I called my local sex toy store some time after I first moved down here to ask if they carried any silicone butt plugs. Normally, I would order online, but I needed something pretty quickly. I did not own any plugs at that point, and I knew I didn’t want jelly. The conversation went like this:
“Hi. I was wondering if you carried any silicone butt plugs.”
“Um. I don’t know. Uh, yeah, sure, I think so.”
“Could you check and see for me?”
“*sigh* One sec.”
“Um. It says “jelly plug.” It looks like silicone. So, yes, we do.”
“Yeah, no, you don’t. I specifically asked for silicone because I *don’t* want jelly. They’re not the same thing.”
“Whatever. They LOOK the same.”
And this is the problem with most toy stores. Uneducated staff that is wholly unqualified to answer questions or help customers with their purchase. They sit behind a counter, trying not to make eye contact with you, and know absolutely nothing about the products they carry. And not only is it unsafe, it makes people sketched out about actually purchasing toys from there.
The newer, female friendly stores that are popping up all over the place now are fantastic, but the fact that stores like this one still exist in so many places is really a shame.
I'm Britni, a snarky bitch and generally awesome person. I write about sex, love, and bullshit. If sex-positivity, discussions about BDSM and kink, queer issues, and topics that are completely inappropriate by society's standards make you uncomfortable, then this blog is not for you.
Good Vibes 
7 Comments
Ughhhhh.
Wow. That really is a shame. But that’s why I’m happy there are people like you who help spread knowledge about these kinds of things. Back when I bought my first sex toys, I had no clue what the differences were between materials, or why that mattered. I ended up with one cheap jelly toy (ick) and one comparatively low quality silicone toy (despite claiming to be non-porous, it had tons of pores, and was really hard to clean thoroughly). After reading all those toy reviews on your blog for the better part of a year, I feel much better equipped to make good decisions about toy purchases. While at my local Good Vibrations store the other day, I bought two Tantus toys (my first) because I remembered how much you praised the quality. You’re absolutely right, there’s a HUGE difference between materials! There’s even a huge difference between two different brands of silicone toys (the Tantus toys actually are non-porous, whereas my old Good Vibrations brand toy was definitely not). I got so excited about having NICE toys that now I’m trying to tell all my friends about the importance of paying attention to what toys are made of (and shopping at reputable stores!).
Thanks for spreading good information!
Yay! I remember when I got my first Tantus toy and was amazing at how nice it was! And I had someone else tell me tonight that reading my blog helped them pick out a nice toy when they went shopping for one recently. Always glad to help
In PDX, there’s a very long-time chain store named “Fantasy for Adults Only.” I think over the years I’ve known at least a dozen people that have worked at their various locations. It’s one of their requirements that you know what you’re talking about and be willing to actually deal with the customers.
They’ve been around for… 20 years, now, maybe?
Hmm. This is making me think… Maybe I should try my own silicone butt plug. I’ve never used one of any material but there is a (hot) first time for everything.
I’ve only bought things online, because GA has laws banning certain sex toys and condoms, and I haven’t frequented the sex shops in my home patch of West Michigan, because their product selection sucks. Sigh. I have a new purpose in life: move to Seattle and work at Babeland.
I miss the store I went to in Minneapolis called the Smitten Kitten. They have an online store, but the atmosphere of the store itself was amazing… So NOT like Sex World which has pretty much turned into a novelty store, or any of the stores I’ve found around here so far.