Philips Norelco 8140XL SpeedXL Men's Shaver
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List Price: Our Price: $128.00 You Save: $11.99 (9%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Philips Norelco 8140XL SpeedXL Men's Shaver
Customer Review: Decent Shave - Cheap Build
Summary: 3 Stars
My wife bought the Philips Norelco 8140XL for me as I'd been complaining (her patience ran out) about the battery failing in my Norelco 7885XL shaver. I tend to complain a long time before I get around to getting something like that fixed.
The first shave with the 8140XL was just ok. The shaver runs quietly until you actually shave. The heads are straining in their cheap plastic support frame. Philips Norelco has really cheapened the product if this is any example.
The build quality of the 8140XL is just plain cheap. The plastic seems to be the same type found in the cheapest consumer electronics components these days .. that silver powdery look. That must be why the shaver doesn't weigh much The shaver is constructed of it as is the 'automatic charging stand' that's just a base with a pass-through wire from the plug-in charger. The plug-in charger cable isn't coiled. It's a cheap long black thin cable, way too long for the average bathroom vanity, and probably won't last.
I'm not sending this back. It's something to use while my 7885XL gets repaired and will sit in the cabinet beyond that. The 7885XL shaver is well constructed. The plug-in charger has a nice coiled cord.
Customer Review: Whoao!!! Great shave.
Summary: 5 Stars
First I have to say that my previous experiences are minimal, I used to use razors then switch to electrical shaver under my skin doctor's advised. I was using a CruZer3 from Braun, I love its design, ergonomic and sturdy feeling but it took me very long time to shave and it left whiskers around my neck area. When I tried the Norelco 8140XL just could say whoao, I mean whoao, it took me no time to get a smooth close shave. The things I didn't like were the package, it is very hard and difficult to open, the razor seems very "Light" constructed when compare with the Braun (I think it is more a psychological issue, what really matters is how well it performances), but it amazed me how close and fast it shaved me, even the neck area.
Keep in mind that the shave won't be as close as a razor's, but it's pretty close and smooth (No irritation at all).
I decided to get this model because it uses the same shaving technology as the more expensive Norelco shavers but at a great price, the major differences are led displays, sensitive adjustments, among other non important features to me, overall it is a great deal.
(Finally to be fair, it is like comparing a Chevy to a Benz, both shavers are in different categories)
Customer Review: Short lived, not the best shave
Summary: 2 Stars
On the plus side, like most mid-line Norelco shavers, it delivers a decent shave, is fairly quiet, and deals with longer hairs fairly well. I've been a loyal Norelco rotary fan for close to 20 years.
Times have changed since Philips bought Norelco. The early Norelcos were the best shavers I could find and lasted a long time. The last several Norelco shavers I've bought, however, have either gone dull and/or the batteries have grown week within a year of buying them. I honestly believe Philips/Norelco is doing this on purpose to sell more expensive replacement blades and shavers? The sad thing is you buy a $70 shaver and the replacement blades run about $40. And, in my experience, the batteries (which cannot be replaced) die before the second set of blades wear out. So you're out $110 in about 18 months and have to buy a new shaver.
Fed up spending a small fortune these last several years on Norelco products that just don't last I tried the latest Braun "360 Complete" shaver and so far am very pleased. To my surprise it shaves MUCH closer than my 8140XL and with less irritation. I don't know how long it will last, but based on the quality of the shave, and their short life, I'm done with Norelco.
Customer Review: Poor shave
Summary: 1 Stars
I had owned a Norelco rotary shaver years ago (1970s) and it worked well; eventually the battery would not take a charge (rechargeables back then were always having this problem). I replaced it with a regular (non-rotary) rechargeable electric razor. When that one finally died, I tried a Norelco rotary again--and it would not give me a good shave and I returned it. I went through a few more non-rotary electric razors since then, usually Remington models and one Braun (the latter was really nice, but expensive and also expensive to maintain as it was one of the self-cleaning models and the cleaning solution was expensive and never lasted quite as long as they claimed). My current razor, a Remington non-rotary has seen better days so I decided to get a new one and tried this Norelco rotary. Big mistake (I should have learned from my last Norelco rotary shaver experience!). I have a tough beard but VERY sensitive skin. I could not get a close shave with this shaver. I had to keep going over the same area multiple times and it still did not shave as well as the old Remington model (which has not had the blades replaced in over a year). Now I'm stuck with this piece of junk, since Amazon doesn't take back opened merchandise.Customer Review: A step up
Summary: 5 Stars
I finally replaced my old, widely travelled, Norelco Advantage Shaver with the 8140XL. The table on this page is very helpful, as was Brendan's detailed review. After the usual struggle with the shrink-wrap, I charged it and put it to work. What a difference! I was amazed at the closeness, speed, and quietness of this newer generation of shaver. I consider it a huge step forward from the older versions. Somewhere in the battle with the shrink-wrap, I must have lost the little cleaning brush, they talk about in the manual. I expected to have it and maybe a little vial of mineral oil packed in the soft case, but no luck. However, it rinses easily, and using any mineral oil will be just fine. Also, for traveling, not having to physically switch it to 220VAC is a nice touch.
What I do not like: The goofy stand. It looks like some store display stand, and lacks the stability and heft of the older Norelco shaver's charging stand. I also don't like the pins in the charging well of the stand. Flush contacts would have been a better and stronger choice.
All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and with Philips' 15% off promotion, consider this an excellent deal.