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Finding
A Good
Sex Toy
Quality
Vs. Junk
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Common
concerns about purchasing a sex toy are-
"I
bought the wrong thing in the past and now I don't know
what to get."
"I want it but is it worth the cost?"
"What will my partner think of me?"
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Lisa
S. Lawless, Ph.D., C.E.O.
HolisticWisdom.com Founder |
If
these thoughts sound familiar, you are not alone. There's nothing
like expecting a night of fireworks from a sexy new toy and then
finding it to be a disappointment. Sure there are sex toys that
are more hype than help, but as often as not, the consumer hasn't
done enough of his or her own homework when selecting the toy.
Looking
At Recommendations
You
wouldn't buy a movie on DVD without knowing anything about it,
and since you can't test-drive a sex toy, you really want to think
about some of this stuff before buying! Here are some basic pointers:
If you are just starting out with your first or second sex toy,
then you will want to check out our featured
sex toys. I post them there as they are what many people
(including myself) enjoy.
I
find it somewhat funny in conversations when people think I have
personally used every single sex toy we carry. If I did that,
then I certainly would not have time to run this business! However,
I try out toys that I think either I personally would enjoy or
what our customers may be interested in and see if they live up
to their hype. I also have friends try them and ask that customers
let us know what they really think of a sex toy after they have
used it to let us know their thoughts.
Often
customers are surprised to see their feedback actually get applied
to what toys we carry and what are said about them. Many of our
toys were actually suggested to us from people who already had
them and wanted to recommend them to our site visitors! Such is
the case of the Fleshlight™.
I had been very disappointed with most male masturbators when
we received an eMail from a man who absolutely loved his Fleshlight
and told us we should carry them. Within one week, we had them
available on our site with a personal review from my husband and
myself about them.
Many
sex toy makers who want us to sell their sex toys, assure us that
their toy is fantastic. Yet, it is important to me that they actually
live up to their reputation and deliver what people are expecting
them to be, so we certainly don't rush to have every sex toy offered
on our site. Rather we focus on what is good and take our time
in adding new products to make sure we are providing high quality.
That is what you should be looking for where ever you purchase
a sex toy.
Find
A Company That Will Treat You Well
One
time a man who was an Engineer had ordered a vibrator for his
wife from us and it turned out it was defective, so we sent him
a replacement a few days later. When that turned out to be defective,
he actually eMailed me with an outline of why he thought it was
malfunctioning. After we spoke, he indicated that he wanted an
alternative toy so we sent him two of his alternative preferences
for free. We then called the toy manufacturer of the defective
vibrator and let them know why their toy was malfunctioning as
well as letting them know that we would not carry their toy unless
they corrected the problem.
It
is important to find a company that will be accountable for returns,
defects, shipping problems, and other customer service issues
because many companies count on you to be too embarrassed to complain.
Cheap
Vs. Quality Manufacturing
The
problem is that many toys are made of cheap parts, using cheap
International labor. That is why it is somewhat scary to order
a sex toy, not just because they may not live up to the hype,
but they may simply not work!
One
of the ways that we have dealt with avoiding cheap and defective
toys is by doing business with reputable companies that provide
quality products. It is in our interest, not just yours, that
we do this as we have a professional reputation to protect. Because
we take responsibility for anything that is defective we also
don't want to have situations where customers are calling to get
their money back or do expensive exchanges because it just does
not make good business sense to put our customers or our company
in that situation.
Be
a savvy consumer once you've narrowed down what you're looking
for because the adult industry has traditionally exploited consumer
fears and embarrassment around sex toys. Some adult stores sell
low quality merchandise at inflated prices. I've heard from more
than one person who bought a fifty dollar toy only to have it
break down in three days from other companies.
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For
example, Vibratex, the original
makers of the Rabbit
Pearl (seen on HBO show Sex In The City) suddenly had
many companies making cheap knockoffs of their product.
One European company had to recall its wannabes when they
found that the metal rod that rotates the shaft could pierce
through the vibrators exterior! Making sure that you get
safe sex toys is important, not just for your safety but
also piece of mind.
If
the sales hype on a toy sounds too good to be true, it probably
is. Once in awhile something really exciting comes along
that's worthy of the praise. There's usually a groundswell
of interest, so try to find reviews if you can and shop
at places you trust.
Visit
web sites that post customer feedback and provide information,
ask friends about their favorites, and look for bestsellers.
