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I have heard this statistic quoted about the city I live in but I’ve never been able to track down a concrete source for it. Apparently we have the largest number of porn stores per capita of anywhere in the US. I do know exactly where to go 24 hours a day for a wide variety of porn DVDs, sex toys, and stripper clothes. I’ve educated myself on quality in regards to these products and I know what to look for. The selection of silicone toys at these shops is very limited and the employees rarely know what they are talking about. In fact, I once had to educate a sex shop employee on the dangers of anal numbing creams. She looked at me and said, “It doesn’t matter because anal sex is unnatural and wrong anyway.” Um, okay.

I’ve often fantasized about opening my own sex shop but as I don’t plan to stay in this town for the long haul. Today I was thinking a lot about my personal history with sex toys and women-run sex shops and I’m so grateful for the education I’ve received from these businesses. I owned my first vibrator before I lost my virginity. I don’t remember where I bought it. It was simple, hard plastic, and purple. I actually just tossed it out a few weeks ago as it finally broke.

This first sex toy purchase was from an anonymous online retailer. My next ones were from wonderful ones. I can thank Babeland for that. When I was 19 years old (and very much still a virgin) I did something brave. I was working at a summer camp in Vermont and there was a weekend off between sessions. I bought myself a ticket to New York and booked a room in a hostel and I spent a weekend exploring the city all by myself. I walked into Babeland for the first time with my only previous experience of sex shops being, well, somewhat skeezy.

I didn’t buy anything that day but I touched lots of things. I picked up toys and held them in my hands and felt the vibrations and the textures. I looked at lubes and books. I felt totally comfortable. I think I even asked a question or two when a helpful employee asked if I needed help. I was hooked on this experience.

Within a year of this trip I had my first boyfriend, it was the relationship I was in when this blog first started. We shopped for sex toys together over the phone as he lived a few hours away from me. It was something that connected us, helped us discover fantasies, and brought us closer together. Our first purchases were things like lubes, strap-on harnesses, and dildos. We bought them from Babeland and Good Vibrations.

Now I make a point of visiting these shops whenever I visit a town that has them. I bought my first restraints and my first rabbit vibrator from Early to Bed in Chicago. I always go back to Babeland when I’m in New York, last time we bought a massage candle and a bonger. This is not the stuff I find at the 24-hour porn stores.

Now, years later, I find myself in an interesting position because I have learned enough about quality sex toys that I’m invited to review them. I’m thrilled with the dedication to quality reviews and honest opinions that both Vibe Review and Eden Fantasys have shown so far. When I wrote my first bad review of a product I was worried but I knew I needed to be honest. To have the rep at the company that sent it to me be thrilled with my honesty and suggest other products to try instead was really impressive.

Sure, these folks are trying to make money running their businesses but there is also a genuine interest in finding out the truth about quality sex toys. Quality doesn’t come cheap and I admire all of these businesses for stepping into the community and trying to educate their potential customers.

I’ve just gotten word today that Vibe Review is running a special. In celebration of their support for Barack Obama for president, they are offering a 10% discount. Just shop through this link and you will automatically get 10% off of your entire order between now and November. So, a sex shop that cares about women and sexual pleasure, looks for honest reviews, and supports my favorite candidate for president? I’m proud to support them and recommend them to you.