The New Intimacy

Does where a toy is made impact your purchase?

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Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Recently, while reviewing a Doc Johnson toy, I noticed a sticker on the box that said "Made in America," and it got me thinking about where my toys are made. I know that, where I live, there has been a movement to buy products made in the United States whenever possible.

Does it matter to you if the sex toys you buy are made in your country, or is that factor totally irrelevant?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I will only buy toys manufactured in my country.
2  (2%)
I like to buy toys manufactured in my country, but it isn't a big selling point.
59  (60%)
I will never buy toys manufactured in my country.
I do not like to buy toys manufactured in my country, but it isn't a big selling point.
Where the toy is manufactured doesn't matter to me at all.
27  (28%)
I am undecided/Other/Don't know/I'm just here for the party.
10  (10%)
Total votes: 98
Poll is closed
10/26/2010
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Contributor: lamira lamira
I just buy toys that I enjoy. But I have noticed that a lot of the higher quality toys are from Europe and I do enjoy them.
10/26/2010
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
If I bought toys only from my country, I dont believe I'd have too many. I buy toys that I like the look and idea of.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
I think I voted wrong...hmm.

I don't really pay attention to where my toys are made until I come across information in the manual or on the box that tells me where the toy was born. I try to stay away from anything made in China. They have less stringent rules for what goes into their products, and we all remember the lead problems.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Hot'n'Bothered Hot'n'Bothered
Honestly, I've never really paid attention to where they are made.

That being said, I guess it really doesn't matter to me!
10/27/2010
Contributor: gone77 gone77
It's not a big selling point for me, but like lamira said a lot of high quality toys come from Europe and I do take note of that.
10/27/2010
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
I think I would only be concerned with products from China.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Throwingawaysoon Throwingawaysoon
The only countries that I will not buy from are China and Japan. I bought a couple of things from there and they were really low quality and they were way too small for me.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Mr. E Mr. E
As others have stated, there are a lot of high quality toys coming from Europe, but so far nobody has pointed out all the great American manufactured products.

A majority, yes...a majority of our toys were actually manufactured right here in the U.S.A.
Tantus, Vixen Creations and Sportsheets are all American brands...made in California. That counts right.

Most of the crappy toys that we have purchased were manufactured in China, so we try to stay away from the brands that we associate with the Chinese crap. But, there are Chinese exceptions. Njoy manufactures their high quality plugs and wands...in China. I would not hesitate to purchase or recommend an Njoy product. So maybe its less of a country issue and more of a brand issue.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. E
As others have stated, there are a lot of high quality toys coming from Europe, but so far nobody has pointed out all the great American manufactured products.

A majority, yes...a majority of our toys were actually manufactured right here in ... more
Very true! Forgot about Njoy. They are flawless and wonderfully crafted.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Avant-garde Avant-garde
there are Japanese products I would like tryout but, I am concerned about what may be in them. I prefer products made within the US.
10/27/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
I prefer to avoid products made in China whenever possible, in all aspects of my life. My first toy purchase was definitely directly influenced by a made in the USA sticker on a Doc Johnson box.
10/27/2010
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. E
As others have stated, there are a lot of high quality toys coming from Europe, but so far nobody has pointed out all the great American manufactured products.

A majority, yes...a majority of our toys were actually manufactured right here in ... more
Wow, I did not realize that Njoy was made in China. I am definitely going to purchase an Njoy product one day, so I'll agree it is more of a brand and maybe material issue.
10/27/2010
Contributor: Gary Gary
I never notice, care, or think about it when it comes to anything.
10/28/2010
Contributor: DustBunny DustBunny
Toys aren't like produce to me, they aren't purchased in such a quantity by me that it will keep someone working. I base my purchases on many things, but where it's made is not one of them. I am always sad to see a toy die and whether it was made in the US or China is doesn't change the fact that it's life span has ended. I've not see something last longer just because it was made in the US, but again it's quickly out of mind after the purchase.

I'm most concerned about my toy being safe for me, no horrid smell, easily cleaned and is waterproof is it says it is.
11/04/2010
Contributor: Liz2 Liz2
I used to be more concerned but now I usually buy by manufacture, from those that I am familiar with. I was concerned about "jelly" type toys as the "jelly" was a mystery material. I just no longer use jelly type toys.
I would never buy lube made in a foreign country, either.
11/04/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
I think I voted wrong...hmm.

I don't really pay attention to where my toys are made until I come across information in the manual or on the box that tells me where the toy was born. I try to stay away from anything made in China. They have ... more
Agreed. This is why I state a toy is made in China in my cons if it seems questionable.