Also, make sure the company provides contact information
beyond a phone number or eMail address. You are going to
want to see an address to make sure they are legitimate.
Since
sex toys are used on intimate parts you will want to make
sure any sex toy you use is a high quality product and as
chemical free as possible. Some of the high quality sex
toy brands that you can trust are shown to the right just
name a few, all of which we carry on our site.
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Potential
Financial Disappointment
If
you're hesitant to experiment with toys because of the money or
the unknown factor, here's a little perspective: think of a disappointing
sex toy experience as somewhat akin to a disappointing meal out.
You might pay $60 at a fancy restaurant for a meal that didn't
thrill you, but it wouldn't stop you from trying another new restaurant.
When
you do stumble upon a great restaurant, you've just improved the
quality of your life. Accept the fact that not all sex toy experiences
will be mind blowing ones, but that the more you explore, the
more likely you are to end up with the orgasmic equivalent of
culinary delight.
Make sure
you are doing business with a reputable company with a knowledgeable
sales staff. You should have no problem asking tough questions
and getting accurate answers.
Things
to be careful of-
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Beware
of sales people who are more interested in making a
sale than providing something that works with your needs
and budget.
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Look
out for the sales representative that tries to tell
you that the only way to get a discount is to purchase
something right now. If they really respect your business,
they will offer it to you when you are ready to make
your purchase.
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Avoid
offers that sound too good to be true. Often times there
is a catch to that incredible offer they are making
you. Remember, all businesses must make a profit to
survive and when they start luring you in with offers
that seem exaggerated (beyond typical offers such as
low price guarantees,
free shipping,
free sample products,
reduced prices)
and everything seems too peachy keen... it probably
is.
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Beware
of wholesale web sites for the general public. There
are some companies that sell wholesale to non-business
owners. This is forbidden by the manufacturers that
supply the products they sell and they are at risk of
not being able to carry such products once the manufacturer
discovers this violation. These extremely low priced
products may be stolen or refurbished (used sex toys).
We suggest you use extreme caution when purchasing products
that are well below the manufacturers suggested retail
price (MSRP).
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Beware
of sites that claim the best customer reviews but don't
allow YOU to submit
a review. A good web site will provide you with
a way to submit your review and listen to your concerns.
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Sex
toy shops should offer you a no hassle replacement of
a defective product.
- Beware
of sex toys shops that allow you to return
a used sex toy when it is not defective. Believe it or not
there are sex toy companies that will resell that product. Despite
health risks and how absolutely unethical it is, it is a very
real possibility.
Getting
What You Pay For
Be aware that the sex toys that are made from nontoxic
materials often cost more because the materials they use
to be constructed from are more expensive to the manufacturer.
For example higher grade silicones that are 100% medical
grade are more expensive than silicone mixed with additives.
Just because something is cheaper does not ensure you
are getting more for your money and here is why-
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Cheaper
toys are made with lower quality parts and mechanical
difficulties often occur. Your sex toy could last for
a very short time period as compared to the higher
end sex toys that are made with stronger, more durable
parts. Even if you have a tight budget, there are still
many great sex toys and romantic
gifts from reputable companies to choose from.
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Sex
toys that are put in porous parts of your body should
be made of nontoxic materials to prevent possible health
risks.
- Investing
in separator bags or storage
bags that have antibacterial qualities and allow you to
keep the products you have purchased separate from one another
prevent the toys from having chemical reactions with one another.
Even nontoxic products can cause harm to one another if they
touch. Some people are often shocked when they put two sex toys
in storage together only to find they have melted together when
they go to pull them out.
Sex
Toys & Partners
If
you're buying a toy for partner play, it helps to keep this adage
in mind: "you can't please all the people all the time". What
works for you might not work for your partner, so if you're expecting
the toy to deliver amazing simultaneous mutual orgasms, there's
a good chance you'll be disappointed.
Finally,
make sure your partner is a willing participant, otherwise you
run the risk of making them feel inadequate or insecure if you
whip out a new toy in the heat of passion. Also, make sure to
keep a sense of humor, which comes in handy when you're strapping
on a purple dildo or a cock ring that looks like a bunny. Whether
or not the toys can live up to your expectations, sharing sex
toys with partners is a great way to communicate about your sexual
needs and to explore new erotic adventures.
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The
Holistic Wisdom Corporation