Sex Aids On Retail Shelves, Durex wants to sell Personal Massagers... Options

[illriginal]

In addition to dozens of massage liquids, "warming gels," and lubricants in many flavors, you'll also find vibrators. Durex, an international condom maker with a U.S. base in Atlanta, began putting the Little Gem personal massager (a.k.a. vibrator) on drugstore shelves around the country in August of last year. Demurely packaged in a lavender frosted-plastic oval container, the purpose of the Little Gem is fairly ambiguous unless you read the fine print, or just guess that it's related to sex because it's right near all the lubricants. Out of context it could be some kind of exfoliating device—or maybe a fancy skin cream.

The discreet packaging was, of course, deliberate. "Now a soccer mom in her minivan can be comfortable buying these types of products right along with her toothpaste and shampoo," says Tim Cleary, Durex's vice president of sales. He says that Durex's "Play" line of lubricants, condoms, vibrating condom rings, and massagers geared to women was introduced online in 2004 but is now in 30,000 stores nationwide—though the massagers and condom rings are not available everywhere. (Wal-Mart, for example, says it does not offer any personal massagers, though it does sell a variety of lubricants.)

Drugstores have been selling many of these products online for a decade or more. And it's a healthy market. Over-the-counter sales of lubricants (excluding Wal-Mart) hit $113 million in 2007, a 30.3 percent hike from the previous four-year period, according to Nielsen Strategic Planner. The prices per container range from $5 to $15, depending on the brand and size. And while there isn't much market data yet on mainstream retail vibrator sales, Durex says its personal massagers are doing very well at about $36 per Little Gem.

Leading chains, like CVS, say they have more than quadrupled the shelf space they devote to the category in the last five years. But despite the apparent consumer demand, retailers aren't particularly eager to discuss the personal massagers or other sexual health products they offer. A Walgreens spokeswoman reported that the company was simply adapting to "reflect trends and changing customer interest" and chose to offer more "discreet products" online.

Why are women now welcoming items that might have caused an uproar if they'd shown up on a low shelf in the neighborhood pharmacy 10 years ago? Sexual mores are changing, says sex therapist Sandra Leiblum, of Bridgewater, N.J. Thanks to HBO's "Sex and the City" and the vast research field of the Internet, vibrators have come out of the closet and right into bedside drawers.

"We're much more open now to experimenting sexually," says Leiblum. And the lubricants in particular are marketed more attractively these days. Johnson & Johnson's K-Y Brand, the industry leader, used to offer medicinal-looking jellies, but in 2005 it launched a romantically packaged line called Touch Massage, which has been a top seller in the category.



Source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/110965/page/2
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So it seems that Durex has proposed to sell not only condoms and sex gels/oils, but they also want to sell personal massagers at retail stores such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS etc...

I find this to be immoral and too mature for a retail store to carry. This exposes young children even more to the sexual side of life.

I believe if this comes out to be a true story and these personal massagers come out in retail stores, that this would further prove that America truly is goin down the immoral shitter.


What are your thoughts on selling these to the wide open public?

[*Steven*]

Nothing wrong with exposure to that kind of thing. It's not like it's anything new, assuming the kids attend public schools. Maybe this will piss off the religious fanatics?

[brooklyneast05]

i don't see how it's "immoral"

[S-Majere]

I don't think there's anything wrong with this; and I don't think morals can enter into it.

Taking a feminist stance - If anything, I'm glad that women are finally breaking the taboo and proving that they are not pure as the driven snow with no sex drive or desires and can't as much now be looked upon as 'whores' and 'sluts' if they do try to break the mould a patriarchal society has forced them into.

By the sounds of it, this will remain discreet and provide for a need that has been there since...well...ever.

[illriginal]

If it comes out into retail store, then it should be for adults only. Meaning they should I.D. the consumer at the register. Above that, they need to keep it in a case in which doesn't show any sort of design/image of the product inside of it.

I wouldn't want to expose a child who's in middle school to this, they're too damn curious as it is. I believe a child's mind grows not only with knowledge but with maturity. And some knowledge of things are too mature for young children.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this; and I don't think morals can enter into it.

Taking a feminist stance - If anything, I'm glad that women are finally breaking the taboo and proving that they are not pure as the driven snow with no sex drive or desires and can't as much now be looked upon as 'whores' and 'sluts' if they do try to break the mould a patriarchal society has forced them into.