It would affect my purchase more if it were displayed on eden where they are made. I often do not know until I receive the item.

In terms of other products...hell yea I buy American. I support companies like Colgate buy only buying Colgate for example.

It is a the biggest factor for me when buying on sites like EBAY. If it says from China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand...anything like that...it's a big no.
11/11/2010
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by ~LaUr3n~
Agreed. This is why I state a toy is made in China in my cons if it seems questionable.

It would affect my purchase more if it were displayed on eden where they are made. I often do not know until I receive the item.

In terms of other ... more
Maybe the addition of the toy's manufacturing company location is something EF will consider adding to the product specs!
11/11/2010
Contributor: mllebeauty mllebeauty
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
Maybe the addition of the toy's manufacturing company location is something EF will consider adding to the product specs!
I think this is a great idea. I prefer to buy high quality toys made with safe ingredients. Even more I love supporting local companies, which in California, I am provided with multiple opportunities to do. That said, I do buy and use European products. My first priority really is getting high quality, safe toys, second supporting our economy.
11/26/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
While I'm not strict about buying American, I am fairly strict in my personal habits when it comes to buying products made in China, because I do not wish to support that country's labor practices and human rights violations. When I receive something that was made in China, even unknowningly, I feel horribly guilty knowing that my enjoyment of it was made possible at the expense of someone else's suffering.

I try to buy things made in the US, things in countries that have known fair labor laws, or products approved by the Fair Trade folks. If I don't know a country's labor standards, I find out before making a major purchase, or before making a habit of purchasing any specific consumable product.

There are items on this site which I would like, but which I do feel obligated to avoid for these reasons.
11/26/2010
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
Quote:
Originally posted by lamira
I just buy toys that I enjoy. But I have noticed that a lot of the higher quality toys are from Europe and I do enjoy them.
Agreed
11/26/2010
Contributor: Porfiriato Porfiriato
Where a toy is made has never come into my decision making process
12/02/2010
Contributor: UnknownGirl UnknownGirl
You know, normally I don't really care (I know I should), but with sex toys I actually do care, and it is a selling point if the toy is made in the US. I just feel weird putting something in my vagina that was made in China.
12/02/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
The Japanese concern is odd. They used to be cheap/low quality, but for many things Japan is the equal of almost anyone (at least for the last 35 or so years). Since all the stuff came out about China I will admit concern there (the Chinese stuff used to be shoddy, but the callous disregard for safety that's come out over the past 5 years is extremely troubling) The bad news is that with the modern economy you never know when contaminated raw materials have been used somewhere.

The toys made in the US and Europe do seem to be of fantastic quality.
12/03/2010
Contributor: namelesschaos namelesschaos
I honestly don't notice. The only toy that I specifically noted where it was made is the Lucky 13 but that only because the packaging made it absolutely impossible to miss that fact that everything about the vibe is European.
12/03/2010
Contributor: CafeSabroso CafeSabroso
I'm not sure how much of an impact country of origin has. It seems more to be how much the company cares about quality. Some of my least favorite toys have been manufactured in America by Doc Johnson. At the same time my favorites, Tantus and Vixen, are also made in America, in the same state as Doc Johnson, California. Another of my favorites, the Pipedreams Icicles line is manufactured in China. However, some of the worst quality toys I've purchase were manufactured in China by Topco. All in all, the company's reputation for quality is far more important than the country of origin.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
I don't even check to see where they are made. If I like it, and if I want it, I buy it.

I went to the store with my mom a while back and picked something up off the shelf. It stated "made in china" on the side and she grabbed it so fast and threw it back on the shelf saying "Made in China! No - Don't get that! Get this brand instead."

Shopping by myself is so much easier...
12/03/2010
Contributor: B8trDude B8trDude
Quote:
Originally posted by leatherlover
I think I would only be concerned with products from China.
I'm the same way. I would prefer that no toys (or anything else) I use come from there. American, Canadian, and European Countries are fine.
12/04/2010
Contributor: TheSexista TheSexista
I would prefer toys make in the US, but most are not. So I try not even to pay it any mind when I am toy shopping.
12/04/2010
Contributor: Mr. E Mr. E
Quote:
Originally posted by TheSexista
I would prefer toys make in the US, but most are not. So I try not even to pay it any mind when I am toy shopping.
Sexista,

If you would prefer American toys, try Sportsheets, Tantus Silicone and Vixen Creations. As I stated in my earlier post they are all manufactured in California. Additionally, we just purchased our first Liberator product. It was manufactured in Georgia. I would not hesitate to recommend any of these brands.
12/07/2010