The New Intimacy

Shopping in a brick and mortar store.

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Contributor: Elaira Elaira
I work in a little adult store. It's just me and my male manager, and we take turns working, so there's usually only one of us here. I've noticed that sales go up a lot when I'm here versus when he's here.

If you shop in stores, or if you were going to, which gender of employee would you prefer? I know there are only two choices for each one, but use your best guess for this one. Which one would you personally feel more comfortable with?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
I'm a male, and I prefer male employees.
I'm a male, and I prefer female employees.
OTB , newfoundlust , married with children , Errant Venture , slynch , dv8 , Allstars316 , GONE! , Kirill1171 , Martiniman , Rod Ronald , Trysexual
12  (26%)
I'm a female, and I prefer male employees.
mizzmilla , jc123 , A Closet Slut (aka nipplepeople) , Dirtydiggins
4  (9%)
I'm a female, and I prefer female employees.
catgirl9 , Linga , jessterinthebed , Pixel , CoffeeCup , ms.anon , Yaoi Pervette (deleted) , I'mNotYourToy , Coralbell , Rin (aka Nire) , AlaskanBeauty , toxie m , Waterfall , Sunshineamine , ily , Nissa Nissa , amandaco2011 , Ghost , Andersonda , bayosgirl , TheSlyFox , shySEXXaddict , sexyintexas , Elaira , Jul!a , ToyGurl , Lady Venus , DreamWolf , Toy Fiend , zombiegirl2013 , nikki0668
31  (66%)
Total votes: 47
Poll is closed
08/07/2011
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Contributor: catgirl9 catgirl9
Never thought about it; there is only one adult store around here, and I've never been there. If I were to, I'd much prefer a female employee over a male. I'm shy around people and would feel more comfortable asking a female questions. I think I'd feel somewhat uncomfortable shopping for sex stuff around a male.
08/07/2011
Contributor: CoffeeCup CoffeeCup
I don't go to adult stores very often because I can just about always find what I want for cheaper online, but also because the few times I have gone to one there was some guy behind the counter that skeezed me out. Ya know, "undressing you with their eyes" kind of thing.

Of course, that's just in my limited experience. It may not be the norm.
08/07/2011
Contributor: Yaoi Pervette (deleted) Yaoi Pervette (deleted)
The only adult store in my area I will go into is the local Lion's Den location. The others are totally sleazy and nasty. I have found that all of the employees at the Lion's Den store are really cool. However, I have found the female employees to be most helpful.
08/07/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I've never gone to a brick and mortar store, but I would feel more comfortable going somewhere female run.
08/07/2011
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
I don't really care, either one works for me as long as they take my money. lol

I will say that the women that I have dealt with are more talkative and seem to genuinely care about the customer.
08/07/2011
Contributor: TitsMcScandal TitsMcScandal
It doesn't bother me either way. I'm very comfortable in brick and mortar stores and usually end up in long conversations with employees, no matter what the gender.
08/07/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
i don't mind. as long as i get the goods and pay for them lol
08/07/2011
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
I tend to be a bit shyer around men, so interacting with female employees in a sex shop is more comfortable for me. My favorite store around here is The Mood, and it seems like the majority of the staff are female, so it works out. To be fair, though, I've never had a bad experience in other shops where men were at the counter. I just blushed a lot more.
08/07/2011
Contributor: AlaskanBeauty AlaskanBeauty
I like girls period!!!
08/07/2011
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
The shop I work in will rarely ever hire men for retail just because it is such a comfort thing. Women often would rather talk to women, for sure. Men don't seem to mind so much either way generally, although we do find that male employees can be much better at selling men's products just because they have that gender experience. Generally speaking, though, female staff tend to be less intimidating.
08/07/2011
Contributor: Waterfall Waterfall
When I used to shop at this one store, I preferred dealing with female workers. I am not sure why this is, but I just feel more comfortable.
08/07/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
It does not bother me to deal with the male clerks, but like someone else said, the female clerks talk more and seem to care more about helping you. Since I found Eden, I have not visited a regular store. This arrangement seems best for me
08/08/2011
Contributor: Redboxbaby Redboxbaby
I don't care most of the time; if I have a question, whoever is willing to listen will hear it. The men seemed to be better at answering my technical questions regarding material compatibility. When it came to searching for new lube, men were more apt to explain common problems with parabens and glycerin within the female body. They also seemed more inclined to push the higher end toys (specifically nJoy) and knew more about them.

