Good Vibrations Magazine

A coworker recently passed on this Forbes article about the recession and the adult industry.

Reading this article was interesting to me – not just for the obvious I-work-in-the-adult-industry reason but also for the companies they included… Walgreens… Walmart.

Walmart? I have had the luck to only shop at Walmart once… in a small town in southern New Mexico… and only because all the other small business nearby no longer existed. I find Walmart to be disgusting. Not only for how they go into communities but for how they then treat that community after they have established themselves. How they treat their employees and for what they stand for. Add to that their blatant conservatism I’d always considered them the final frontier for sexuality products. But Walmart goes where they perceive the money to be so it makes sense that they offer more than just condoms. That said, I truly saddens me to see products I love selling being offered at such a sex-negative chain store. Knowing not only how poorly their employees are treated and the lack of value they put on customer service but also the lack of emphasis they put on actual sex education and freedom of speech.

Recently I was shopping at my local grocery chain. Across the aisle was a small condom section relegated to the top half of the aisle and isolated from any other products about sex/sexuality. A man was shopping the small selection and looking confused and a little sheepish. I wanted to go up and offer to help him find the product that best fit what he was looking for… but figured it would totally freak him out.

After he’d made his selection he palmed the 12-pack so nobody walking towards him could see what he was buying and walked briskly away from that section. At no time did a sales associate ask is he was finding what he needed or offer any product information. The same as they don’t when you are standing in front of the flour section or the toilet paper. Grocery stores, chain stores – the clerks are there to re-stock and help you find the aisle you need. But never help select the product hat best suits your needs. There is no special training to differentiate the chain brand of mustard from the Kraft mustard. And so there is nobody to help you figure out if Durex or Trojan, KY or Sliquid will best suit your needs.

When I was in college I was “dating” a guy from my rival school. One night during a visit I headed to the local “convenience” store to pick up the necessary protection for our date night. I can vividly recall how totally embarrassed I was to have to select the appropriate condom directly in front of the cashier. The shame I felt at being sexually active, of being a girl getting condoms and for being young and sexual. There was nobody to cheer me on for using safer sex practices since I had multiple sexual partners and nobody to help me find the size/fit that would work best.

The Forbes article didn’t just talk about the big box stores but about consumers feeling the financial crunch. And I concur… it is stressful to hear the daily news talking about financial breakdowns. Add to that rising costs of necessities…

A core value of Good Vibrations has always been to offer quality sex toys and pleasure products at affordable prices. We want to have something for everyone – whether you can spend $20 or $200. As the buyer for Good Vibes, I’ve added plenty of affordable products that people can buy without putting their other livelihoods in jeopardy. It’s important to us that our customers feel like we offer the products they want at the prices we need.

So in that vein, I wanted to offer a mini-shopping guide for folks looking to get more bang for their buck! This may be a stressful time for many of us… but nothing delivers stress release like an orgasm!

Great buys under $20! We have plenty of them. Whether you are looking for a solid vibe or something playful… it’s all here. For couples, my fav items in this category are the Big O Vibrating Ring as well as the FingO Vibrating Mini Massager. For the gift that last a long time – Sex Checks are fabulous! This newly re-designed booklet offers sensual and sexual suggestions for couple’s sexploration. You can cash them in all at once or slowly – it’s up to you! For ideas on how to keep your sexual relationship fresh in a long-term monogamous relationship Never Have the Same Sex Twice offers tips, techniques and much inspiration. Don’t for the Adventurous Couple’s Guide to Sex-Toys for more ways to introduce toys into your sex lives and have a blast doing it!

Great buys under $40! It’s a little more of an investment but there are plenty of items you can buy that will last a bit longer and offer lots of good times! One of the best items in this category is the Pulsing Passion Bullet. This bullet is silky soft to the touch and offers various intensities and pulsing patterns too! This vibe is easy to operate and has a jack for the bullet which means once the bullet dies or the cord gets a kink it in… you can purchase a replacement bullet and still have the functionality you have come to love! For a great under $40 vibe that can be inserted the Turbo Glider, Flamingo and Sparkle Vibe takes the cake.

Great buys under $60? We have a great assortment! Whether you prefer dual stimulation with the Aqua Rabbit or want some smaller like Angelo both of these are great buys! If you prefer rechargeable vibes the Acuvibe Jr. is a great deal!

There are just some examples of items that are good quality but still affordable. Whether you are looking for luxury items or for something to start off your sexploration – you can find the sex toy that fits your preference and your pocket. Sex Toy Kits are a great way to stretch your dollar or if you aren’t sure what exactly you’d like our shopping guides offer up options to choose from. Or if education is what you’d like to start out with our Sex Info 101 section can help educate and inspire.

I hope these suggestions help a bit. The world is wired but we are still here offering sex-positive education, quality affordable products and as much sex info as you can handle – without judgment and with passion!