[WildChild]

A freind and I were talking and the subject of sex came up, it usually does with me, somehow or the other, I've been in some "adult" shops but she never had. I got to wondering what is it about the so called porn/adult/sex shops that attracts people? I mean in the sense that you would choose to visit one over another? There are some I go into with no qualms and others I wouldn't go near and still others I might with the man in my life but not alone. Have you ever visited any of these stores? What first got you there? Curiosity? Looking for a specific item? What makes one shop better or preferable over another?

For myself, I prefer someplace where parking isn't too obvious as my car is very identifiable and I work with some very conservative people. It has to look clean, no derelicts hanging around, well lit, I prefer to have a woman sales person available, preferably one who doesn't look like she might torture small creatures in her spare time. I don't want to have to travel past men searching through the porn flicks to get other parts of the store. I'm a hands on, very sensory person, shopping online for me is iffy. I like to see and compare things, be able to touch. Just curious, what are some thoughts on this?

[miffed23]

I mean in the sense that you would choose to visit one over another? There are some I go into with no qualms and others I wouldn't go near and still others I might with the man in my life but not alone. Have you ever visited any of these stores? What first got you there? Curiosity? Looking for a specific item? What makes one shop better or preferable over another?

Unfortunately, living in a field has it downfalls and we've only the one adult shop in town (still 30 miles away though )

Personally, i dont have any problems wandering into the shop. I guess i would have problems if the shop looked a little dodgy, such as dark lighting, chains and padlocks hanging in the window, tacky exterior etc...

As for why i first visited, i wanted some new underwear and a new vibrating friend The staff dont bother you which is nice, but will offer advice if you need it.

Would i be right to say that the less confident tend to stay away from these shops and would prefer to order online than in person?

[Mme.Marie]

I personally enjoy exploring adult shops. Usually with my boyfriend but its also with girlfriends or by myself. However , I judge them just as I would any other place I wanted to shop at. Is it clean ? Is it maintained ? Well lit ? Well stocked with variety ? And are the sales people helpful but at the same time discreet and respectful. And in the same way I prefer say , Publix to WinDixie , is the same way I will prefer one store to another. I guess both my boyfriend and I just see it as a consumer good. That is what it is. You want to go somewhere clean , well stocked , good reputation , and be able to ask about and compare what you are getting.

And as to the first one I went to , well I just was curious . I have since then been a few of the ones in my area. I dont mind if someone sees my vehicle there or me there . What I do in my personal time is no one's concern. I am well behaved in public. Obviously I do not go about just announcing where I went ( I am 18 so I think it would be a bit odd to say something like that to my mom or grandma but ... I wouldnt deny I went there either )

i also agree with Miffed. It is really a confidence thing. And I would dare to say you have to be someone who enjoys sex and is a little more liberate sexually. I have confident friends who wont go into sex shops , but generally people who want to know more and try new things will. So , I guess thats my take on it.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

That's a good point Miffed23..

However, I am way a confident person, but I wouldn't go into one here in Adelaide, may do so say, in Melbourne, where no one knows me.

I think that for me, it would be a case of what if a business collegue, client, saw me?

Why would I care?

Don't know but I do.

CW

[WildChild]

I was a bit hesitant at first, not knowing what I walking into. But it was fun and the sales woman was knowledge and apparently had tried quite a few of the products. While there was one kind of sleezy looking guy in there, everyone else looked pretty normal. What would it take for you to finally give it a try? Would it be preferable to have a store that was designed more for women? Right now the stats are that 80% of the customers are men. But I know a lot of women have an interest.

[rcoreyus]

There are some stores (in big cities) that cater to women (like good vibrations). Some of the stores in Germany are really nice - much less sleazy feeling than the US stores.

Strangely I've found the somewhat edgy stores that cater to the BDSM crowd to be less sleazy - or maybe you don't feel as self conscious buying a vibrator if the person in front of you in line just bought an electrical shock....um..whatsit.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

There are some stores (in big cities) that cater to women (like good vibrations). Some of the stores in Germany are really nice - much less sleazy feeling than the US stores.

Strangely I've found the somewhat edgy stores that cater to the BDSM crowd to be less sleazy - or maybe you don't feel as self conscious buying a vibrator if the person in front of you in line just bought an electrical shock....um..whatsit.

um whatsit? is a um electrical shock?


well from those stores anyways...

haha, good for you rcoreyus.. guess you understand big cities verses, small...

CW

[rcoreyus]

Several companies make gadgets designed to apply electric current to the sensitive bits (on men or women) - effect is supposed to be anywhere from pleasure to pain to inbetween.

BTW - public safety anouncement - do not try building your own electrical toys unless you really know what you are doing. Even the commercial ones should only be used if you have read the instructions in detail.

[anonymouswhitefemale]

Chandler, so naive... haha.


Ignore rcoreyus, you can make excellent electric stimulators from household electronics. Just cut the wire to your lamp, strip the end of the cables and apply to body part.

I don't have a problem with going into sex shops, in fact I find it quite fun. Even though I'm a guy, I much prefer female attendants, as even if a woman was a complete deviant it wouldn't have the same creep factor as some sweaty guy...

I don't like to be bothered by someone if I'm looking around, and sometimes those guys do seem to hover around. I'd also generally prefer not to be given a massive luminescant bag with a picture of a vagina or something on it too...

I generally prefer to go with a partner, that way it becomes a fun game.

The bondage rooms are pretty funny, in that if you want a playful whip or something you're put next to anal plugs the size of tree stumps, in for an inch in for a mile. Persuade a girl to come and get some handcuffs, then she'd sh*t herself when she saw the associated stuff.

[silvertae]

I like to go into them with a girlfriend. It makes things less awkward because you're not in there all by yourself and you can joke about the things you see together. I've gone in with sexual partners before but the poor guys end up feeling kinda awkward and then that makes me feel more awkward.

I actually prefer the stores that are on main streets and easily noticed. They seem less likely to be seedy joints. There's one down a dark alley in my city and you can bet I'm not going in there. And any store that carries a lot of toys instead of all videos is bound to be better and cater to more interests.

There's a store catering to women in the UK and Ireland called Ann Summers. They have toys, books, lotions & potions, lingerie, etc. It's nice because it feels more welcoming but it doesn't actually have a wide enough variety of toys so I still have to shop online for some things.