Sex Toy Retailers That Use Comments for Spam

May 31st, 2012

I’m sick of this shit, you guys. I get so many spam comments, and Akismet is great at catching them, but it seems like sex toy retailers think comment spam is okay. You know what? It’s not. Not today. Not yesterday. Not ever. In fact, I have a few more thoughts on this:

  • Bloggers should never click this links to comment spam, because it registers as traffic with Google.
  • No consumers should purchase from the douchebags.
  • Sex toy retailers should only comment on blogs like mine if they’re willing to use a name and not the name of the sex toy store. Period.
  • Finally, people who use comment spam deserve to be called on it.

 

Thus, without further ado, here is a list of evildoers. Please send me the spammers who wind up in your comments folder, and I’ll add them, too!

  1. upsextoys.co.uk
  2. toysboutique.net
  3. sexetoystore.com
  4. redapple.dk
  5. pennylanes.co.nz
  6. sexhotshop.net
  7. ohmygodes.fr
  8. lolatoys.com
  9. sextoysdiva.com
  10. wantsextoys.com
  11. discretionadultstore.com.au
  12. strap-ontoys.com
  13. sexe-toy-shop.com
  14. VIBRATORBLOG.COM
  15. tailledupenis.fr
  16. ohmygodes.fr
  17. myeldoradostore.com/warning.php?a=fifthelementtoys
  18. nltsecrets.net
  19. suctioncupdildo.org
  20. pimentaselvagem.com.br
  21. ladieslittlesecrets.co.uk
  22. double-ended-dildos.com
  23. seefreecams.com (Cams, but close enough!)
  24. sexetoystore.com
  25. captaincreams.com
  26. supercochons.com/
  27. achetersextoys.net
  28. adulttoysforless.net/
  29. pinkcherryaffiliate.com/sextoys.php?id=1513 (An affiliate, not PinkCherry. I’d never do this!)
  30. venusandmarssextoys.com
  31. naughty-sins.co.uk
  32. adultnolveltees.blogspot.com
  33. sextoysbyadultnolveltees.blogspot.com
  34. hiddendrawer.co.uk
  35. toyswin.com
  36. fun-4-two.co.uk
  37. thefreeporn.org/tag/blowjob/page/2?paged=10
  38. pornoevi.com
  39. madamfox.com
  40. sussextoys.com
  41. kinkytime.com.au
  42. naughtyboytoyz.com
  43. upscalestripper.com
  44. testunsextoy.com
  45. wegotthatvibe.com
  46. sexyvibratingpanties.com
  47. lingerieisland.co.uk
  48. sextoys-dildos.com
  49. achetersextoys.fr
  50. strap-ontoys.com
  51. fredsextoysstore.com
  52. bollywoodsextoy.com
  53. deluxetoys.fr
  54. strap-ontoys.com
  55. mysextoy.org

Please link this post, if you like it. If you’re in the habit of sometimes shopping around for toys and sometimes user lesser-known sites, making the effort to avoid these goes a long way to the blogger community and to promoting respect, transparent tactics and professionalism in the long run.

If you’re on this list, there’s nothing you can do to remove yourself from it. Sorry that you’re an asshole.

3 Comments

Categories: internet

Beginner Bondage Kit Giveaway

May 31st, 2012

Ah, to have someone whom I can tie up and whip. Such is the dream. Of course, many of you do have that someone, and you might find this giveaway is right up your alley. MyPleasure is sponsoring this beginner’s bondage kit for a giveaway, and it’s freaking adorable. Some of the hardware, rather than being O-rings, are heart-shaped. It’s a little late for Valentine’s Day, but I still like it. That’s why I want to offer it for you at a giveaway item.

This kit consists of:

  • Heart Ring Ankle Cuffs
  • Heart Ring Tethers
  • Heart Ring Bondage Kit
  • Large Satin Bag

It features black and red designed, with faux-fur lining on the cuffs. One of the nice things about this set is that it already includes tethers, so you don’t need to buy your own. Additionally, the blindfold is one that is actually contoured, rather than the simple satin ones that so often come in kits. I think I would have been much happier with this one, rather than some of the kits I’d tried in the past.

If you’re interested in entering, please lease a comment for each and every entry type, below. If you don’t do the mandatory entry, then none of the other ones will count. Remember, you can tweet on a daily basis to get extra entries!

