h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

~worries about the exchange and refund reference~

Interestingly enough, the stores in my area have a strict no-return policy. You have to know exactly what you are looking for before you shell out the cash (and it is cash or credit card only--no checks). If batteries are required, the salesperson will insert some and give the item a test run, to see if it actually does work before you take it home.

Not a sexual test run--they just hold it up and see if it actually vibrates or rotates or whatever. Kind of embarrassing if there are others in line behind you.

Don't worry about the policy, Galaxy Babe. They don't resell returned merchandise, if that's what you're thinking. They just chalk it up to business loss. The idea with companies like that is to provide such good information on the products that exchanges and refunds are only rarely necessary.

That's a funny story, Fraulein Grafenberg! I would be absolutely livid if a salesman "demonstrated" a vibrator to me in that manner. And I certainly don't think such a policy should be rewarded with your patronage. Just my humble opinion, of course.

Mine too....
I don't own a vibrator and I cannot ever imagine being stood in line waiting patiently to pay for one, either.
I'd send my daughter if I ever wanted one!
She wouldn't bat an eyelid!

It matters not, anymore, since I have the GV catalog coming to me.
Although it's funny, that made it sound like I was standing in line a la the grocery store. I'm in the express checkout line, the person in front of me has some coupons, the checker is slow...

Galaxy, would you feel comfortable with your daughter picking out your vibrator for you?

This post has been removed.

This post has been removed.

You should always try out vibrators in the store anyway. Just touch them to the most sensitive part of your body.
Your nose, that is. If it makes you want to sneeze, then it is worth buying!
Don't be embarrassed, that's causes so many problems, we all need to accept sex and masturbation as the perfectly normal thing that it is. Just hold your head up high and say, "Look how much fun I'm going to have!"

And as an afterthought, why be embarrassed if there are other people in line behind you? They must all be there for the same thing.

Cheers to everyone who has such an open attitude. As for me, I know the other people in the line are there for the same reason I am. But I'm still not comfortable with them knowing I chose a *pink glitter* model. Or whatever.

Thank you. Intellectually you know everyone's in the store to get off in whatever way works for them best. But you don't want to necessarily know what they're doing (especially if they have a magazine such as "Barely Legal"), and you don't want them to know what you're doing with that pink glitter doodad.

I would like to second that cheers! Hooray! Give me a "M", give me an "A", give me a "S", give me a "T"...

I'm told that people have been misusing the earthquake simulator too: http://www.h2g2.com/A268814
Perhpas I should rename it

So are they having a "S" curve or a "J" curve?

LOL!

In Cologne we have a shop called "Lady's Toys" and I'm proud to say that a friend (yep: female!) is the owner and I that I used to work there regulary when I was still at University - nowadays I'm still there on most saturdays but I don't really have the time for more.

It's a very small shop but we have a lot of toys and some lingerie as well. Men are only allowed in on Thursdays and Saturdays and ONLY when accompanied by a woman!!! (Exeptions include: my husband, my boss's boy-friend, the postman, any of the male neighbours who's bringing us coffee! )

I've been working there for more than five years now and it's the most interesting job anybody could have! You meet all kinds of people and everyone has something interesting to tell.
Most women are shy when they first come into the shop but usually that soon changes into a kind of "I'm not alone! Everybody here is a bit shy at first"-feeling!
Talking that freely to so many women is an experience I would never want to miss!

I know there used to be other shops exclusively for women in Germany but I also know that a lot of them closed again quite soon.
Cologne is famous for being very open for all kinds of sexuality so maybe it was just the right city for this shop to survive!

Aurora

Hi Aurora and Fraulein G,

Just moving on on this thread a little, it amazes me how many people (not just women) are embarrassed about something as common, harmless and enjoyable as masturbation. So many people deny it, when it's fairly obvious they're lying, and don't even mention sex toys. Why? Either alone or with a partner it's fun, very pleasant, and relaxing. It properly helps with all sorts of other medical problems too.

