me to try it. After only two weeks I can say I will keep it. I am using the manual cleaning proces and it works just fine, no need for the automatic system and cost. This is a great product! |
Sleep more, shave less.
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| Review Date: March 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Schwartz, |
| I prefer to sleep in as late as I can in the morning, and for a long time a plain old razor shave at night before bed was enough to get me through the next day, but it required a shower or lengthy facial wash (or a lot of pain). I give my face a 2 minute shave with this razor before bed and I'm good for 12 hours. It works great and has a long battery life. One charge a week is more than enough. I have not used the cleaning station yet because a quick rinse is enough. Great razor so far. I'm very happy with my purchase. |
Great razor for sensitive skin!!
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| Review Date: April 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Landon J. Dewitt, Duluth, MN USA |
| I have been stuck with my Gillette Fusion for years now since most electric shavers I have tried only irritated my skin and left much stubble on my face. And the Fusion gave me a great shave with minimal irritation. But then.... I found that some people were recommending this shaver to us "sensitive" types. I was skeptical, and a little nervous. I don't have a lot of money, and spending $150 on something I wasn't sure would even work for me was risky. I did it though, and I will tell ya what. :-) As long as you shave every day, this shaver will not disappoint! I don't get the irritation, and if I use it dry, I get a terrific shave! If I let it go over the weekend or something, I still have to use my Fusion since the hair is so thick and long at that point. But my point is that I LOVE this razor! I would wholeheartedly recommend this product to those who have sensitive skin with thick facial hair. |
Finally, a clean shave
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| Review Date: April 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: K. Carr, PA |
| Great shave in 4 minutes that lasts thru the evening vs. 10 minutes on others that get you to 5:00 without the closeness. I've tried several other high-med end razors (mostly tripleheads) that don't perform. Minor downsides: the cleaning system is a bit noisy, and the trimmer only adequate but overall 5-stars for this one. |
A win by a whisker...
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| Review Date: April 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Elmyr, |
| I've had this a little over a month and it does seem to be working well. I got it to replace a Norelco that was no longer holding a charge (and was frankly falling apart). I thought I'd try something different and the cleaning base was a nice enticement. I read some better reviews of the Panasonic than the more expensive Braun and thought I'd give it a try. The warning that you need to try it for a month before judging it is no joke, however. Even though I was switching from a different kind of electric shaver the first few shaves were less than stellar. I stuck with it and I'd have to say it shaves slightly better than the Norelco did. Neither beats a shave with a real razor, of course. But if you're as lazy as I am in the morning, this might be the razor for you! |
Panasonic Arc IV Shaver (ES8249S)
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| Review Date: May 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: John M., |
| This is the best shaver I ever used and I've used most of the brands out there. Do yourself a favor and buy one. It gives me a close, fast and quiet shave with a cleaning station that performs well too. The Braun Pulsonic compared to this shaver is junk. |
I love this electric shaver!
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| Review Date: June 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Brian, Columbus, OH USA |
This is a great electric shaver. It shaves really close to my face, and I've never been able to use electric shavers because they don't get close enough for my satisfaction. I finally decided that the technology of these shavers has gotten to a point where it would be worth trying to make the switch, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was right.
This shaver has a very high build quality. It operates at a moderate noise level. It is easy to clean, and I only use the stand to clean it once a month. I haven't tried wet shaving yet, but the dry shaving performance is great. It does not miss very many hairs, and it takes me about 3-4 minutes to shave thoroughly. I've owned this shaver for nearly two months now, and I really don't have much to complain about so far.
If I had to choose a negative aspect of this shaver, it would be that the stand cleaner operates somewhat loudly so it would be best if you let it run during the day or if your bathroom is far enough away from your bedrooms. If not, you'll be hearing it hum while you're trying to sleep at night.
Without question, I gave this shaver 5 stars because it has met or exceeded all of my expectations, and it shaves close enough that most people would never know that I used an electric shaver. |
awesome wet shave
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| Review Date: June 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: faid2black, |
Well, for nearly all 10 years i've been shaving, i've hated it. I had gone from using whatever electrics my dad had during high school to using a blade to using a Braun Activator for the last 4 years. Unfortunately, my beard grows quickly and my neck is extremely sensitive. While using the braun, shaving was okay. The shaves were close and it cut my tough hair like a beast without any hesitation. However, I could shave only twice a week as that's all my neck could handle. I tried shaving before showers, after, with pre-shave, without, with after-shave lotions and of course without. No matter what combination, my dang irritated neck would not be ready for the next shave any sooner than the 3rd day after. I wasn't happy with that and neither was my wife.
