Toni&Guy TGSH8901UK Rugged Rechargeable Shaver

Before I owned this razor, I was not aware of my deformity. I thought that when people laughed in my vicinity it was because of my jokes, and when women hid their children from me on the street it was due to my propensity to wear Garry Glitter merchandise.

However this razor has taught me that my face must be deformed, regardless of how similar it appears in the mirror to other people's. It will cut one in every three hairs leaving the other two suddenly very confused and afraid, like the crew of the Nostromo. Unlike that alien however, the razor will present no further threat as it has clearly decided that those hairs do not exist, or lie beyond its understanding. It's ability to leave whole patches of beard uncut, whilst snagging and tugging at others suggests that either my face is abnormal, or the razor suffers from violent moodswings; not encouraging considering that I apply this to my neck.

If anything, I compare this razor to a three course meal. For starters, you use the beard trimmer in an attempt to minimize the amount of pain caused. This starter isn't particularly good as it can be generous with what it leaves behind. The main course takes a good 20 minutes, consists of a medley of frustration and anger with a pinch. For dessert, you get fed up of your chin looking like the aerial photographs of post WW2 Berlin and just wet shave, with lots of cream.

To summarise using this razor is basically challenging all your facial hair to play russian roulette, only you wish you could be using a real gun so that you will be put out of your misery sooner rather than later.

This is quite a good electric shaver but there are a couple of things that potential buyers should be made aware of. Firstly, it is advertised as a `rugged' product; and, it is, up to a point. If you haven't owned a hundred pound Philishave in the past, then this product will feel very solid with a quality build. However, it isn't as robust feeling as the product promotion leads you to believe. The red plastic is a little on the cheap side and thankfully the rubberised material prevents it from feeling like a tacky piece of equipment. A sub thirty pound shaver will not, under any circumstances, feel like an expensive Philips or Braun. However, perhaps I'm being a bit picky; it does feel relatively substantial; and certainly feels much more expensive than it actually is.

Yet it is as a performer that this little shaver shines. On first use, it was ok; nothing really special - possibly even a disappointment. After a couple more shaves, this product became a joy to use. I have to concede, that this product gives a much closer shave than my expensive Philishave, even if the build quality is something to be desired, in comparison. The two foils, close together (without the annoying trimming bar down the centre), is quite a rarity these days and this lovely little shaver is smooth and efficient - if somewhat noisy.

The two most important things to consider when purchasing are:

1. Strangely, you can only use this cordlessly. In other words, you have to charge it and then take it off the mains to use. You can't use it from the mains. I found this to be really unusual - it's the first time I've ever come across a shaver that does this. It's something I don't like.

2. Instructions advise you to change the foils at least every six months. Most other models advise up to two years. It becomes a further problem when you realise (as I did) that scouring the internet for these replacement foils is like searching for a needle in a haystack. You can't seem to get them, unless someone out there can advise? I would really like to keep this model.

On the plus side; this model is very cheap, gives a good shave and the charge is excellent. I have to mention this, because my last two Philishave's were supposed to provide an hours use with a full charge, but they never gave back even half an hour. This claims to give you 45 mins shaving time after a full charge, and it actually gives more! Honestly, it does. I had to give up waiting for the battery to go flat after its first full charge; and that's after around 14 or 15 shaves, at an average of around 4 minutes each. Even after all those shaves, the motor kept on happily roaring away as if from a fresh charge. Its excellent cordless qualities perhaps may outweigh the fact that you can't use it on the mains.

If I can eventually find the replacement foil at a reasonable price, I will be happy to live with it and update this review. Overall I have to say, this is a good quality product and anyone thinking of buying it will not be disappointed.

Great shaver, very chunky and strong. Gives a close shave and holds the charge well. Well worth the money and delivered very quickly. Highly recomend