A friend of mine said recently, "There are two types of people in the world: Wankers (the british epithet for masturbation) and there are liars." Although I'm sure there are many who do not masturbate because of inhibitions from their upbringing, I feel he is essentially correct.

As to sex toys, we know the effect of admitting using them. We did a documentary here in the UK in which my wife and I not only talked about them, but showed some of our collection, commenting on how good or bad particular ones are. The next day we got great reactions from people we met in the street, but one or two strange reactions from a couple of family members. Our crowning moment, however, was walking out of a restaurant where we had been treated like royalty, and being stopped by one woman who said, 'I saw you on TV last night. Thank you! At last someone is prepared to stand up and say, "Hey, this is not only OK, it's good and fun!"'

Thoughts?

Dave

Hi Aurora and Fraulein G,

Just moving on on this thread a little, it amazes me how many people (not just women) are embarrassed about something as common, harmless and enjoyable as masturbation. So many people deny it, when it's fairly obvious they're lying, and don't even mention sex toys. Why? Either alone or with a partner it's fun, very pleasant, and relaxing. It properly helps with all sorts of other medical problems too.

A friend of mine said recently, "There are two types of people in the world: Wankers (the british epithet for masturbation) and there are liars." Although I'm sure there are many who do not masturbate because of inhibitions from their upbringing, I feel he is essentially correct.

As to sex toys, we know the effect of admitting using them. We did a documentary here in the UK in which my wife and I not only talked about them, but showed some of our collection, commenting on how good or bad particular ones are. The next day we got great reactions from people we met in the street, but one or two strange reactions from a couple of family members. Our crowning moment, however, was walking out of a restaurant where we had been treated like royalty, and being stopped by one woman who said, 'I saw you on TV last night. Thank you! At last someone is prepared to stand up and say, "Hey, this is not only OK, it's good and fun!"'

Thoughts?

Dave

Hi Aurora and Fraulein G,

Just moving on on this thread a little, it amazes me how many people (not just women) are embarrassed about something as common, harmless and enjoyable as masturbation. So many people deny it, when it's fairly obvious they're lying, and don't even mention sex toys. Why? Either alone or with a partner it's fun, very pleasant, and relaxing. It properly helps with all sorts of other medical problems too.

A friend of mine said recently, "There are two types of people in the world: Wankers (the british epithet for masturbation) and there are liars." Although I'm sure there are many who do not masturbate because of inhibitions from their upbringing, I feel he is essentially correct.

As to sex toys, we know the effect of admitting using them. We did a documentary here in the UK in which my wife and I not only talked about them, but showed some of our collection, commenting on how good or bad particular ones are. The next day we got great reactions from people we met in the street, but one or two strange reactions from a couple of family members. Our crowning moment, however, was walking out of a restaurant where we had been treated like royalty, and being stopped by one woman who said, 'I saw you on TV last night. Thank you! At last someone is prepared to stand up and say, "Hey, this is not only OK, it's good and fun!"'

Thoughts?

Dave

You REALLY wanted to get that message across, didn't you Dave!

Yep, I think the same way as you do. And I found out that a lot of people "unfreeze" when they hear you talking about masturbation freely. Suddenly they start talking themselves.

But I DO understand people being shy to walk into "one of these shops" for the first time! Sex is still a taboo! And I've often heard people (Women and men) say things like:"so you hear about (insert sexual preference/problem/... here) often in the shop? And I thought I was alone with that!!!"
I think it is perfectly OK to feel shame!
It's fine that you and me are discussing this openly but I can understand that not everybody wants that.

BTW, I got some strange reactions too, when I first told people where I was working ("do you have to wear black leather all the time when you're working there?" "*sigh*"), but on the whole the reactions were positive!
My family has no problem whatsoever with my job and my parents (and on one occasion even my grandmother!) have visited the shop!

Aurora

I hope you get a good discount Aurora.

I applied to go onto a TV documentary about sex recently, they even came to my house to interview me. But I've heard nothing since, so I guess they don't want me.
I'm glad you had such positive reactions Dave.