  • Tell me whether you’ll be the tied up or the one doing the tying with this kit. –Mandatory.
  • Visit the MyPleasure blog and leave a comment. Paste the URL to your comment below.
  • Leave a relevant/thoughtful comment on any other recent (three months or so) post. Leave a comment here with a link to your comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway (once daily). For example: Adriana s giving away a beginner bondage kit courtesy @My_Pleasure. Visit of Sex and Love to enter https://ofsexandlove.com/?p=4031 Ends 6/15
  • Stumble/like this post on StumbleUpon (you can find a handy Share/Save widget on every post page that allows you to submit this post to social bookmarking sites).
  • Blog about this giveaway, including a link directly to this post.
  • Subscribe to my feed via email. With my new FeedBurner URL, you can receive updates straight to your inbox. Comment with the email address you used on FeedBurner for this to count!

 Giveaway will end on June 15 and is open to residents of the US, 18+.

80 Comments

Categories: Giveaways

Wet Naturals Beautifully Bare

May 26th, 2012

Wet Naturals Beautifully Bare

Wet Naturals Beautifully Bare
14.79 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

You’ve probably tried Wet Naturals. I say this with confidence because sex toy retailers like PinkCherry frequently send sample packets with your order. In fact, I have a few random flavored straggles in my nightstand. In fact, it was a packet of the silicone-based version that ruined my Spur. Third world problems.

I’m not overly fond of the packets. They’re not super easy to use and I can never get the right amount of product, so I was glad to try a full-sized bottle when the opportunity to work with Wet arose.

Let me preface this by saying I enjoyed the Beautifully Bare lube when I first used it. It was an interesting experience. My toys felt lubricated but I couldn’t necessarily feel the lubrication. It was the most natural feeling lube I’d used. However, I just didn’t love it as much the second time around. I think it’s because it’s a thinner lube and it winds up running down my toys and hands, making a mess. I’ve definitely come to like slightly thicker lubes better for play with toys. When you consider that all my play involves toys these days, you can see how this would affect how I feel about this lube.

Although thin, it feels pretty slick at first. Unfortunately, it dries up right quick with a little friction. I don’t need a necessarily super long-lasting lube, but this will be a break it factor for some consumers. There are longer lasting water-based lubes and, of course, silicone-based lubes will last much longer. The company does make a silicone-based variant in the Wet Naturals line, which has just five ingredients.

On the other hand, if you like a light lube, this one might do the trick. It’s compatible with all types of play and toy materials. It has no odors or colors and the push-top bottle is easy to use, with a little indentation on the side that makes it easier to hold. The embossed “Wet” logo adds to that, even if your hand is fully of the runny lube.

The ingredients list doesn’t include any sugars or parabens, but Wet Naturals does have a lot of natural extracts, including grape seed extract and aloe vera. Wet Naturals is also slightly cheaper from most retailers than other organic or sensitive lubes, so this might be a good alternative if you’re into that.

Compared to some of the other natural or organic lubes I’ve used, I like this a bit better. This is mostly because it’s truly tasteless and odorless and has no funky color. It’ll more than do in a pinch, but it’s not my favorite lube either.

2 Comments

Categories: Lube, Reviews

Want to Advertise on a Sex Toy Review Blog? Read This First

May 22nd, 2012

I am so incredibly grateful for the retailers, communities, video sites and other advertisers who have decided to purchase text or banner links on my website. It really helps pay the bills and let me have a few extra dollars of expendable cash. However, sometimes the process of working with an advertiser can be pretty frustrating and awkwardly drawn out. I know that my fellow bloggers feel the same, and sometimes this is only because advertisers may not be familiar with working with individual bloggers like myself. Sometimes your offer is just not worth my time and effort for the money, and I think that says a lot. While I am grateful for your money, my time is valuable to me, too.

If you’re thinking about buying advertising for me, it’ll go a lot more smoothly if you keep these things in mind.

Negotiating Prices

  • My rates are listed, under that pretty obvious banner on the sidebar. If you ask me for them, I will send you directly to that page. They’re flat rates, for the most part. A year is equal to 12 times the price per month for your location or type of link. If you sent me an email using the form on this page, then you already know the rates. Period.
  • We expect a little bit of negotiating, but don’t be rude. Our space and time is important, and you shouldn’t pit us against other bloggers. It’s, quite simply, disgusting.
  • When it comes to prices, know how much you want to spend before you contact us. If we absolutely can’t agree on a price, stop wasting our time and let us know (see above).

