Dupes may be all the rage, but sex toys are one shopping category where you need to make sure you’re getting the real deal.
Just because you can buy nearly anything under the sun on Amazon doesn’t mean you should, especially if you’re not trying to pick up a counterfeit or poorly-made sex toys.
Because you’re reading this, you’re very much not trying to do that, but it isn’t uncommon to find illegitimate sex toys sold by third-party sellers like Amazon, that can stop working at best, and be actually dangerous to use on your body at worst.
Still, we get that buying sex toys can be intimidating, and going to Amazon instead of a full-fledged sex shop or a manufacturer’s website (though we are big fans of both) can make the process much easier. To help make sure you’re getting the quality product you deserve, we researched what brands are actually selling on Amazon, tested out some toys ourselves, and compiled a few tips on how to shop safely.
Why is it sketchy to buy sex toys on Amazon?
When you go to a sex toy brand’s website or a reputable sex shop, you’re basically getting a vetted selection of toys. There won’t be random knock-offs or dupes that don’t have your best interests in mind. You’re also buying from people who know what they’re talking about when it comes to sex toys.
Amazon, on the other hand, pretty much lets anyone sell anything.
“Purchasing from third-party stores like Amazon doesn’t guarantee an authentic product,” Mashable Sex and Relationships Reporter Anna Iovine wrote in her guide on how to buy sex toys. “Considering that the toy will be in or around your genitals, it’s imperative to make sure it’s legit.”
It wasn’t that long ago that the drop-shipped rose toy went viral on TikTok, despite its dubious quality. If you search “Hitachi Magic Wand,” on Amazon, you’ll get plenty of results, despite the fact that the website is not listed as one of Magic Wand’s trusted retailers. In fact, Magic Wand’s website explicitly warns consumers to “be particularly careful of counterfeit Magic Wand products in places like e-Bay and Amazon.”
The good news? Amazon is starting to take more serious measures in preventing the sale of counterfeit products. And in the meantime, there are still plenty of legitimate products on Amazon from brands’ storefronts — you just have to know how and where to look.
How to safely buy sex toys on Amazon
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Start from the storefront. Unauthorized sellers can be sneaky on Amazon. Just because the product links back to a legitimate storefront doesn’t mean that the product itself is legit (we experienced this first hand ourselves, it’s easier than you think to get tricked!) To make sure you’re actually looking at a genuine product, always start from a brands’ storefront and work your way out. If you have a brand you like, it’s a good idea to check out their website to see if they have their storefront linked rather than going straight to Amazon’s search bar. For each of our product selections below, we’ve also linked the Amazon storefront so you can safely check out the rest of the brands’ offerings.
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Double check the seller. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule, 99% of the time, a quick glance at the seller will help you determine if you’re buying a legit product or getting duped.
The seller can be found to the right side of the page, not right under the product name.
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Be aware of anything that’s suspiciously cheap. If that $120 sex toy you’re looking at is only $65 at Amazon and Amazon alone, there’s more than a decent chance you’re getting a knockoff. We understand the excitement of finding a good deal, but it’s always good to approach markdowns with a healthy dose of skepticism.
We reached out to LELO, one of the brands on this list that has two Amazon storefronts, to ask how consumers can be sure to safely purchase sex toys on Amazon. Their chief marketing officer, Lukas Matutinović, shared the following three bullet points via email to Mashable:
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Read the seller ratings. Think of the seller as you would think of a product on Amazon. Would you feel confident buying a product that only has 10 reviews or a low general rating? The chances are pretty low. Look for a reasonable amount of reviews and a positive general rating.
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Find the warranty and/or guarantee. Most sexual wellness companies stand behind their products and aren’t afraid to share that. Look in the product images, product pages, and storefronts for each company’s policy. Some products, like LELO, even include a warranty in the product packaging.
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A tamper-proof sticker is your final safety check before use. Once you have found your product, personally verified your seller, and the product has arrived, there is one more step to help ensure you have safely purchased your toy. Before opening the product packaging, double-check for a tamper-proof sticker to make sure you are the first one to open and enjoy your toy. If the sticker is removed or damaged, be sure to immediately reach out to the seller.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
As a final reminder before you go forth and shop, there are plenty of budget-friendly sex toys you can get without shopping at Amazon, but if you’re really looking to get the most out of your Prime subscription, here are our picks for the best sex toys on Amazon:
