Yesterday’s shave post by Leisureguy introduced me to Kell’s shaving soap. I immediately went to their web site to place an order, only to discover that they too had succumbed to the temptation to treat Canada as a frozen backwater that can only be served by the hardy adventurers of United Parcel Service (UPS)…familiar as they are with the treacherous ways of the crafty Canadian skulking behind trees, waiting to steal their precious cargo.

Battle weary UPS drivers, Barry and Max

UPS shipping rates are deceptive (and probably the other courier companies as well). On the surface they appear, although expensive, not unreasonably so for a courier company. But anyone who has ordered product from the USA, delivered by UPS, will also have encountered the treacherous “brokerage fee” which is never made explicit up-front. This is essentially the same as the infamous “handling” fee well-known to late-night infomercial aficionados. Want to know why Shamwow can afford to offer you free towels for life if you pay the S&H? BECAUSE THE PROFIT IS ALL IN THE S&H!! Anyway, UPS brokerage fees are usually in the neighborhood of some $25, bringing your $18 order of shaving soap to a whopping 50-60 bucks once it crosses your doorway. Brown gets me pretty red is all I can say!

I emailed Kell’s to bring this to their attention. After all, I get the feeling that Canadians represent a disproportionally large part of the gourmet shave community, and Kell’s may be missing out on a terrific opportunity. I suspect that with global warming, more of us Krazy Kanuks are shedding our fur coats, snowshoes, and terrific beards that have kept us warm all these years (even the women), and seeking the light of the well-shaved countenance.

Within minutes I received a reply from Dan at Kell’s (I’m assuming he’s the owner), who not only apologized for the UPS shipping policy but offered to ship my order via post at a fraction of the cost. BRAVO!!! As I wrote back to Dan, “Now, that’s entrepreneurship”. I have commented many times that the traditional shave community is replete with people living the true spirit of entrepreneurship which comes from a visceral understanding that the customer always comes first.

I will report back on the soap’s performance as soon as it arrives.