www.vibrator.com
Grade: B

Review Summary: Vibrator.com provides all the basics required for a trust-worthy online sex toy store. They have a huge number of categories and individual items, making it very easy for you to find exactly what you are looking for, from the basic vibrator to the unique novelty or clothing item, to furniture and DVDs. Although there is little in the way of a “community” feel, and there is no information on the company itself, there is a great blog which is updated regularly with interesting topics, and the “news” and “education” sections also add some personality to the site. There are some decent website features, and plenty of information regarding subjects such as terms and conditions, help topics, privacy policy, and shipping. If a community/personal feel is not important to you, and you are just interested in buying a quality product, with various shipping options, discreet billing and packaging, decent prices, and a reasonable return policy, then head over to Vibrator.com.

Pros: Advanced search functions, active and interesting blog, free shipping on orders over $75, huge selection of bachelor/bachelorette party items, category for “green toys”, fun gift sets/kits, extensive selection of games, customer reviews are easy to create and add

Cons: Customer reviews are often too short to be very helpful, no user rating of products, product descriptions and information are inconsistent in detail and format, user registration/account required for order, no bargains/sale/clearance category

Criteria used to calculate grade: (see more info on our grading system here.):
Quantity of products = 9
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 7
Frequent new product releases = 8
Prices/value = 8
Website navigation/ease of use = 8
Useful features = 8
Delivery/shipping policies = 9
Customer service/tech support = 8
Return policies = 9
TOTAL = 83 (B)

Item Categories Available: adult books, adult DVDs, bachelor/bachelorette party items, BDSM/bondage, brand name products, condoms, costumes, edible treats, erotic music, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, sexy clothing for men, sex furniture, aphrodisiacs, gift certificates, toy storage and cleaners, sex machines

Website Features: All items refundable (if unopened, damaged or incorrect), articles/news, blog, confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing and shipping, educational articles, international shipping, live customer service (for placing orders only), merchant pays for return shipping (if damaged or incorrect), newsletter, customer reviews, search function, security/SSL, shipping rates available, wishlists, easy to create customer reviews, resources page, A-Z product map

Shipping Options: UPS, USPS (Priority Mail and Express Mail), Canada USPS, Canada FedEx Int’l Ground, Int’l USPS Global Priority

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Vibrator.com gift certificate, check, money order, cashier’s check (U.S. only)

www.extremerestraints.com
Grade: B-

Review Summary:
Clearly, Extreme Restraints knows the fetish/bondage/BDSM market and community. And although their focus is on that specific niche, they still do a great job at providing a wide range of sex toy products. Customers can find basic sex toys amongst the bondage items, however the website is quite obviously marketed towards and favors the fetish niche. Within this context, the site is organized well, and is easy to navigate. It has various useful features, and with the inclusion of a links page, information on events, product guides, and a regularly updated blog, this website provides an active community vibe. The individual product information is basic at best, however there are usually helpful customer comments and reviews. It is noticeable, however, that the majority of customer reviews are 4 to 5 (out of 5) stars. In comparison to product reviews on many other websites, this is a relatively high average, and therefore should be taken into account when using these reviews to determine whether or not to make a purchase. That being said, the reviews and also the customer testimonials attest to the great job Extreme Restraints does at providing quality products on a quality website.

Pros: Extreme Rewards Program (5% credit for every purchase made), easy site navigation, great product guides, lots of bargain items, and an annual drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree, extensive list of categories, regularly updated blog, extensive list of links/resources, daily specials

Cons: Not much product information, shipping is above average for orders over $40, no “most popular items” category, website layout is limited to only the fetish/bondage niche, no refunds/exchanges on items deemed a “health risk”, two non-working links (Kink Pay Per View, and New Gallery)

Criteria used to calculate grade (see more info on our grading system here):
Quantity of products = 9
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 7
Frequent new product releases = 8
Prices/value = 8
Website navigation/ease of use = 9
Useful features = 8
Delivery/shipping policies = 9
Customer service/tech support = 8
Return policies = 7
TOTAL = 82 (B-)

Item Categories Available: Adult books (fetish only), adult DVDs, Adult video on demand/pay per view, BDSM/bondage, brand name products, budget/bargain items, condoms, costumes, edible treats, erotic music, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, electrosex gear, fucking machines, chastity machines, enema supplies, sex furniture, medical toys