Then came the Panasonic es8249s. I had seen a few reviews stating something along the lines of: if you like braun, you'll love panasonic. So, i decided I'd give the panny a shot. After using the Panasonic for 5 shaves in just over a week, something i don't think I've been able to do in who knows how long, I am ecstatic. So far all shaves have been done every other day, with the first two being dry.
I was happy with the dry shaves, but not blown away. Immediately, i noticed very little to no irritation on my neck, which was awesome. To counter that, i found the shave on my neck wasn't quite as close as it was with my old braun. For my third shave, i decided to pick up some Aveeno shaving gel and take a shot at a wet shave. I cannot believe how much different the Panasonic is when shaving wet. It cuts faster and closer than anything i've used, all while gliding over my neck and face with no irritation at all. It has made such a big difference that as i'm typing this, about 24 hrs since the last shave, i could do it again. That is something i would never consider possible even 2 weeks ago. The cleaning station works similar to my old braun's, and i have no complaints.
I was hopeful that a shave like this was possible for me, but i never expected it. This Panasonic has totally blown me away. |
Perfect
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| Review Date: June 18, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Adam D. Schmidt, Augusta, GA |
| I upgraded to this from a 4 year-old Norelco SmartTouch XL rotary razor. I hesitated at the large price tag but took the leap and it was well worth it. This shaver cuts closer than any of my previous rotary razors. I also have a light beard and I can shave my neck, right along the beard, without it yanking any hairs at all. I'm pretty confident that if I went over my beard with this thing, it would shave it off with a few passes without any hair-pulling. The cleaning mode is a LITTLE loud, but no louder than the razor itself. Plus, if you shave in the morning, you'll probably be at work while it cleans, anyway. Now, the cleaning cartridges cost $10 for 3, and the manual says to replace them every month. Not sure how long they really last yet. |
Wish I got this earlier...
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| Review Date: June 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: FlavorFlav, |
I used a Braun shaver for about 7 years, and even though I replaced all the vital parts, it never shaved the mustache area properly. At work I'd be ribbed for having a mini-mustache whenever people saw me after lunchtime. I actually figured that's just the way it was, and that after buying this Panasonic that I'd need to keep my Braun in my desk for a post-lunch fix up. I was wrong. The Panasonic provides such a great shave that I never have to worry about a mini-mustache, even after working a 12 hour day!
One little nitpick I have is that the lights on the razor illuminate roughly once a minute when it is fully charged and in its stand -- this tells you that it is at 100%, but given the nature of my bathroom, it is a little distracting when that bright LED blinks. I could easily unplug the stand, but I'd rather keep it plugged in so that I know that it is fully charged every morning (even though it only takes me 2 minutes to shave, so I never run down the battery). This is just a minor nuisance in my book; just pointing it out to others since that's the only drawback I've seen with this shaver.
I compared this against the other Panasonic shavers, and the 8249 gave the best bang for the buck (a couple extra bells and whistles, without getting off-the-charts expensive). I recommend this to everybody... I just wish I had replaced my Braun with this a couple years earlier! |
LOVE IT
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| Review Date: July 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: DRBRAD, |
I've had several high-end shavers over the years with only fair results. I've ended up using them for touch ups. I've always had to use a blade for my primary shave as my beard is very coarse and grows
rapidly. After reading multiple reviews I bought this Panasonic a few weeks ago. I have now discarded all my blades as this shaver does a better job than even my razors. Even after a blade shave and
multiple passes, I would still end up with a slightly scratchy stubble my wife would complain about. For a week I shaved half of my face and chest dry with the Panasonic and the other half in the
shower with Nivea Gel. There was a slightly better shave with the wet gel, but only slightly. Even the dry shave was better than my standard razor. My wife has quit complaining (about this anyway)!
I now use this twice a day because of my rapid beard growth. The included cleaner works well but is slow (about an hour and a half to clean and dry). I have to be careful in the shower as it can be a little
slick with the soap. I don't know about longevity yet since i've only had it a month, but this product is well worth the expense. |
Gave Up All Hope...Until Now!
