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Comment by Swizec | Hacker News Reader

As someone with a toothbrush subscription: I now change my toothbrush every 3 months. Left to my own devices it was closer to every year.

I am assured by everyone that this is better. I don't really feel like it's something worth thinking about so I am happy it's being taken care of by not-me.

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A wholesale pack from Costco and a repeating calendar event on your phone accomplish the same thing, and I don’t see how shipping an individual toothbrush can be cheaper than that. And I would think many people already have spare toothbrushes lying around in case family or friends visit and don’t have theirs.

That's my feeling anyway. Managing a bunch of subscriptions sure seems like a lot more mental effort than adding things to shopping lists when they're running low or doing as you say. (Unless it's really something you use substantial and predictable quantities of.)

I’d assume most people at least change it when they get a free one at their six month cleaning.

Looks like you're also assuming most people can afford cleanings twice a year...

A dentist cleaning without dental insurance is $100 or less in the US. Yes, I realize there are people for whom that is a non-trivial expense. The overlap between that demographic and those getting some startup toothbrush service is, I would assume, nil.

If you're a consumer of niche subscriptions, I don't think a dentist appointment every 6 months is going to be a financial burden.

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