Website Features: Items refundable if defective, event information, blog, confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing and shipping, how to guides/information/education, international shipping, live customer service, newsletter, blog RSS, online order tracking, regular promotions (including daily specials), reviews (customer), search functions, security/SSL, shipping rates available, wishlists, Extreme Rewards Program (5% credit for every purchase made), Extreme Dating/personals, FAQs, customer testimonials, links page, “In The Press” page

Shipping Options: UPS, USPS

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, check, money orders, Gift Vouchers

Discreet-Romance.com
Current Grade: B-

Review Summary: Discreet Romance provides not only the popular sex toys at reasonable prices, but it also provides some helpful and interesting resources. The all-important main landing page is organized very well, and incorporates a variety of ways to check out the site from the get-go, including “Fun Places”, “Shop By Price”, and “Start Here” links. The “search” and “sort by” functions are a great way to find exactly the sex toy you are looking for. The site provides several ways for users/consumers to interact including a blog and an adult community (forum.) Although usually sex toy websites that provide that “community” feel also tend to provide a history and background on the company and/or it’s owner(s), that is one area that is lacking with Discreet-Romance. But, in general this is a place you can expect to find a good sex toy at a reasonable price, have it billed and shipped discreetly and securely, and get a discount as a return customer.

Pros: Search by price, manufacturer name, or most popular, sort searches by various factors, return customer discounts, almost 3,000 toys on sale (at the time of the review), extensive shipping information, adult news/articles/community/blog, “good” rating at BizRate, UPS vs. USPS comparison on shipping page, extensive FAQ page

Cons: Credit card payment only (no check/money order), product information doesn’t show if item is in stock, links for “Just Arrived” and “New Arrivals” but there is nothing listed, no live customer service, no wishlists, orders placed on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday are shipped Monday (due to UPS business hours)

Criteria used to calculate grade (see more info on our grading system here.):
Quantity of products = 8
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 8
Frequent new product releases = 8
Prices/value = 9
Website navigation/ease of use = 8
Useful features = 8
Delivery/shipping = 8
Customer Service/Tech Support = 7
Return Policies = 8
TOTAL = 81 (B-)

Item categories available: adult books, adult DVDs, bachelor(ette)/sex toy party items, BDSM/bondage/fetish, brand name products, budget/bargain/sale items, condoms, edible treats, erotic music, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, audio erotica, deluxe sex toys, sex machines, live phone sex, furniture, deluxe sex toys, party ware, furniture/props, aphrodisiacs, toy cleaners, men’s wear, love dolls

Website features: Refund/exchange/credit for defective items only, articles/news, blog, confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing/shipping, “how to” guides/information/education, international shipping, merchant pays for return shipping if item is defective, e-mail updates for registered users, online order tracking, regular promotions/deals/sales, staff and customer reviews, customer ratings, search functions, security/SSL, adult community (forum)

Shipping Options: UPS Ground, UPS 2nd Day, UPS Overnight, USPS Priority

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover

www.stockroom.com
Grade: B-

Review Summary:
Within the BDSM/bondage/fetish community, JT’s Stockroom is well-known and well-loved. But don’t let the emphasis on this niche fool you. In addition to probably the best online selection of BDSM/fetish items, Stockroom has a wide variety of other sex toys and adult items. They are the oldest sex toy company on the internet, and have been in the sex toy industry for far longer, which means they are experts at what they do. Whether you are curious, inexperienced, or know exactly what you want, Stockroom is worth checking out.

Pros: One of the top online sources for BDSM, bondage, and fetish items; great reputation in the BDSM community; huge variety of sex toys (BDSM and non-BDSM); signature items made by/for Stockroom, custom items available

Cons: No “how to guides”, no reviews of products, some pages of the website aren’t kept up to date

Criteria used to calculate grade (see more info on our grading system here.):
Quantity of products = 9
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 5
Frequent new product releases = 8
Prices/value = 8
Website navigation/ease of use = 8
Useful features = 7
Delivery/shipping = 8
Customer service/tech support = 9
Return policies = 9
TOTAL = 80 (B-)

Item categories available: adult books, adult DVDs, adult video on demand, BDSM/bondage/fetish, brand name products, budget/bargain items, condoms, costumes, edible treats, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, custom items, storage, sex machines, fetish wear, gift certificates

Website Features: Product exchanges available on defective/damaged/incorrect items, brick and mortar store (Los Angeles, CA), confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing and shipping, international shipping, live customer service, mailing list, online order tracking, regular promotions/deals/sales, shipping rates available, search function, security/SSL, wishlists, daily special, print catalog, eCards, wallpapers/screensavers, image galleries, customer feedback, forum, links, personals

