The New Intimacy

Does anyone else do in-depth "research" before they buy a toy?

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Contributor: ToyGurl ToyGurl
I forget what review it was on, but I just explained to someone that I do a lot of research before buying a toy. And by research, I mean some hardcore stuff. I actually pull out the pen and paper!

I first read EVERY review from that toy on EF, write down the pros on one half of the paper, and the cons on the other half. If the cons heavily, heavily outweight the pros, I usually just stop where I am and move on to another toy.

If the pros outweight the cons, then I will ocasionally message one of the owners and ask them how it might compare to "INSERT OTHER TOY'S NAME HERE". I always ask people to compare it to a toy that I really like. Their answer also has a lot to do with my choice, if it is a good answer. If they say "Eh... it's not as good as that one at all." then I stop, and move on. If they say that the toys have similar qualities, or that the toy I'm asking about is BETTER, I move on to the third phase.

I start calculating. If it's battery powered, I calculate how many batteries I'll most likely have to buy in a year's period, and compare the price to the toy. I ask myself... is it worth it? And sometimes, looking at the pros, it will totally be worth it. Especially if it's a toy that doesn't guzzle batteries like most do. But sometimes it isn't worth it.

Once I decide "Okay, it's worth it." I throw it into my stack of toys I want to buy, create a poll, and ask people to vote on what toy is best. I buy somewhat based off of their answers! I may go with the highest or the second highest.
10/11/2011
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Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I don't go quite that hardcore into it, but that actually does sound like a great idea to do that.

I assume you've made sure you get much better toys that way?
10/11/2011
Contributor: M121212 M121212
I don't go quite that far either. I've learned to make some swift judgements based on what I know that I like in a toy. I try not to make the same mistake twice in ordering something that's just not my taste.
10/11/2011
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Not really, I pretty know what I want in a toy and can tell by looks whether or not it will work for me. The only time I really read reviews is if it has vibes, I like stronger/thumpy vibes and the wife likes buzzier types.
10/11/2011
Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
I go pretty in-depth but I don't worry about battery consumption. I bought myself a couple sets of rechargeable batteries way back when and I just recharge them daily.
10/11/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I only choose toys that fit my preferences in materials and shapes, then study relevant reviews to decide whether I should purchase them or not. If it's a vibrator, I'll focus on the intensity level rather than battery issue, since I only buy rechargeable toys.
10/11/2011
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I don't go into all that, but I do read reviews. If I'm five in and everyone has said "weak vibration, this thing sucks" I move on. If I'm torn between two things and short on cash, I'll throw up a poll as well or look to see if anyone else has a poll up. I search through the forums for things people have said they like and do research on those.

Then every now and again something will be on sale and I'll make a complete impulse buy.
10/11/2011
Contributor: chicken12 chicken12
I just bought my first vibrator a few days ago after researching for . . . weeks. I used multiple websites, but found this one to be the most helpful (with its bees and vrooms) and did lots and lots of comparing.
10/11/2011
Contributor: Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
Wow - that is a lot of research. I don't do all that but maybe I should consider it.
10/11/2011
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by chicken12
I just bought my first vibrator a few days ago after researching for . . . weeks. I used multiple websites, but found this one to be the most helpful (with its bees and vrooms) and did lots and lots of comparing.
Which did you pick, out of curiosity?
10/11/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Almost every time, but I've been known to make a few "spur of the moment" purchases. But even those, I still make sure they are from a reputable brand, safe materials, and atleast relatively highly rated (if possible).
10/12/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I definitely do research, not as much as you describe, but definitely do my research. I will make a spur of the moment purchase from time to time, but as Elnoa said, it will be something from a brand I know and like, and something I've maybe had my eye on for a while but just haven't quite decided on yet. Sometimes I turn out to love those, while others haven't turned out quite as well. But when something's on sale, sometimes I just go for it. lol
10/12/2011
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
We don't do all of that, but we read the reviews and then check out the manufacturer's website (if it's a company we aren't familiar with) to see how we feel about them. Things like their About page, manufacturing info, and any comments they make about the materials they use can sway us pretty quickly, along with learning if they're backed by any company that we wouldn't normally buy from.
10/12/2011
Contributor: Redboxbaby Redboxbaby
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Not really, I pretty know what I want in a toy and can tell by looks whether or not it will work for me. The only time I really read reviews is if it has vibes, I like stronger/thumpy vibes and the wife likes buzzier types.
I am right there with you on this on Tim.
10/12/2011
Contributor: Teaser Teaser
I don't do all that much in depth research, but I do read the reviews, look at what EF has to say about it, as well as the manufacturer. I will sometimes visit the manufacturers web site, but that is usually just a big promotional site, as well it should be. The final decision usually comes down to "That one looks interesting and fun." So far, it has worked fairly well, but I have been fooled a couple of times.
10/12/2011
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
I forget what review it was on, but I just explained to someone that I do a lot of research before buying a toy. And by research, I mean some hardcore stuff. I actually pull out the pen and paper!