Communicating

  • If you want us to trust you, use an actual company email address.
  • Be courteous in your messages and reply on time. We know that things come up, but everyone should act like a professional. If we have to send multiple emails, we’re going to be annoyed. You would be, too.
  • Do not tell us you’ll get back to us “within a day” and not come through with it. You look like someone who can’t do his job properly.
  • Don’t give us the runaround about how you have to contact so-and-so. Just do it and then get back to us with the pertinent information.

Provide Appropriate Content and Anchor Text

  • When it comes to reading, take the time to read our blogs. Sure, I’ve listed a few anchors that aren’t exactly sex toys, but there are some topics that just don’t make sense for me to be writing about or linking to on Of Sex and Love.
  • Consider something other than “sex toys” as the anchor text. I understand the SEO value; at least, I did before Google released Penguin. Now, more than ever, you want relevant links like your store or website name.

Payment

  • Pay in a timely manner, whether it’s a one-time payment or a recurring plan. We shouldn’t have to nag you like a child.
  • Bloggers don’t typically fill out W9s. Period. If you ask, you’ll only come off as a scam artist.
  • Don’t send payment for renewed advertising if we haven’t agreed on it.

Miscellaneous

  • Even if your “sex toys” link makes perfect sense on my blog, you might not get links or sales. This isn’t my fault. You’re not paying for a landing page, just a link.
  • On that note, just because a blogger offers a sidebar link, doesn’t mean he will do sponsored posts. I do, but I may be the exception and not the rule.
  • As a blogger, we’re happy to talk about advertising. If you’re a sex toy shop, you might wonder if we also want to review. Please ask us before sending us toys. We may not want to review for you. Advertising and reviewing are two separate business interactions.

I may not own The New York Times, but I obviously have something to offer, if you’re interested in advertising. Be kind, be polite and consider how you’d feel if you were in my shoes. A little courtesy always goes a long way.

3 Comments

Categories: Articles

Tantus Acute

May 20th, 2012

Tantus Acute

Tantus Acute
$42.49 from Of Sex and Love Store

Sometimes, there are things that you just don’t get from a product page. In the case of the Acute, a silicone dildo by Tantus, it’s all about size and texture. I always thought that this dildo was a lot bigger than it is. I tend to pay more attention to pictures than measurements, so I was pleasantly surprised after removing it from its package.

This little G-spot dildo is, well, little. With a total of 6″, five of which are insertable, it isn’t intimidating in the least. Plus, it only has a diameter of 1.25″ at its largest. This makes it great for people like me, with picky cervixes. I don’t want to say this is necessarily good for beginners, but it might be the better option for an intro to anal play — if the length is long enough for that.

What also makes this piece appealing to me is its flexibility. It’s not the Super Soft because it uses a regular silicone treatment. It is, however, much softer than the Goliath. The silicone reminds me a lot of the Delta, but it’s thicker, so you have more control. For example, I can bend the base back during insertion to make it press toward my G-spot/front vaginal wall, but it’s still plenty firm enough that I can thrust effectively.

This one works as a G-spotter for me, but it might not for you if you required more girth, length or pressure. The head, although bulging slightly, it’s realistically contoured, nor does it offer a pronounced ridge or lip. Similarly, the curve is quite relaxed, unlike some G-spot toys. It’s also harness-compatible for vaginal or anal sex but, as I mentioned, it might be a little short for penetration from behind.

I got mine in the pearly white, which I love. There are more colors, but white doesn’t have gender connotations. It doesn’t quite seem the same shade all the way through. It’s almost marbled, but the purple seems to be even more so.

I notice that the base acts like a suction cup, especially when it’s wet. That adds a bit more function, but I prefer for G-spot stimulation while I’m lying down. This way, I can easily stroke and the Acute, although slimmer than some, was an effective G-spot toy. There isn’t the hole for a tiny vibrator, like Tantus offes in some of their dildos.

Overall, this is a good toy. It doesn’t necessarily provide anything more than any other toy I have, nor do it in a ground-breaking way, but my cervix does appreciate the combination of softness and shortness. I’m not sure if I would prefer this over my Faerie, however, but I don’t think Tantus is making that one anymore.

Thanks to SexShop.Net for this toy to review.