The women who worked there always seemed ill-informed on compatibility issues (just made something up to appease me) or I ended up teaching them things they did not know about the products they carried. The women employees (on two separate occasions) tried to steer me away from glass and stainless (I got the impression that steel scared her) and toward bullets and rabbits, which I despise!

Now I frequent only one store; all the girls know me (and they are not ill-informed on anything) and they set things aside they think I will like for when I come in. Either my husband or I are in every couple of weeks.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Sunshineamine Sunshineamine
Doesn't matter either way really. Females are easier to relate to I suppose since I am one and all.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Madeira Madeira
I am non-binary but I have a vagina and I find employees with the same genitalia as myself more helpful
08/08/2011
Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
Quote:
Originally posted by Elaira
I work in a little adult store. It's just me and my male manager, and we take turns working, so there's usually only one of us here. I've noticed that sales go up a lot when I'm here versus when he's here.

If you shop in ... more
I prefer females but I haven't come across them whenever I went to an adult store. It was a sausage fest hehe
08/08/2011
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I don't shop for adult products in brick and mortar stores, but if I did I'd prefer female employees.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
Same here.
08/08/2011
Contributor: RonLee RonLee
It would depend on what kind of toy or product that I was shopping for. It would make a difference, if the employee's personal experience with a product or a similar product were needed to make a recommendation.
08/08/2011
Contributor: shySEXXaddict shySEXXaddict
Quote:
Originally posted by Elaira
I work in a little adult store. It's just me and my male manager, and we take turns working, so there's usually only one of us here. I've noticed that sales go up a lot when I'm here versus when he's here.

If you shop in ... more
I would love to work in an adult toy store! We only have one around here now and a female runs it.Its a nice,clean,well put together store.There was 2 around and the other one I refused to go back into.That one was dingy,dark,and kinda scary!A male ran that one.There was a weird back room for guys and stuff.Anyways,I dont really care about who is working the register..gender wise...but the appearence of the store makes a huge difference to me
08/08/2011
Contributor: Elaira Elaira
If course I end up giving everyone waaaay more info than they need on things they're considering. "You'll want to clean this with this, not compatible with this and this, this material is ____ and it is ____."

Eden has turned me into an expert.
08/08/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Lol, I think that women tend to be a little more open and descriptive, especially with products that they are familiar with.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Elaira
If course I end up giving everyone waaaay more info than they need on things they're considering. "You'll want to clean this with this, not compatible with this and this, this material is ____ and it is ____."

Eden has turned me into an expert.
Ha! Eden is the exact reason the adult store by my sister would have hired me on the spot if I lived there.

I prefer females because, well, I'm not entirely sure why. I feel more comfortable around them while buying adult stuff, so I guess I'll go with I prefer females because I feel more comfortable.
08/08/2011
Contributor: ToyGurl ToyGurl
I think I prefer females because I am a female. I can ask questions and get answers from someone who experiences what I experience. When it comes to men, I think I would want a man there so I know what my husband would like best. I hardly ever shop at adult stores anymore now that I have found EF, but occasionally I go to the megaplex in my city and the males that work there are very nice but not as helpful as I would hope.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Why not, "I am a male and I do not care about the gender of the employee?" I see no reason for no preference. I talk to them all the same.
08/08/2011
Contributor: Elaira Elaira
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
Why not, "I am a male and I do not care about the gender of the employee?" I see no reason for no preference. I talk to them all the same.
Most people would say they don't have a preference, but it's more of a "would you rather?" situation. I thought about putting that as an option, but I really wanted to see where the real preference was.
08/09/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by wetone123
It does not bother me to deal with the male clerks, but like someone else said, the female clerks talk more and seem to care more about helping you. Since I found Eden, I have not visited a regular store. This arrangement seems best for me
Ditto
08/09/2011
Contributor: Dear Ruby Dear Ruby
I didn't answer, just because I have no preference. As long as the staff is knowledgeable about their goods, it's fine.
08/09/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
Why not, "I am a male and I do not care about the gender of the employee?" I see no reason for no preference. I talk to them all the same.
This is me too.

For most anything, confidence is key. I don't really care what bits they have or display as having, if they know what they're talking about, that's good enough for me.
08/09/2011