I recently unwrapped a blow-up doll for a photo shoot and was surprised to find that both its vaginal and anal orifices were sealed “for hygienic and safety reasons” – sort of like the tamper-evident seal on a jar of mayo or a bottle of aspirin. Over said orifices, a plastic hymen awaited deflowering by the new owner. The enclosed directions warned against using sharp objects, such as scissors, knives, or needles to remove your sex doll’s maidenhead. Instead you just tear it away like a pull tab.
We’ve often wondered if people actually use these inflatable dolls for anything other than bachelor parties and movie props. Apparently people do. And since there’s been at least one incident of a burglar breaking into a sex toy store and using the love dolls, perhaps it’s not such a bad idea.
Many of the sex toys we see come in some sort of sealed packaging – those impossible to open plastic packs, or a sealed plastic bag inside a box. But many of them are in packaging that’s not sealed.
Since most sex toy retailers don’t accept returns, it’s highly unlikely that you’d receive a toy that has been used (how gross would that be?). But what if you get one that appears to have been opened? Check the retailer’s policy. Some stores test vibrators before they ship them to assure they actually work. If that’s something they do, it should be stated clearly on the company website. However, if the toy has been opened and it is not something that has an on/off switch, that’s a red flag.
Another possibility is that the packaging was insecure and came open during shipping, or during handling in the retailer’s warehouse. Considering the intimate nature of sex toys and where you put them, you would think that manufacturers would make sealed packaging the norm. Even if a toy’s not “used” if it’s been dropped on the floor or tossed around by warehouse workers, that’s not very hygienic.
Of course, you should always wash your toys well before using them, to get rid of any chemical residue. If you really suspect there’s a problem and you don’t want to use the toy, talk to the retailer and see if you can exchange the product.