Please Tell us you’re not buying sex toys on amazon…

It’s time for a brand new sex toy, how exciting! Perhaps it’s late, your reliable one just crapped out, you’re already in bed, and Amazon is just a click away. Or maybe it’s your first toy and you’re a little bit too shy to go into a sex shop, you honestly don’t even know where you’d go. Or maybe you’ve been shopping around and you noticed that for some mysterious reason, Amazon is selling the same toy for way cheaper than everywhere else. With one-click ordering, next day delivery, and discreet packaging, it seems like the easiest option. We get it…

But before you add that suspiciously well-reviewed "7-Speed Massager" to your cart, let's talk about the worst kept secrete. The truth is, where you buy your sex toys matters just as much as which one you choose. Spoiler: Amazon is likely to rip you off at best, and give you a UTI at worst.

Amazon Fails at Pleasure

We know you’ve probably heard a million times that you shouldn’t shop on Amazon, we promise we’re not just trying to shame you. Listen, shitty business practices aside, we understand that Amazon is super convenient. But there are reasons specific to the sex toy industry that make it a bad idea to buy toys there. So if you’ll allow us to elaborate, we hope to shed some light on this particular issue.

It’s a Counterfeit and Knock-Off Nightmare

There’s a good chance that if you don’t work in the adult industry, you may not know the dangers of buying toys on Amazon. But to keep it simple, Amazon’s marketplace is a wild west of suspicious inventory. First, Amazon isn’t an authorized retailer of most major toy brands. This means you’re usually purchasing them through a third party company. It also means that products from different sellers—including counterfeiters—are often stored together in the same bin. That "brand name" vibrator you ordered could be a cheap, unsafe knock-off made with questionable materials, right alongside the genuine article. There’s no reliable way to tell what you’re going to get. And since Amazon isn’t an authorized retailer, your warranty (if you even get one) will be void at purchase, meaning you won’t be able to replace your toy if something goes wrong.

The Question of "Body-Safe" Materials

This is the most critical health factor. Toys that go inside your body must be made from non-porous, phthalate-free materials like 100% medical-grade silicone, glass, or stainless steel. Porous materials like jelly, TPR, or PVC can harbor bacteria and mold, even after cleaning, leading to infections and irritation. Because Amazon does very little (if any) quality control on their products, you have no way of knowing what you’re getting, especially if you unknowingly buy a knockoff. Plus, on Amazon, product descriptions are often misleading. A toy listed as "body-safe silicone" doesn’t have to conform to any standard. It could be a cheap silicone blend or not silicone at all, there’s no way for you to know.

Our shops rigorously vet their products and are transparent about materials, ensuring what you buy is truly safe for your body. We only carry products that undergo strict quality control and regularly destock brands if they change manufacturers that no longer match our standards.

The Scammy Reviews

What makes it even harder to vet products on Amazon is their use of algorithms that sell “recommendations” and “best sellers” rankings to companies willing to pay to play. Amazon reviews are notoriously unreliable for sex toys. Sellers often offer incentives for positive reviews, straight up farm them, or use reviews recycled from completely different products. The practice of purchasing reviews to boost rankings isn’t unique to the sex toy category, it’s an issue across Amazon and has deteriorated the shopability of countless categories over the past year. But the consequences are far more insidious when you’re looking for a toy that’s going inside your body. Basing a intimate health purchase on these fabricated reviews is a gamble you shouldn't take.

The Lack of Education

Amazon is a transaction engine, not an education platform. Its algorithm might suggest "customers also bought," but it won't tell you why a toy is a good fit for your body or desires. It can't explain the difference between internal and external vibrators or guide you toward a toy that matches your sensitivity and preferences. Plus, you can’t see what you’re buying ahead of time, which can make it a wild surprise when you receive an enormous (or conversely tiny) dildo in the mail. While you could argue this is an issue with online shopping in general, we make sure to offer accurate, detailed product descriptions on our website, as well as educational shopping guides that help you figure out which products are right for you. You can call either of our stores while we’re open and our knowledgeable employees are happy to answer your questions, the same can’t be said for Amazon.

