As I said yesterday, on the recent trip back from NYC, Sexyhusband and I stopped at two sex shops-Penthouse and VIP. Since I reviewed Penthouse yesterday, today we'll compare that experience with the one at the VIP near New Haven.
We had to use the nav system in the car, as there was a sign for it on 91, but beyond (take this exit) we didn't see any sort of clear directions on the billboard. This may have been because I drive sliiiiiightly over the speed limit, but anyways.
The thing about VIP, as the General Manager of the chain said in AVN News, is that they're aiming to be the Wal-Mart of Sex shops. They succeed, more or less.
The nice thing about the VIP we went to is that it was on a main drag of shopping near an Arby's and other "normal" shops. Other than the Purple neon sign and the whited out windows (to keep those little innocent eyes innocent, one supposes), there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. I'm so used to sex shops being in the seedier parts of town or just being seedy, period, that it was a pleasant surprise to find two sex shops in "regular" areas in the same night.
What makes it Wal-Mart like is that it is a big box shop. Primarily it's rows and rows of big metal shelves full of the products. When you first walk into the shop it's videos on your left and novelty nonsense on your right. The videos take up the first quarter or so of the shop. The selection was decent, if not impressive. What Sexyhusband and I did like was the selection of sale DVD's, although it's worth noting that we didn't find anything we were interested in adding to our collection.
The magazines then run the rest of the way back to the far wall, where they wrap around to finish next to the shoes. The magazine section was standard, and sizable with a decent chunk of fetishes represented. The selection of shoes was decent, with a variety of colors and heights. Ellies were also present in abundance here (again, Diablo Cody's recommended brand). Between the videos, magazines, and shoes are the fetish toys, clothes, and acoutrements.
Across the way from the BDSM selections are the vibrators, dildoes, ass plugs, etc. The selection is ridiculously huge, and I thought most of the toys were only about 1-5$ more than I usually found them online or at stores I generally patronize. The selection is worth noting. I have never seen that large a selection of toys in my life, and I'm certainly no stranger to sex shops. Every possible girth, length, and shape was represented. The selection for the bullets alone took up two sections of a wall.
There is a sizable clothing selection. Unlike at Penthouse, the plus sized wear is grouped together and easy to find. They have the usual lingerie, a decent selection of costumes, and an assortment of corsets and other options. The smaller sizes, of course, have a much better variety, but that's sadly the norm. It's a personal pet peeve of mine that there isn't a better selection and variety of plus sized sex clothing, but that's a rant for another day.
There is also the usual assortment of glass dildoes. I was annoyed to see the section of knives, the incense, and the bongs. While some people choose to get high while having sex, and good for them, I worry about the conflation of the sex positive cultures and the drug positive cultures. They really should be two separate fights, kiddoes.
I purchased my first waterproof toy-a cute purple hard plastic vibe for around $10.
Overall thoughts...
The pros-This was also a very non-threatening environment, so I can see singles and couples comfortable here. The pricing was decently competitive, although again, the mainstream videos are way overpriced ($25-35+). The selection and grouping of the plus sized clothing was useful, even if I didn't find anything I felt like owning on that particular trip. The toy selection was outstanding.
The cons-Truth in advertising. It's a lot like Wal-Mart. It's big, feels like a warehouse, and isn't terribly attractive (although they claim the Manchester CT store is much prettier with marble floors, blah blah blah). The videos are, again, largely overpriced ($25-35+), and I didn't find the variety of selection as impressive as Penthouse. There aren't any bathrooms, which is annoying. I am also pretty sure I didn't see a fitting room, so that's a minus as well.*
I don't have any tips, as I did for the Penthouse store.
There are three VIP stores-Hartford, New Haven (ish), and Manchester. VIP is currently waging a legal battle with these prudes who do not want the fourth location to be Berlin, CT. As Berlin has some fairly old and comprehensive blue laws, the prudes will most likely win, sadly. I'm sure, though, that they will successfully expand elsewhere, should they lose.
*Update--I have received an email from VIP, letting me know that their stores do, in fact, have changing rooms.
I just wanted to comment on your referring to me as a "prude."
Just because I do not want one of these stores as a next door neighbor (literally,) does not make me a prude, or repressed, or "sex-negative."
If you read my blog, I am fighting the location, as it is in violation of an existing SOB ordinance. Pornography is protected in some ways by the First Amendment, but the Supreme court also grants municipalities the right to zone sexually oriented businesses in order to prevent secondary effects commonly caused by such businesses.
