Like many others who have been attempting to really feel one thing good whereas quarantining, I bought my first intercourse toy through the pandemic. As a germaphobe, bodily contact with others has at all times been one thing I’ve engaged in reluctantly, so some pandemic-prescribed distancing turned out to be a aid. However I additionally determined to discover having fun with intimacy within the absence of someone else.
My first buy was a little bit lavender vibrator with a smiley face on the top. It value $60, a light expense in contrast with different vibrators I might seen whereas researching — some have been upwards of $350. Vibrators, dildos, and different intimate equipment could also be extra kink-inclusive than ever, however the steep value of those higher-quality toys means they aren’t as accessible for everybody, particularly if you wish to buy from a luxurious model that gives state-of-the-art sexual innovation.
Some shoppers, although, have discovered an alternative choice to snapping up dear merchandise — and it could be extra taboo than any toy available on the market: Enter the world of intercourse toy thrifting.
Sure, we’re speaking about used intercourse toys. When I discovered Squeaky Clear Toys (SCT), a platform for getting and promoting pre-owned intercourse toys, my first intuition was to suppose, Ew. However once I examine SCT’s strict sterilization, sanitizing (sure, there’s a distinction, and extra on that later), and security insurance policies, I puzzled if this idea may make choices for sexual wellness extra extensively obtainable.
Certain, used intercourse toys are additionally up for grabs on-line by way of boards, teams, and personal sellers on websites comparable to Fb, Craigslist, Reddit, and Etsy, however none of those locations have any type of pointers to assist defend the client from scams or issues of safety. Squeaky Clear Toys, a longtime web site with strict insurance policies to guard patrons and sellers, hopes to place these gadgets throughout the attain of anybody who desires them.
“We needed to create one thing skilled,” says Lisa, a cofounder of SCT who prefers to make use of a pseudonym for privateness. “Many knock the grownup market for being filled with scams — and it’s — however our objective was to carry professionalism into it and strip out the innuendos and misinformation to advertise sexual aids as practical and useful gadgets.”
The potential well being implications of shopping for pre-owned vibrators are apparent: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can simply be unfold from individual to individual, in addition to from toy to individual if not cleaned correctly. When finished the correct approach, nonetheless, may intercourse toy thrifting and resale really make the business extra accessible?
A Case for Used Intercourse Toys
The lofty worth tags on immediately’s most revolutionary and sturdy intercourse toys probably exclude a big swath of the inhabitants who deserve entry to them. As an illustration, such toys are extremely essential in enabling intercourse for some folks with disabilities who use toys to adapt. However many folks with disabilities dwell under the poverty degree. Or, take somebody like me, who’s trying to discover on their very own for the primary time: It may be formidable to drop a lot cash on one thing that is probably not pleasurable.