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| Review Date: July 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Matt J. Rose, De Pere, WI USA |
I owned Norelco shavers up until about 2003, when I decided standing over the sink for a half hour going over and over one spot wasn't worth it. I tried the wet/dry model, and even the one that "shot" out the Nivea shaving gel. For the last 7 years I've been using a Gillette Mach 3 razor, with regular old shaving gel...however I found myself letting the beard grow longer between shaves because of the amount of time it took to finish.
Recently my buddy bought a Braun Series 3 shaver, but never really said much about it...certainly never bragged about how great it was. I decided last Friday after my boss jokingly said "wow your letting your beard come in huh" that it was time to try something new. After searching and reading reviews for every men's shaver manufactured I decided to order the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV.
I ordered with overnight Saturday delivery, and tore the shaver out of the box first thing. I gotta say everything from the packaging to the build quality of the razor are top notch. The razor looks very high tech (a must for a tech geek like myself) and the led screen is a nice touch! I set the recharger up in my bathroom, and immediately started to charge the shaver, the orange glow of the screen was kinda cool looking and the percent charged is a nice feature to have when you gotta fly out the door.
After about a half hour I couldn't stand it anymore and had to try my new purchase, I removed it from the recharger and pressed the chrome button...with a nice little hum the new shaver came to life. I touched the cutting foils to my cheek and couldn't believe how it removed the coarse, long hairs. The spot was completely smooth and clean, I continued, my neck, jaw, and even the stragglers on my upper cheek were cut off, and my face felt like it did when I was 8!
The Arc IV never skipped a beat, never pulled or tugged a hair, and left my face feeling fresh and smooth. I must say my faith in electric shavers has been restored, after years of using a straight edge...I finally found an electric shaver that gives me the same effect without having to change blades or have my skin feel irritated afterward...thanks Panasonic!
My first try of the razor was a dry run, I'm looking forward to trying the wet shave in the shower, if it worked as well as it did dry...wet should be a real treat.
Guys if you need a new shaver do not even hesitate to pick this Panasonic up!
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Panasonic ES8249S - Great shaver
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| Review Date: August 19, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Koffykake, |
| As stated above, this is a excellent shaver. Amazon process my order thru Target. The item was receive in a timely order. "EXCELLENT" |
Great shaver
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| Review Date: August 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Paul Hubert, Carmichael, CA United States |
First, I do NOT find this to be a 'one pass' shaver. If you want a CLOSE shave, like any other shaver it will take time, stretching the skin and multiple passes. Period.
Plusses:
The shaver is very LIGHT - I would think good for those who are arthritic
The ultra thin foil shaves COMFORTABLY and GENTLY.
No matter how many passes I make, the shave REMAINS gentle.
It is possible to shave CLOSER than my high-end, self-cleaning Braun.
It shaves MORE closely in a single pass.
It is quieter, with a monotone hum at precisely A below Middle C.
The cleaning cartridges, since they are dry, CAN not spill and are more compact to STORE.
Minus:
Noisy when cleaning and the clean/dry cycle, since it uses water and not alcohol, takes longer. Though it doesn't appear necessary to clean daily.
Notes:
I have very sensitive throat skin and a very heavy beard
Using a safety razor on my throat ALWAYS leaves it covered with a thin sheet of blood.
I always use the equivalent of Williams' Lectric Shave.
I never use a shaver in the shower.
I replaced a Braun Pulsonic with this shaver. |
A good razor for a lady too.
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| Review Date: September 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: KK, |
I bought this razor after seeing reviews in which the reviewers said it shaves nearly as close as a regular razor. I am a woman who likes to use an electric razor in the winter months when shaving with a regular razor is difficult due to goosebumps. I have been much disappointed with ladies electric razors for not shaving close and for seeming to "run out of steam" after less than a year. It is nearly impossible to even find an electric razor for women. The one bought last summer for me as a gift seems to have noticeably less power already.
I am very pleased with the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex razor. I have been using the dry shave method daily since purchasing the razor. It gives an unbelievably close shave. My legs are so smooth, you'd think I had used a razor blade. It was a little pricey, but if it lasts, then it will have been worth it. I recommend it to all my women friends. I can't speak for the guys. The cleaner machine is kind of neat, although I wish there was a way to use it without having to keep buying the soap cartridge. |
Finnally !!!!!