Shipping Options: UPS, USPS, DHL, Fed Ex

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, JBC, check, money order, COD

http://www.sextoysex.com
Grade: B-

Review Summary: With an extremely large selection of products and categories, Sex Toy Sex is sure to have everything you are looking for. The company has been in the sex toy business for almost 15 years, and based on this experience it successfully provides all the essentials for an online sex toy store. The look of the site is very clean, and well-organized, and it is generally easy to navigate. What it lacks in “personality” (no blogs, “how to” articles, newsletter, etc.), it makes up for in solid performance: a fast-loading site, privacy, customer service, a variety of payment options, and respectable shipping rates. And if it’s personality you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed with it’s owner, Sex Toy Dave, who has made a name for himself in the Hollywood scene and most notably as a client on Bravo’s hit TV show, Millionaire Matchmaker. But with or without the owner’s celebrity status, Sex Toy Sex is a winner.

Pros: Fast loading site, “What’s New” and “Bestsellers” categories, favorites list, advanced search functions, huge quantity of products and categories, plenty of payment options including wire transfer

Cons: Only one view of product on product page, product reviews not notated on product page, no “sort by” option for search results, no sale/bargain category, search function includes DVDs in results (no way to separate)

Criteria used to calculate grade: (see more info on our grading system here.):
Quantity of products = 9
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 7
Frequent new product releases = 9
Prices/value = 8
Website navigation/ease of use = 8
Useful features = 6
Delivery/shipping = 8
Customer Service/Tech support = 8
Return policies = 8
TOTAL = 80 (B-)

Item Categories Available: adult books, adult DVDs, adult video on demand/pay per view, bachelor(ette) party items, BDSM/bondage/fetish, brand name products, condoms, costumes, edible treats, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, live webcams, love dolls, aphrodisiacs, enema/douche items, paint-on clothes, toy storage and cleaners

Website Features: credit/exchange for defective items only, confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing and shipping, international shipping, return shipping reimbursed if it is prearranged and meets criteria, online order tracking, customer reviews, search functions, security/SSL, shipping rates available, favorites list, product description includes ability to see products with similar features, ASACP Approved Member

Shipping Options: UPS, USPS Priority Mail for U.S. orders

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, personal check, money order/bank check, wire transfer

http://www.somethingsexyplanet.com
Grade: C

Review Summary: With two retail locations, Something Sexy Planet has certainly earned it’s expertise in the world of adult sex toys. The personality of the store is evident on the pages of the website, however it is obvious that the focus of the company is it’s retail stores first, and then it’s website. The site is simple, generally easy to navigate, and the variety of products available is surprisingly vast, given the modest number of total products. It is not lacking any of the essential ingredients of a good online sex toy store, and it provides some nice features, such as a customer service 800# and online customer service (although the hours are not posted on the website.) Overall, Something Sexy Planet provides the basics (in product and website options), and does so in a user-friendly format.

Pros: Bestsellers, sale, and latest arrivals lists on the main page, e-mail discounts including instant savings on first order, customer service 800# and online live help

Cons: Modest number of products, no product reviews or ratings, pre-checked addition of batteries to cart (when purchasing an item requiring batteries), no video on demand/pay per view

Criteria used to calculate grade: (see more info on our grading system here.):
Quantity of products = 6
Variety of categories = 9
Product information = 7
Frequent new product releases = 8
Prices/value = 7
Website navigation/ease of use = 7
Useful features = 7
Delivery/shipping = 7
Customer Service/Tech support = 8
Return policies = 8
TOTAL = 74 (C)

Item categories available: adult books, adult DVDs, bachelor(ette) party items, BDSM/bondage/fetish, brand name products, budget/bargain/sale items, condoms, costumes, edible treats, erotic music, gay sex toys, jewelry, lesbian sex toys, lingerie, lubes/lotions/candles, novelties/gifts/games, sex toys for couples, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, hottest sellers list, sex dolls, hi-tech adult toys, sex swings/machines/furniture, discount products

Website features: Brick and mortar stores, confidentiality/privacy policy, discreet billing/shipping, live customer service, e-mail list, online order tracking, regular promotions/deals/sales, search function, security/SSL, links/resources, site map, link to a YouTube.com video, featured/mentioned in various publications

Shipping Options: UPS Overnight or 2nd Day Air, USPS Priority Mail (2-3 day service)

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, check, money order