1 Comment

Categories: Dildos, Reviews

Pleasurists Edition 176

May 19th, 2012


Image courtesy of A Couple of Wankers*

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product contests, giveways, and sex toy reviews that came out approximately between April 23rd and May 13th. If you like what you see consider following the RSS Feed and Twitter for updates on further editions.

Did you miss edition 175? Read it all here. Do you have a review for edition 177? Be sure to read the submission guidelines and then use the submission form to submit before Sunday May 20th @ 11:59pm Pacific Time. Edition 177 will be out Tuesday May 22nd.

*Pleasurists also accepts photo submissions for the art at the top of editions! For more information click here.

Giveaways & Contests:

Editor:
Scarlet Lotus

Adult Product Reviews:

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Sleeves, Rings, & etc.

Harnesses

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

Adult Books & Games

Adult DVDs & Porn

Lingerie

Miscellaneous

Pleasurists adult product review round-up

Comment

Categories: Pleasurists

No Porn On Pinterest? Don’t Despair

May 13th, 2012

Any blogger who relies on social media outlets like Facebook or Digg to increase traffic and communication with readers has probably considered jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon. Indeed, the virtual pinboard site has exploded in popularity faster, in fact, than any other website. It’s no surprise that the majority of its users are women, so the content is largely based upon motherhood, recipes, home decor, fashion and DIY ideas. The occasional adorable pet picture, LOLcat and inspirational quote also make an appearance. Ironically, the recipes that will clog your arteries are next more than a click away from motivation to work out or eat better.

What better place, I thought, than for me to advertise my blog. Are not sex toys, after all, a woman’s world? I did go ahead and add affiliate links to my favorite toys, as well as some direct links to my reviews here on Of Sex and Love. I added a few friends, but not many of my sex toy reviewing peers seem to be active on the website. Most of my followers, then, appear to be akin to my followers on Facebook: horny men and sex toy shops.

It struck me as a bit odd that the sexosphere was so inactive on Pinterest, especially when the potential benefits were so great. However, it wouldn’t have if I’d taken a closer look at the terms. Actually, Pinterest doesn’t explicitly state what you shouldn’t pin or what will happen to anyone who breaks those rules. However, it’s Pin Etiquette page does lightly touch on the subject. The image bookmarking site does not allow:

nudity, hateful content, or content that encourages people to hurt themselves

 

So, you might figure that perhaps porn would be off-limits, but I could still submit product images, as long as they weren’t in use. So far, I haven’t had repercussions from the content I have submitted, but a fellow blogger recently expressed her frustration at not being able to submit any content from PinkCherry, a sex toy retailer. Pinterest now views the retailer as inappropriate and will not allow its user to add new pins, sadly. Nevertheless, none of my pins have been taken down, whether they be realistic dildos, revealing lingerie or nearly-nude book covers.

Of course, it doesn’t much matter if Pinterest plans to simply ban all sex toy retailers, and perhaps they already have. Is anyone still pinning from Babeland, Good Vibes or EdenFantasys? Please let me know in the comments.

Still, plenty of Pinterest imitations have begun to pop up, as you might expect. Manterest, is one such site, catering toward men. The list also includes several places where porn and adult content is especially welcome. Perhaps sex bloggers should focus on these websites, instead. We might even see a more influx of traffic.

  • Sex.com does nothing to hide itself as a knockoff. In fact, it looks nearly identical to Pinterest. Sex toys and reviews wouldn’t be out of a place — a few pins already exist – -but the majority of the content is porn (of women!)
  • Snatchly tries to be a bit more original than its inspiration; although, it’s content doesn’t differ from that of Sex.com.
  • The only thing clever about Pornterest is its name, and the front page has the most NSFW content of the three listed thus far.
  • Although PinClub is mostly geared toward Europeans, and sex toys are scarce, but it’s another potential destination.

Of course, none of these sites has had the amazing growth of Pinterest, which is exactly why it might not be worth the average sex blogger’s time to join another social network. Pinterest could always put the wheel in motion to allowing adult content, behind some sort of warning to placate those who would rather not see it on the website or who browse from work (so very productive!). It’s not a change I would expect to come before any of the more pertinent issues that the team behind Pinterest needs to take on. In the meantime, are we sex bloggers not allowed?

Do you Pinterest with your sex blogger identity? Are you a member of any of the other sites? Or do you think that the virtual pinboard just isn’t for us sex bloggers and toy reviewers??

1 Comment

Categories: Articles, internet

Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.