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| Review Date: September 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: J. Hayward, Dothan, AL |
I hate shaving...I would rather mow the yard than shave my face. I used the Norelco 985RX for years...it was slow and required many strokes over the same area...then I bought the Brawn 7526 with the automatic cleaner. Same drill, slow and requiring many trips over the same area...particularly my neck; it requiring up and down and side-way strokes to eventually rid my neck of hair.
So bad was my experience with electric shavers since I started shaving (I am now 64 years old) that I rarely shave on the weekends. On Monday morning I Gillette safety razor it in the shower to rid my weekend hair....because the electric shavers can't handle two days growth.
Enter the Panasonic ES8249 into my world. This week I have been amazed....unlike the Brawn that near required ear plugs so your ears wouldn't be subjected to noise approaching that of a jet engine while trying to shave the side of your face, the buzz is low and very tolerable. The shave is closer than the Brawn or the Norelco and it requires only a second touch-up stroke to make it happen.
By no means does the Panasonic make me want to shave, but the morning 'little tiny hair' removal drill is now quick and relatively noiseless.
The side burn trimmer is on par with the Norelco and the Brawn.......which is very good.
The self cleaning feature of the Panasonic is on line with the Brawn....which is excellent. Although the Panasonic doesn't sound like you have entered a jet engine test cell when it's doing the cleaning....it's relatively quite.
The Brawn is easier to recharge the cleaning feature...one cartridge slides into its little place under the shaving unit takes care of the reload. The Panasonic requires a little container on the back replenished with tap water and a tiny cleaning fluid cartridge placed under the unit. Two steps instead of one.....basically irrelevant.
I paid $149 through Amazon.....well worth it for the many years I anticipate it will provide quiet, effective shaving while preparing for the next shave by self cleaning. |
No More Norelcos
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| Review Date: January 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: William E. Mitchell, |
| I've had two Norelco shavers and both ended up in failures. My second one which was only 1 1/2 years old had the battery fail. I opened up the unit to find that the battery was not replaceable since it was connected directly to the circuit board. Great Design? NOT ! - Now it's time to follow the leader and get this Panasonic based on all the geat reviews. Thanks you for making it easier to select my next razor. Choco Bill |
Get the cheaper model without the cleaning system
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| Review Date: January 9, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Gregory P. Johnson, Maineville, Ohio United States |
After using electric and cordless shaver models from Norelco, Remington and Braun, I settled on the wet/dry features of the Panasonic models. I replaced my first one with a 3-blade ES8092 6 years ago. It shaved closer than other models, was smoother and more comfortable on my face, and you could wash the heads. It no longers works well. I may just need a new head, but instead of spending up to $40 on a new head, I decided to check out the latest and greatest in new shavers.
I didn't look seriously at the offerings from Norelco and Braun as I have been disappointed the performance of both those models and poor durability with Braun shavers. I was astonished to see that the Panasonic models have lower prices than both the Norelco and the Braun. I settled on the Nanotech Vortex 4 blade models. The blades are extra sharp. One blade has a wider opening to handle my coarse African American graying beard hairs, two regular blades handle the bulk of the shave, while a fourth finishing blade leaves your face as smooth as a baby's bottom. I recall how the Norelco rotary had a blade system that lifts the hair while a second blade cut if off. Unfortunately, when it pulled that hair up, it sometimes pinches and the second blade cuts off some raised skin. It was uncomfortable and abrasive. This Panasonic is smooth and painless. There is a turbo mode with an extremely high vibration rate to clean the blades under running water. It is a significant improvement over my previous Panasonic 3-blade model. I highly recommend Panasonic's Arc IV 4-blade shavers. The shave is top notch and build quality is great.
The cleaning system that comes with this model is a waste of money and time. I bought this model because it was only about $25 more than the ES8243 model without the cleaning system. What a waste. It takes over an hour to clean and dry. It's noisy. It uses costly proprietary detergent cartridges that must be replaced monthly. It is a gift that keeps on taking your money and you don't need it anyway. It's just a gimmick folks. Don't fall for it. You will be happier with the cheaper model.
Amazon has the best price along with top notch customer service, but I bought mine down the street at my local Target for 6 dollars more. |
For a head and face shaver, this product is a winner!
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| Review Date: May 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: G. Brickl, Viola, WI USA |
Up front note: I shave my entire head, so if you're looking for a head shaver's view, this is it.
