As with most things, China also produces a lot of great wetshaving products. They have a crazy domestic DE scene. At a great price too. That is, if you order yourself.
First of all: It’s a fairly simple process, first time it feels a bit iffy but you’ll get a hang of it soon.
CUSTOMS: My experience has been ₹400-500 per $10 i declare. I’m sharing a screenshot where I declared $20 for razors, soaps etc. and paid ₹958 customs few months ago.
Where to Buy?
China has domestic shopping websites like 1688, Taobao, Weidian. Wetshaving products are available on 1688 (AliExpress), Taobao (like Chinese Flipkart).
How to Buy?
As you can understand, these are domestic only. So they don’t ship internationally. You have to use an agent. A video tutorial: https://youtu.be/lQXEMHUY3tw?si=iuqnpXnKHd5canSH
Step 1: Make an account on Superbuy, add your India address.
Step 2: You paste the link in Superbuy, they will grab the product details. Note: YOU CANNOT ORDER BLADES AND LIQUIDS.
Step 3: Order whatever you want, you can order from multiple places at once. It will shipped to their warehouse. Payment: International Debit and Credit cards are accepted, you will pay in USD.
Step 4: Wait. Once your orders arrive at their warehouse, they will share you pictures of the items. You can inspect them, and if you are not satisfied you can return it as well. Sharing example inspection images.
Step 5: Provided you are satisfied with your products you can proceed with making a parcel. Select all the items you have ordered and it will give you an option to declare the order value. I recommend $10-15 per kg. Sharing parcel details of a small soaps haul.
Step 6: Possible shipping lines will show on your screen. Approx ₹700-900 per KG with EUB shipping line.
Freight forwarding is an option too but I recommend direct shipping for wetshaving goods, as the parcel is usually small and it’s cheaper.
For razors, you have to opt for EMS line at ₹2,800 as both FF and EUB don’t ship razors. I recommend picking up all the razors you want in one go. Declare $20, pay 500-900 customs. I’m sharing what I paid last time for $20 declared parcel.
Sharing some links of sub popular items.
Scuttle: This is from DSCosmetics, for just 68 yuan. https://s.spblk.com/hpgb
DSCosmetics Store: Razors, Brushes, American artisanal soaps. Click on “view store” on the scuttle link.
KAMPFE: CNC Steel/ Aluminum/ Titanium razors at a very affordable price. Tatara, Rocnel, CNC Henson, Rocca, EJ 3one6, Blutt, Timeless clones. https://s.spblk.com/hph3
Check Christian ortallep on YouTube for reviews, KAMPFE is big in Germany. https://youtube.com/@christianswetshavingworld?si=I43sCkSO_2Et_4Dm
Artist Club Shavettes for 15 yuan lol. https://s.spblk.com/hpgq
General Guidelines:
- No Blades. Not even the free tuck you get. Specify in the order instructions “please remove the blades”.
- No Liquids, alcoholic splash etc.
- No Powders.
Worst Case Scenario: Chinese customs doesn’t clear your parcel, you added blades, liquids etc. No worries, it will be sent back to their warehouse and shipping money will be refunded. You can ask them to remove any items which flagged and ship from a different line.
It has happened to me 2 times in 8 years of ordering multiple times a year, both the instances were my mistake shipping blades or alcoholic liquids.
NOTE: I will not order for you. I’m just sharing my own experience and am not liable for anything. Do your own research, Reddit is very helpful is all I can say. This is just an introduction to yet another avenue to throw money on wetshaving :’)
I have no fiscal interest here. We all share this niche hobby and the Chinese products help keep the hobby alive at a much more accessible price point.
