Did a shop recently at an adult themed store, and one of the blips in the guidelines said that if an employee made any suggestive sells (not exact wording, but that was the idea), you had to have a discussion about it. The way I understand it was that they wanted me to ask about features, advantages, disadvantages, etc... Seemed a little awkward going in, but I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone lately.

So there I am, doing the shop, browsing the adult toys waiting to see if I am approached, and after about three minutes, I am. I happen to be looking at something intended for males (don't ask, I'm not going into details here, and I'm still not sure how it was supposed to work), and a female approaches me says something about me being into the kinky stuff. Okay, I'm turning red. I'm speechless. All that is going through my mind at that moment is me having to bail and not getting paid. Then the woman says something about preferring the "real thing". Okay, this was just getting weird. I'm trying to hold it together to finish the shop and I'm trying to stay in the conversation, and this woman ends up basically asking me if I wanted to leave with her and try out some of HER toys. What the hell, over? Once I got my composure back (barely), I mumbled something about being married and walked away. I'll get into what was going through my head in a minute. So I'm quickly browsing for something to buy, and she walks to the counter.....and checks out. All this time I thought she was an employee, she was just a customer. There was some pimple faced goth wanna-be teenage (looking) boy behind the counter. I wasn't sure how to handle any of it, but made a small purchase and left.

I drove to a Kmart and parked to fill out the paperwork, and realized a couple of things. First, other than checking out, I didn't actually have an interaction with an employee. Second, if the only ACTUAL employee I saw had tried to interact with me, there was no way in hell I was gonna discuss this type of item with THAT employee. That was a line I just couldn't cross.

Third, when I THOUGHT I was talking to an employee, I ended up bailing on the conversation. I mean, okay, what are the advantages and disadvantages of going home with her? What were her features. Was she durable?

I ended up cancelling the shop without explanation other than I made a scheduling mistake and adding a huge apology.

My wife was the one that told me that I should try to step outside of my comfort zone, and do things on shops that I wouldn't normally do. Somehow, I don't think she would have understand if I had "purchased the product" offered.

I give you all my sympathy. If she had been an employee, it would have given new meaning to the phrase, "suggestive selling."

I would have had so much fun with this one.

"No thank you, I'm not into bestiality."

I think if I was to do this shop, I would expect things like this to happen.

Because of that, I probably would not do it. But, that's me.

What a shame it was a bad experience for you. There is one adult shop I've shopped now for 7 years - for 3 different MSCs - and I'm sorry that your first experience was so bad you likely will not elect to ever do them again. I've found them wonderfully easy shops. The first time I did one, I found it very uncomfortable. I've not been to other adult stores, but I've heard stories about the "back room" and the "under the counter porn" and the old guy at the cash register who looks you up and down. The ones here (the chain I shop has two local stores) strives for a clean-cut, professional image in a safe, neighborhood-type atmosphere. They hire young college-age or just-out-of-college-age females who are well groomed and neatly dressed, rather conservatively. They look like they would fit in on any college campus with the run-of-the-mill, average students, not the trendy or outlandish, and not the nerdy, just average, like the next door neighbor kid you would let babysit your kids with no worries. They are breezy and upbeat and they discuss some of the "equipment' in a casual, professional way, without embarrassment. After my first visit, I've become significantly relaxed about it and I am comfortable asking "what is that?" and "how does that work?" and saying "woooo-ooo, that might be too much for me...." with an eye-roll. I can see how a male might be uncomfortable - and being approached by another customer in such an aggressive way (maybe she was selling, only not for the store?).....

A 30-year old male family member has done this shop a few times. He buys lingerie and stockings for his girlfriend. He said he was intensely uncomfortable the first time and said the young salesgirl reminded him of a 17-year-old in his Sunday School class. He said he got over the discomfort very fast because she was casual and relaxed and talked about the products in a professional way. He said they might have been discussing garden equipment at Lowe's! We went together once - that was fun - I'm sure the employees didn't know what to make of us - was his aunt, mother, or a cougar?

I hope you'll get past the awkwardness because if this is similar to the ones I do, they are SO easy. If going alone is not mandatory (it is not for the shops I do), maybe you and your wife could go together. I love these shops - they keep me in panties, pantyhose, and cute thigh-high stockings with satin bows at the top.

I think that woman was selling herself.

I would LOVE to do one of these shops! I have been in there with a bf (not a shop) and have had sooooo much fun! We really pushed the limit on the sales person by asking kinky questions and he responded back! Let's put it this way, he was on the same page as us. When we got rolling, we wanted to see if we could make his face RED! They are a lot of fun if you get a good salesman, so far we did...

I've never been in an adult shop alone and it's helpful to have an open-minded friend with you

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2014 09:04PM by SunnyDays2.

I keep trying to get them and they keep going to someone else.

But this experience was a bit over the top. I wonder if that hooker hangs out there all the time and if the store knows it. (I don't believe she was just a customer or just a horny bystander who happened to wander in.)

If you are ever shopping and need a cheap "filler" purchase almost every one of these sells cheap batteries for the toys. They are behind the counter but it adds to the receipt if needed.

I reallllly wanna do one of these shops. I think they would be hilariously fun.

I did one in NYC recently. The shop requirements were that you had to buy one of three "toys," and it only had a $20 reimbursement amount with a $10 payment. Looking on the website, I saw most of the toys cost considerably more than the reimbursement amount, but I did manage to find something that cost just under $20, and another very similar toy that cost just over the reimbursement amount online, so when I went to the store I was prepared. Since you had to have an employee interaction and ask a question, I asked the female employee what was the difference between the two toys and was told there was no difference, but I knew there was a slight difference, so I knew I could say on my report that she didn't get answer the question correctly. It was easy.

Had I not gone on the website it would have been a lot harder to do the shop. Having specific toys in mind to ask about made it much easier.

Funny enough though, I decided to do some further research, and some of the more expensive toys for women that were in the $60 range on the store's website are available on ebay for $20 or less. Something to think about.

I doubt I would do another one of these without a significant raise in the reimbursement amount.