By the sounds of it, this will remain discreet and provide for a need that has been there since...well...ever.

Regardless of your feminist views... personal massagers should stay at adult stores... not to the wide open public.

[S-Majere]

Regardless of your feminist views... personal massagers should stay at adult stores... not to the wide open public.

I don't think so. Not everyone has the courage to go into an adult store!

As for children being exposed to these things, wouldn't they be curious about the lubricants and the condoms that are also available in stores?

As long as these items aren't going next to the pick 'n' mix, children aren't really going to actively seek them out. If they do, it'll be much like what I thought pads were for - something for adults and nothing I knew, nor needed to know, about.

[*Steven*]

Yeah condoms and lubes are there already. Also, what's to stop a child from masturbating? Kids start early these days ^.~ They're going to find out, so long as there's public schooling, the media, and the internet. You can't shield a kid from it.

[queen]

what would a child be doing alone at a drug store? concerned parents would be with their child at all times anyway. sure, parents wouldn't want 5 year olds knowing about dildos and whatnot, but it would be their responsibility to shield children from such things.

and as for the promotion of sexual promuscuity aspect, i don't think it's possible to further dissuade minors from being sexually active. it's better that they're at least safe, and that these things are available to them.

[illriginal]

Yeah condoms and lubes are there already. Also, what's to stop a child from masturbating? Kids start early these days ^.~ They're going to find out, so long as there's public schooling, the media, and the internet. You can't shield a kid from it.

Which further proves my theory that America is becoming more immoral as newer generations evolve. Children shouldn't be exposed to sexual activities nor products in such a way. Did you know back in 1960s condoms were behind counters at pharmacies? But ever since the HIV epidemic in the 1980s they became public out of strict desperation.

Unfortunately they didn't think about children being exposed to this. And now look at the generations of the 1980's and above! lol... Meh.. why do I even bother, 98% of the American people are the same. =\

[S-Majere]

You manage to bend most of your topics against America. Want some salsa for that chip on your shoulder?

[queen]

Children shouldn't be exposed to sexual activities nor products in such a way.

Meh.. why do I even bother, 98% of the American people are the same. =\

why are you in america? one of the reasons people go here is 'cause of their pursuit for freedom. one of the freedoms being the ability to raise your child the way you want. if you don't want your children exposed to it, then do whatever's in your power to protect him/her. some parents don't mind exposing their children to things you may not want your child exposed to. we're all different, with different values. you can't just say "america's going down the immoral shitter" when a good portion of america probably thinks the same way you do.

there are a lot of things in the world that i wouldn't want my child exposed to, but i'm not gonna go claim something's immoral, because my basis of morality is different than the next person's.

[superstitious]

You manage to bend most of your topics against America. Want some salsa for that chip on your shoulder?

...LOL ((cute))

I'm all for this. America is already prude enough. I get that people will find this immoral. SO WHAT. I'm sorry, but screw you guys (no pun intended). Why does everything sexual have to be so repressed? Magic wands are GOOD. Masturbation is GOOD. Both are HEALTHY. How about letting parents take responsiblity for what their kids do, how they educate their kids about sex instead of having a big ruler stick beating the "sex is bad" shit down people's throats?

If something like this so "immoral" to you, that's fine. You're certainly entitled to your opinions and ideas about sex. You'll have the opportunity to do what you can to with your kids to avoid having such items purchased. Don't force people to see your point of view. Accept that others' views on immoral concerns are different then yours.

[illriginal]

You manage to bend most of your topics against America. Want some salsa for that chip on your shoulder?

Only when it comes to morals which America definitely lacks in and should be fixed sooner or later.

[*Steven*]

Let's look back at the 1960's. More "moral", yes. More racist and closed minded, yes. Let's go further back to the 20s. Do you know what a flapper is? OMG ANKLES WHAT A SLUT! Very closed minded individuals. Plessy v Ferguson. Separate but equal. OMG black people aren't people and shouldn't be allowed to be people.

[DoubleJ]

i don't see how it's "immoral"

True, and besides....durex is way behind on this. KY has the warming lubricants and everything, but that is another story.

[jesusisthebestth...]

Well, maybe I'm taking an odd standpoint here, but if I am able to purchase personal massagers from my local pharmacy or something, won't that eventually put "Adult stores" out of business? And don't we want all businesses to stay in business?


