Comments Lounge
Eeeew! Eeeew! Eeew!
Maybe he means a replacement switch?
Please God, let that be what he means.
I think he *is* talking about a replacement switch, but you know, this isn't an electronics repair shop with spare parts lying around all over the place.
Umm. I don't think it's that bizarre. Can't you just say, sorry, we don't carry replacement parts, and we don't do repairs, but here's the address and phone number of the manufacturer; don't know what their policy is, but good luck.
Maybe I'm insufficiently nuanced. I haven't been feeling nuancy lately.
Yeah, I don't get it either. I mean it's kind of silly to expect a sex toy store to carry replacement parts, but it's really not gross. What's with the "Eeeew Eeeew Eeeew" comment?
Yes, Larkspur, that is what I'm going to do, even though it would not occur to me to inquire about spare sex toy parts after a year.
flea said: this isn't an electronics repair shop with spare parts lying around all over the place.
***
I s'pose that all depends on your definition of "spare parts," eh? 
Lol at Frog. 
I thought the EW part was directed at the idea of the replacement vibrator.
*ahem*
If the cap is just cracked, compromising the electrical circuit of the switch, you might suggest he use small strips of duct tape to hold it together. Alternatively, some superglue might work. I won't tell you how I know this works *blushing*
DUCT TAPE! I meant to say duct tape.
::facepalm::
In my experience, those cap things break all the time. Mind you, I'm not the one operating the device. And, I'm not the one who loses track of it in bed, and lets it fall onto the floor, where the cap\switch springs off. Which seems to reduce the operational lifetime of the cap\switch.
My solution is to buy a cheap new toy for the cap\switch.
Perhaps people need to take better care of their toys, and put them away when they are done.
Thanks Nella, that's exactly where I was going with the Eeews. I pictured this guy on the phone, ready to wrap up the used vibe and send it in for repairs. Dude, just buy her a new one!
Okay, let's look at this from a consumer point of view. Vibrators cost up to almost a hundred dollars for a molded plastic toy with a mickey mouse motor and some cheap, shoddy wiring. I've had one (fifty bucks)for less than three months, barely used it, put it away carefully, and the switch went bad weeks ago and then the motor stopped functioning. If this wasn't such an embarrasing subject, the manufacturers of these poorly made, overpriced gizmos would have been nailed by consumer protection groups and agencies long ago. They don't need to take a used one back but somebody should stand behind the product.
It is illegal in the state of Illinois to accept returns on items that have are designed with the purpose of coming into contact with genitalia.
The average price of a vibrator is not $100; it's around $30-$40. Most of the manufacturers are in China, and yes, they're cheaply made. That's why toy companies have them made there; it's capitalism at work. If you want to be able to complain directly to the manufacturer (which it sounds like you do), in the future I would suggest being aware of where your toy was manufactured. Vixen Creations, Stormy Leather, FunFactory USA, the Australian compnay Down Under and Japan's Vibratex are all manufacturers with excellent customer service. You will pay more for your product but will get a higher quality toy.
As a retailer, I offer the popular stuff as well as the stuff I "stand behind". Some people want what I recommend, some people don't. Personally, I would have recommended that you buy the Hitachi Magic Wand over whatever it was that you had that broke, but that would have been no guarantee that you would have taken my advice.
So why not only carry Hitachis or Vibratex? Because the overwhelming majority of consumers want to buy cheap. (look at the success of WalMart) I would have gone out of business in 6 months.
So, Anonymous, if you don't want to get burned again, you're going to have to overcome your embarrassment and ask someone at your friendly neighborhood feminist toy shop. We'll be more than happy to help you.
"Up to" is not the same as "average". "They don't need to take a used one back but somebody should stand behind the product" means no one is referring to you personally (they not you), nor is there any expectation that anyone should violate laws or standards of decency, but simply that if a significant price is paid ($50 is not the cheap model), the expectation is one of reasonable product life.
You've decided to host a discussion forum that also promotes your business. Maybe you should recognize that there are people who's personal feelings about sex, sensuallity and erotica are private and intimate and if they take that leap to go out and buy a toy at a store, they might not like being made fun of or even discussed in a public forum (as many of your customers are), wether they're aware of it or not.
And if they get burned by laying out a good amount of cash for something that's presented as quality but turns out to be crap, maybe they've got a valid complaint.
Anonymous/Thrice Burned, I'm not taking your comments personally at all. On the contrary, I tried to use your experiences to help you, if you are still interested in sex toys, find a toy that is reasonably priced and will last for years.
I have no idea what you bought or where you bought it, and I'm sorry it turned out to be a lemon. As I said in my previous comment, I am honest with customers who seek my help about the degrees in the quality of my products. I can't speak for other retailers and how they run their businesses, but unless you ask us for help, there's nothing we can do.
Retail prices are reined in by competition, but in actuality they can charge whatever they want. Since I have no information other than how much you paid for it, I can't give any opinion on the toy itself and whether that particular brand is generally reliable or not.
As far as your comments about my keeping a blog goes, I'm not sure how to talk about work without talking about work, so I think I'll keep using the same formula. But thanks for your comments.
i don't see any problem with your talking about work. you don't name people or give identifying details, so i don't see anything different with you talking about your job from anyone else talking about their own jobs. most people deal with the public in some way, and can talk about it without embarrassing the people they interact with...
wow. this is the text ad at the bottom of the comments page right now:
The Ex-Gay Movement
Gays can choose to live a heterosexual lifestyle. No more special rights.
Well. That's repellent. Sorry about that.
Commenting by HaloScan