I first read EVERY review from that toy on EF, ... more
I like to do a bit of research when about to buy a big purchase. I am still not sure about the liberator stuff but have been doing some research on it. Helps me to make a decision sometimes.
10/12/2011
Contributor: Nora Nora
I sort of "wing it"...especially if it is an item I want to review, I don't want other peoples experiences clouding my view as I write my review. If I'm getting something "just for me", I read the reviews...but knowing every toy is different (my short lived favorite, Sweet Obsession Rapture, that died within 30 minutes of turning it on for example), I usually take the reviews with a grain of salt.
10/12/2011
Contributor: ToyGurl ToyGurl
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I don't go quite that hardcore into it, but that actually does sound like a great idea to do that.

I assume you've made sure you get much better toys that way?
Yes actually. It's helped quite a lot. When I fail to do this I always get disappointing toys (like the SaSi).
10/12/2011
Contributor: chicken12 chicken12
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
Which did you pick, out of curiosity?
I went for the High Intensity Bullet. It's cheap, small (size of finger), and best of all, it's insanely discreet. It's not phallic-shaped and doesn't have writing on it.
10/12/2011
Contributor: null null
I don't write everything out on paper, but I research like crazy. It takes me at least a month to commit to any toy, and even then I might not end up buying it!
10/12/2011
Contributor: Avant-garde Avant-garde
I defiantly think about for a while and do my research on a product, but I don't go that far.
10/12/2011
Contributor: domsub1993 domsub1993
Quote:
Originally posted by Avant-garde
I defiantly think about for a while and do my research on a product, but I don't go that far.
Yep, that is pretty much what I do.
10/12/2011
Contributor: TameTemptress TameTemptress
I don't go that far before purchasing, but I do read through some of the reviews if I'm on the fence.
10/12/2011
Contributor: js250 js250
Holy Hell!! I though I was thorough when I researched a toy - you are way more thorough than I am, though!! I do not calculate batteries per year. I do a lot of comparisons before buying an expensive one, however the cheap ones I will just go ahead and get if it compares to something I already like.
10/12/2011
Contributor: Angelica Angelica
I just read a lot of reviews, use the compare feature and sometimes I price check/shop around. Intuition usually tells me if I will like something or not.
10/12/2011
Contributor: Nashville Nashville
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
I forget what review it was on, but I just explained to someone that I do a lot of research before buying a toy. And by research, I mean some hardcore stuff. I actually pull out the pen and paper!

I first read EVERY review from that toy on EF, ... more
Half the time I just make an impulse buy. Sometimes it's after reading a great review. I don't devote too much time to it because when it comes down to it- either I'll like it or I won't. I try to narrow the field to the products I *think* I'll like the most, but even with something that looks perfect on paper (much like men) it may not meet my expectations when I actually have it in my hands.
10/13/2011
Contributor: jenn g jenn g
I do research by reading the reviews and comparing items, but not nearly as hardcore as you!
10/16/2011
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
I don't get so thorough into it, but I do read all the available reviews to get as much info as I can about a new toy. I always want to know that I'll at least like a toy before I get one, if not love it!
11/27/2011