But, I'm not a fan of the idea that my 6 year old neice could ask me for a "Lollicock" in the pharmacy while I'm picking up Excedrin. That's a little weird. If anything, personal massagers and other adult toys should be put behind the counter. Essentially I believe that if it ain't broke we shouldn't try to fix it. These types of products have been in adult stores for years, why remove them now? And if you're too shy to enter an adult store for your vibrator, then you could order them over the internet. And if you are afraid to enter an adult store and you don't trust internet shopping, then maybe you shouldn't be so interested in adult toys.

[queen]

^ no way would it put adult stores out of business. that's like saying walgreens would put best buy out of business 'cause they sell radios and cd players.

and as for your neice, wouldn't you be keeping an eye on what she's looking at anyway?

[*Steven*]

Nope. You see, that requires responsibility.

[brooklyneast05]

i say half of them won't know/notice and the other half already know about it from middle school (like steven said) so who really cares if they see a box.

it's not like they are going to stick this next to the candy aisle or something. i mean if you usually let your kids browse the condom aisle then i guess it would be your problem, not everyone else's.

[ersatz]

All the sex related items in drugstores are next to tampons and adult diapers...what are little kids going to be doing in that aisle? Even if they do see it and say, "Mommy, what's that?" the mom can just say, "It's something that adults use to be happy when they're sad," and the kid will take it at that. It's not like they're going to go research it...

[jesusisthebestth...]

^^^
Are you saying that people who have children or watch children don't menstruate? Why would you ask what a child is doing in the same aisle as tampons and adult diapers? Moreover, your response to a child who asks what an adult toy is is completely bizarre...that's not what I would say to my kid if he/she asked me what an adult toy was and some children don't just accept an answer, they ask "Why?" a whole lot, if you didn't know that already.

I get your point, but I have to say that some of you are being pretty hard on parents. I don't have any children, but all you can do is keep an eye on them. You cannot sit there and watch a child, make a child be quiet, make a child stay close, make a child stay still, etc etc and still shop or answer a phone call. At some point the child will do something you asked him/her not to do, go somewhere you told him/her not to go. It's not on purpose & it isn't negligent...things just happen.

[*Steven*]

^^^
Are you saying that people who have children or watch children don't menstruate? Why would you ask what a child is doing in the same aisle as tampons and adult diapers? Moreover, your response to a child who asks what an adult toy is is completely bizarre...that's not what I would say to my kid if he/she asked me what an adult toy was and some children don't just accept an answer, they ask "Why?" a whole lot, if you didn't know that already.

I get your point, but I have to say that some of you are being pretty hard on parents. I don't have any children, but all you can do is keep an eye on them. You cannot sit there and watch a child, make a child be quiet, make a child stay close, make a child stay still, etc etc and still shop or answer a phone call. At some point the child will do something you asked him/her not to do, go somewhere you told him/her not to go. It's not on purpose & it isn't negligent...things just happen.

You're out in left field.

[danginja]

Emerging adulthood kicks in, creating less fear.

[superstitious]

At some point the child will do something you asked him/her not to do, go somewhere you told him/her not to go. It's not on purpose & it isn't negligent...things just happen.

And if the WORST thing my kid does is buy a magic wand for his girlfriend, color me happy as hell.

[CapCaDancer]

Things like vibrators becoming more available allow children/even young adults (like 16 year olds or so, whatever) to experiment safely. You can't stop them from being curious about sex. You CAN have them experimenting safely and without risk of disease or pregnancy.

I'm glad things like this are becoming more available. Younger people are going to be curious, and wouldn't you rather them masturbating? When they get curious, would you rather your child turn to his/her girlfriend/boyfriend and say 'let's play, I want to know how this feels' or go to a store and pick up something to play with themselves? Playing with vibrators can't get you pregnant.

As for small children, I agree with what everyone is saying about responsibility. If you don't want your children seeing things like that, then don't take them down that aisle.

All the sex related items in drugstores are next to tampons and adult diapers...what are little kids going to be doing in that aisle? Even if they do see it and say, "Mommy, what's that?" the mom can just say, "It's something that adults use to be happy when they're sad," and the kid will take it at that. It's not like they're going to go research it...

^ I agree with this completely.

As for 'immoral', anything that allows a person to receive sexual satisfaction safely in their own home without getting someone else pregnant or receiving STD's, or even adding a bit of experimenting and spice in their personal sex life, doesn't seem that immoral to me.