Old faithful, B.O.B. (battery operated boyfriend), the electric banana, joy toy, nightstand drawer daddy, or the vibrating girlfriend. Whatever customers call their favorite sex toy, sometimes questions arise as to when the right time is to ditch their old self-pleasure creator and get something new. They may think the same toy that they have used for years and never fails them is totally fine and there’s no need for replacing, however, not all toys are future-proof. They may even be passing up the chance to uncover a new toy favorite that could bring even better orgasms their way.
If the customer is religiously sticking to toy care, including storage and cleaning after each use, high-five to them, but here are some things to make sure your customers are taking into consideration if they're clinging onto their favorite pocket pussy that looks like its seen better days or that dildo that has been rode more times than a New York subway.
Don’t let your customer cross-contaminate with a broken down bacteria-ridden product!
It's looking a little haggard...
If the material on a sex toy is showing signs of withering away, nicks or deteriorating seams, this can mean that the material may be harboring bacteria. When the words "sex toys" and "bacteria" are in the same sentence, I feel like we need to make a Mr. Clean-esque commercial for customers on how to address these things, and fast, but I digress.
We know that over the past few years, sex toy materials have really flourished. Body-safe and phthalate-free are now selling points and listed boldly on product packaging, but if a customer has a product from years ago that is showing signs of breaking down, material safety needs to be explained. The lifespan of the toy can depend on the material. ABS plastic, glass, stainless steel and 100 percent medical grade platinum silicone are the way to go. These toys will last the customer through years of pizza ordering followed by masturbation sessions on a Friday night, multiple presidential elections, break-ups and home relocations. With so many styles of toys that come in these materials, the customer can be satisfied and safe. If the wear and tear has occurred on a toy that is a porous material such as PVC, jelly, other real-feel materials or rubber, the customer has to be made aware that they are using a product that is giving bacteria a fast track right into or on the body. Are they using the toy for vaginal use only, or are they pleasuring the back door as well with the product? Are they sharing the toy with a partner? We’ve all heard Gordon Ramsay scream about cross contamination. Don’t let your customer cross-contaminate with a broken down bacteria-ridden product!
The motor on the toy has stopped working or is fizzling out…
The thought of this happening to a customer’s favorite vibrating product makes me sad, yet when they still continue to use it — it makes me more sad. It's miserable enough to have rechargeable products die on you mid-use. We've all been there! Vibrating toys are just like any other electronic. It will fade. Customers won't get the same deep rumbles or buzzing tickles that they love so much over time. Charging ports will act up, buttons will wear away, and the more components the toy has, the more chances are that over time, it will lack consistency. At this point, customers aren't getting the most out of the product they paid for. Time to invest in some new vibrations!
The scary mutation, color, smell and texture change…
I think we all have received a question time and again from customers with a slight confusion about why their toy has a sudden odd texture, color, smell and why it’s shape-shifting. If questions are being brought up as to why these occurrences are happening to customer’s toys, there should be absolutely no reason to additionally question if that toy should be inserted into the body. We understand why these things happen since we deal with toys often, but informing customers should be a top priority, especially when they are a beginner user. Telling them that not washing your sex toys, using the wrong lube, placing them near heat sources or storing them incorrectly can lead to problems. Problems of shortening your toy's time span or the risk of the toy materials bringing on infections.
Cleaning: When washing, it is key for the customer to know the material that their toy is made of. Porous materials can absorb soap, which can leave customers with a not-so-pleasant experience when inserting into the body during next use, causing irritation or burning. A majority of sex toys can be cleaned with good old soap and water. Fragrance-free, mild soap is best to avoid irritation, but antibacterial soap or a good sex toy cleaner will never fail. Lastly, always tell them to let the toy air-dry fully. This will prevent the smell and growth of mold, and more bacteria and particles from sticking to the toy.
Texture Change: Most often occurring due to the wrong use of lubricant, this seems to be the most common mistake. With non-porous materials like glass or metal, any lubricant can be used, which is a major pro. With silicone toys though, informing customers not to use silicone or oil-based lube is major! This will cause an odd stickiness of the material and break down the surface of a toy, which then can capture and hold dust and bacteria. Water-based is best for any sex toy, especially porous sex toys, so customers can avoid the damaged toy heartbreak.
Color and Smell: Cheaper-made sex toys can have an odd smell, like when you buy a fun inflatable swimming pool raft and take it out of the packaging. This tends to indicate that phthalates are in the toy. Phthalates are not fun like that swimming pool raft though. Overtime these porous materials break down and leak chemicals, changing the toy’s color and smell, and those chemicals are certainly not good for your body.
Deformed: When noticing that a toy has suddenly morphed, it’s equally interesting and equally horrendous because customers can see in front of their eyes what reactions these materials they put in their body can actually have. It’s really the ultimate learning experience and helps them understand quality of products and how to store them from there on out. Certain sex toy materials, like jelly and rubber, can create chemical reactions when touching and physically warp when they touch, destroying the product. If this isn’t a good enough reason to get a new toy, well then I don’t know what is!
Could be missing out on new toys/sensations on the market...
Just in the last three years alone, think of how much toy trends have changed. Hell, the customer’s current toy that they’re clinging onto may have even released a new edition with added features that they don’t know about. It’s true, no one can tell a customer to stop using their old toy and branch out if that customer is still getting pleasure from it, and it’s deemed safe for use. However, if you keep eating the same lunch every day, won’t you get tired or bored of it after some time? We can say that the same goes for orgasms. If you keep having the same kind of orgasm over and over, it’s not going to be as enjoyable as it once was. The body can get used to the way the same toy feels over time. Yes, orgasms are achieved, but if the customer branches out and tries something new, they can discover deeper more pleasurable orgasms. We all deserve the best orgasms!
These days even the simplest of toys, and well-priced ones to add, come with a lot of bells and whistles. These items can turn the customer who is dead-set on keeping that treasured toy, or is in need to get rid of their toy that is past revival, down a pleasure highway that they were unaware of. We know them as basic selling points, but someone who has used the same item for years may not know anything about the progress toys have made:
- Remote-controlled items
- Better quality body-safe materials
- Extremely strong, yet whisper-quiet motors, or even multiple motors
- Waterproof and rechargeable designs
- Lightweight with flexibility that conforms to the body
- Smartphone compatibility
- Unisex multi-use items
It’s all covered to give that sex-toy stubborn customer options that please them. Of course the process of finding a toy that gives someone exactly what they need/crave can be slightly consuming, but safety and toy care should come first. The customer should have fun with discovering something new and not view it as a chore or feel toy separation when tossing their old item. Take care of your toys and they will take care of you!
Chelsea McCain is the sex toy and novelty manager for AdultEmpire.com.