I received the Panasonic ES8249S about two weeks ago and have been using it each day since then. Previous to using the Panasonic, I used Mach3 blades. When using blades, even the good ones like the Mach3, my neck would break out with painful razor burn/bumps, I'd get acne around my chin and mouth, and sometimes I'd break out in a rash on the back of my neck. So blade shaving with my sensitive skin was a 2 or sometimes 3 day per week deal, there was no way I could shave every day. The days in between I'd be running around with a day or two of growth on my head and face. Not very professional, but this is the way it was for me for 20+ years.
Not anymore.
While I had tried a variety of electric shavers in the past, they all had some kind of downside: the shave wasn't close enough, they were hard to clean, got too hot, or whatever. Always something. So while the reviews here were very positive, I wasn't overly optimistic about the ES8249S. Fortunately, the ES8249S has so far proven to be a different breed of electric. While it doesn't shave quite as close as a blade (I don't believe any electric can), it get's pretty darn close, and the cleaning system is about as dummyproof as you can get. Just place the shaver in the base unit and hit the button and you have a nice, clean shaver waiting for you the next day. Simple.
But I think the biggest upside for the ES8249S is that I can use it in the shower. I think having a warm, wet head helps the ES8249S give a closer shave, and it certainly makes keeping the sink area clean since there are no hair clippings to clean up. I use HeadSlick shaving cream by HeadBlade, just rub it all over my head and face, and shave up. It takes me between 7.5 and 9 minutes to shave my head, neck and face to the level of closeness I desire - about the same time it took to prep, shave, and clean up using a blade.
This shaver has been a huge hit for me, I can now shave my head and face every day without suffering from rash/burn/acne, the quality of the shave is very good, and the convenience of the cleaning system is welcome.
I highly recommend that bald guys give this electric a try. I love it!
Update on 8/12/10: I've been using the ES8249S for about 3.5 months and so far it's been rock solid, a real winner. I did notice, though, that the shave quality was degrading a bit, where it would take additional passes and time to get a close shave. Not really a great big deal, my shaves were taking 10 minutes instead of the 8 minutes I got when the shaver was new.
So I purchased the blade replacement kit (not the foil, just the blades) for 16 bucks and now the shaver is as good as new. Being that I shave my entire head each day, taking between 8 and 10 minutes, and considering that most people only shave the face, I use my shaver about 3 to 4 times as much as a once-per-day face shaver does. So while a head shaving guy like me will need to replace the blades once every 4 months or so, a face shaver should be able to get away with replacing the blades once a year or less.
Great shaver! |
"Frequently Bought Together" item may not fit your shaver
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| Review Date: January 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bella, |
| I bought this shaver and the two other items listed under the "Frequently bought together" section. Be careful and make sure to look at what the shaver is compatible with. The vortex combo replacement listed does not fit the ES8249S. Other than that, my husband is happy with the shaver. |
Shaver
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| Review Date: February 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Robert Burns, Colorado Springs |
| Shaver does what it advertises. Have to return the cleaning unit. It did not work. |
Great razor!
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| Review Date: February 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: G. Jones, |
| This is a great razor. My husband really likes it, and this is his first electric razor. He said that the ONLY thing that is difficult is shaving his neck (all the curves are a bit hard to get), but I am sure he will get more used to it in time. We are happy with our purchase. |
So far...very good!
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: E. Gottlieb, PA |
Been using the shaver for a few months now and so far no problem.
I had an older model that after a year, the cleaning system just failed and I used it as just a shaver that I cleaned manually.
Now I am trying to run the cleaning and dry cycle only 2 times per week, mixing in a razor cut 1 tme a week to reuce the usage and try to prolong the life. We'll see. |
Great Electric Shaver
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| Review Date: February 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Skooter, Virginia |
I've used Norelco for years decided to change after having problems with my last one. Wish I changed years ago. When you use this with shaving cream it's a gret shave - as good as any razor without the nicks and cuts! TRY IT YOU WILL LIKE IT!