The Ethical Dilemma

By now it should be no secrete that purchasing from Amazon, means supporting a horrible corporation with a history of downright exploitative labor practices, a marketplace that pays no mind to the ethics of the manufacturers, and illegal union busting practices. We could write an entire book about the sketchy shit Amazon has been up to, but I have a feeling you’re well aware already. When you buy from them money ends up not only in a faceless system, but actively doing harm to communities and environments that are the most vulnerable. It’s not worth supporting a company with a bad business model when the alternative is at your finger tips. When it comes to pleasure, it’s important to shop somewhere with a mission you believe in.

The She Bop Difference: More Than Just a Store

Small local sex shops, like She Bop, whether online or brick-and-mortar, are built on a completely different foundation than Amazon. Our goal isn't just to sell you a product; it's to empower you through your pleasure. While we hope you’ll shop with us, we are part of a network of other passionate individuals who have been revolutionizing the industry for multiple decades now. Beyond the creepy adult stores in strip malls from the previous century, we want to create an experience that centers your pleasure from the moment you walk through the doors.

Radical, Unbiased Expertise

Our staff is made up of educators and passionate sexuality advocates, not just salespeople. We are trained to answer your questions without judgment, whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned explorer. Every month, we invite one of our brand partners to give us a training on their products so we can better understand how they fit into people’s sexual lives. You can ask us anything, and we’ll provide knowledgeable, honest answers to help you find the perfect match. Our goal isn’t to sell you a specific product, we only carry brands that we stand by and our mission is to help you find what works best for your body, that won’t necessarily be the same as the customer that came in before you or the one that comes in after.

A Vetted, Quality-Guaranteed Collection

She Bop does the hard work for you. We curate a collection from reputable, body-safe brands that we personally enjoy working with. Not only are the products great, but so are the people behind the scenes. We reject toys made with porous or toxic materials. When you buy from us, you can trust that the product is what it says it is, and it’s safe to use. This peace of mind is priceless. It also means that we’re constantly adding new exciting brands, and giving smaller companies a chance to breakthrough. We often carry products from queer, BIPOC, and women-owned companies, especially when they’re just taking off. This allows us to not only offer products you might not see in other stores but to stand behind companies whose values we share.

Education as Our Core Mission

Our shops are hubs of learning. We curate our website to feature detailed blogs, buying guides, and material explanations. We’re always happy to take suggestions for articles and classes that is specifically interesting to our customers. We also work with some of the leading sex educators in the industry so we can curate on-going classes and workshops. Learning is a core value and we aim to share that knowledge as generously as we can. We hope that your in-person shopping experience feels welcoming and educational, designed to demystify sexuality and empower you.

Inclusivity and Representation

It’s no secrete that we prioritize inclusivity, it drives everything we do. Our marketing, product selection, and staff training reflect a commitment to serving people of all genders, sexual orientations, body types, ages, and abilities. We celebrate pleasure as a universal human experience, not a niche, male-gazed one. Whoever you are, you’re welcomed and we look forward to helping you find a toy or accessory to help you embody your pleasure. Plus, inclusivity is a reciprocal act. When you shop with us, your money not only supports a small business that advocates for sexual wellness, LGBTQ+ rights, and body positivity. You're also investing in our community and a vision of the world where pleasure is a positive, healthy part of life.

Lastly, Your Privacy is Actually Protected

The myth that only Amazon has discreet shipping is just a myth. Independent sex shops were the pioneers of discreet, plain-packaged shipping. We’ve been doing this since th dawn of time. And for us, privacy extends beyond the shipping box, it also means your data privacy. Unlike Amazon, we’re not tracking your online activity to pray on your vulnerabilities and exploit you for a quick buck. Nor do we sell off your data to brokers or third-parties. Your data stays with us. We will only contact you if you want to hear from us, our newsletter comes out a couple of times a month, but we won’t spam you against your consent. Your privacy is our top priority, and we handle it with the care it deserves.

Buying a sex toy is an act of self-care. It’s an investment in your well-being, your curiosity, and your joy. That investment deserves a partner that cares as much about your safety and satisfaction as you do.

So, close the Amazon tab. Seek out a shop that sees your pleasure not as a transaction, but as a fundamental part of your humanity. Your body—and your orgasms—will thank you for it.