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best electric shaver
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| Review Date: February 24, 2010 |
| Reviewer: pack23, AZ |
| the shaver is pretty good, a little loud i think, but it is very smooth and quick. It recharges very fast and its quite easy to clean with water and a little bit of soap. Highly recommend, specially useful for the neck area. |
Happy with it so far
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| Review Date: March 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: G. Goncharov, |
| Bought this shaver a while ago and liked it so much, that bought one more as a gift for my friend. Very easy to use, smooth shaving, easy cleaning and charging. Have nothing bad to say about this item. However, if you don't shave every day, shaving might become harder, because it doesn't always cut longer hairs. |
clean shaven-electric only
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| Review Date: April 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I reviewed this shaver and read the 5 or 6 paragraph review that someone had left and decided to give it a try. That review was accurate...keep it on your site. I have always been an electric and blade guy because no electric has ever done the job completely. This shaver does. It is an impressive unit, a little expensive but now that I have it, it was worth every dollar. I am happy I didn't waste time and money on a less expensive and different unit. |
The best electric shaver so far
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| Review Date: August 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: ex-runner, Vermont |
| This is the best electric razor so far, but the jury is still out regarding the neck hair shaving. I previously owned Norelco and Braun. |
OK, but takes a number of passes for a close shave
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| Review Date: July 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Marc Rowen, California, USA |
| It could be due to the fact that my face is still getting used to the shaver, but I don't notice much of a difference between this shaver and my 20-something-year-old 3-head Norelco. Tried it a couple times in the shower with a gel, and found that I had to go over it again after I got out of the shower. This is supposed to have 4 blades, but there are only 2 apparent. Not sure how to confirm that there are indeed 4 blades, but I'll trust that there are. |
So so
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| Review Date: June 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Laurence Hasson, |
this shaver admittedly shaves the face well, but does not work well on the neck/under chin area - in fact, its pretty disappointing in light of the overwhelming number of great reviews. although the shaver is technically wet/dry, it basically doesn't work if you use it with shaving cream so you can forget that option (unless you enjoy an hour long shave that goes nowhere...). dry mode is obviously less comfortable but it gets the job done. the battery life on this unit also surprisingly sucks. it takes at least 20% of a charge on a single shave.
bottom line, either i grow titanium hair follicles or this shaver is simply not that great. straight razor kicks its ass any day of the week, and i regret spending the cash on this model. |
Razor ok - cleaning base defective Panasonic customer svce won't send new unit
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| Review Date: July 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Wayne Meyers, |
The razor works ok after a little over a month, no complaints regarding that. However the base died just after the month return policy where it no longer dries.
Working with Panasonic customer service has been painful. Despite the fact this is an expensive razor that broke, they want me to mail it into them before they replace it. I asked what am I supposed to use in the mean time, and was told basically that is not their problem, this is their warranty procedure and even after 30 days with a defective unit that is the best they can do.
They even admitted to me over the phone it sounded unusual for this part to break, but refused to send me the replacement unit before I send back the broken one. They refused to just take back the base leaving me the razor. The person I spoke with was rude with poor customer service skills, then put me on hold for 20 minutes when I asked to speak to her manager (she told me she was a supervisor). Being at work, I had to finally hang up since I cannot stay on the phone all day.
Bottom line is if you are lucky enough to receive a working unit, most likely you will be fine. If you have a defective unit better hope it breaks within your 30 day return period or you will need to grow a beard before you have it fixed back to you.
I spent the money I spent because I trusted Panasonic quality, and was under the false belief they offered reasonable customer service. Now I either have to give up the razor for a month (ship to them, wait for processing, wait for them to ship back) hoping I get a new one that actually does work, or live with it in a semi-broken state (will the cleaning cycle function break down completely soon as the heating unit did?). Considering the money I spent for this I am hugely disappointed in both Panasonic's quality - which I could forgive - and their extremely poor customer service - which I cannot. Certainly even the best made products can be sent out defective. The key between a company I will buy other products from going forward, and a company I will never trust or buy anything from again, is how that company deals with these situations. Panasonic has failed and therefore has lost me forever as a customer for any of their product lines. I will not risk being stuck with another defective product they will not stand behind with any level of true customer service. |
High-pitched noise
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| Review Date: March 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R. Reiser, |
| I returned this shaver due mainly to its annoying high-pitched whining noise. The shave was not much better than my 2 year old Norelco for my beard, and the cleaning procedure sounded too complex. |
TOTALLY DISGUSTING USED RAZOR IS WHAT MY SON WAS SENT
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| Review Date: January 24, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Krovetz, |
| I don't even know where to begin, but after I type this review I am off to file a chargeback on my credit card and then file a complaint with Amazon. My son wanted this razor as a gift and has been anxiously awaiting its arrival, only to receive it today and open it to find he was sent a USED RAZOR WITH HAIR IN IT. HOW DISGUSTING FROM A SELLER WHO HAD AN INCREDIBLE RAITNG. |
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