I am opposed to the location. I am not fighting the existence of such stores. They can find another location.
Posted by: Laura | March 02, 2007 at 08:29 PM
I'm sorry but your entry describing your experience at the VIP store was incredibly sex-negative. You mocked the magazines, movie titles, and the BDSM section. The way you wrote that entry specifically marks you as a prude. You would (I'm paraphrasing here) never want your husband to bring home a dvd with any of those titles because it wouldn't enhance your "romance." Guess what--porn is such a huge industry because for a large majority of people--it does.
Your increduality at the titles suggests that you've never seen one. I didn't see one title that was unusual. In fact, a game for many of us in our 20s and 30s is to try and predict the porn name of all the current blockbusters. You're trying to shock people, and the only people you're preaching to is your choir.
Beyond that, it's absurd to even have started your little crusade. Your town has very strong ordinances which were held up with regards to a strip club. There's no way VIP would win that battle--they're testing the waters and they're most likely going to lose.
That you're choosing to cage your fight in the language of "I'm fighting the location, not the existence of such stores." is just another way of saying "Not in my backyard." With regards to your argument of having little kids--VIP is more respectful than many stores and whites out their windows. The displays aren't any more revealing than some teenage girl clothing stores I walk past in the mall every day. Just because YOU know that the bottle of lube in the display is for sex, doesn't mean you have to explain it to your kid. Besides, the way they set up their parking lot, there's no reason for your kid to ever go near the store at all. YOU just don't want to be the lady who lives next to the sex shop.
You're trying not to look like a sex-negative person, but in reality you do come across that way.
Posted by: Deliciously Naughty | March 03, 2007 at 11:11 AM
To associate the words "sex" and "positive" with porn is absurd. More apt would "violence-positive", or "abuse-positive". For a thorough and accurate look at today's porn, see NoPornNorthampton.org.
It's false to claim that on balance, porn enhances romance. On the contrary, it's a major factor in abuse in relationships and divorce. See http://nopornnorthampton.org/categories/Marriage.aspx
Adult enterprises are well known to put their surroundings at risk for crime, harassment, blight and reduced property values. These harms threaten Laura whether she shops at VIP or not, so she's entirely within her rights to protest. The "secondary effects" of adult enterprises are documented at http://nopornnorthampton.org/categories/Secondary%20Effects.aspx
Posted by: NoPornNorthampton | March 08, 2007 at 02:25 PM
NoPornNorthhampton, I have several thoughts.
1-Blaming Porn for a breakup of a marriage is the most laughable reason I think I may have ever heard. That's like saying that seeing two guys kiss will turn your child gay.
2-While you may view porn as violent, I like a good hard spanking on my own ass and enjoy watching another women get one as well. I also appreciate that she earned 500+ dollars for it.
3-You're welcome to protest any store you want. Some people in my state are protested IKEA, and they're about as harmless and non threatening as you get.
Bottom line---everyone gets their panties in a twist about something. And someone else is going to think that the other is getting all worked up over nothing. Thanks to the first amendment, we're all welcome to pick our side.
I think we know which side that puts me and most of my readership on :)
Posted by: Deliciously Naughty | March 08, 2007 at 08:08 PM
If you actually read the posts on our blog, you would better understand facts like this:
At a 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two-thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said Internet porn contributed to more than half of the divorce cases they handled.
You may enjoy violence, not everybody does, but porn gets a lot of people to think everybody does. This leads to abusive situations.
Domestic violence is a big problem in America, and porn is one of the reasons why:
http://nopornnorthampton.org/2006/12/24/abusive-relationships-and-porn-the-similarities.aspx
Posted by: NoPornNorthampton | March 08, 2007 at 08:53 PM
I agree that domestic violence is an issue in our society. I don't think porn is the reason.
I also think that adults are capable of separating reality from fiction and that few people are under the illustion that porn is any more real than Harry Potter.
I will however, say that I can believe that the internet is invoked in divorce cases-it makes it easy to cheat. I've met countless married men and women on the boards at Lit who say their spouse knows nothing about their time on Lit. But that generally has more to do with making the mistake of marrying someone you're not sexually compatible with. Sexual compatibility isn't the main reason you should get married, but if it isn't there, your marriage will have a big gaping hole in it. I also think it's easier to invoke internet porn and wag your finger at someone in court if you're trying to squeeze them for alimony or to get custody. The value of it as being "bad" in the courtroom and potentially having the power to sway a judge is the most likely reason it's used there.
But, like I said above, I don't think this is something we'll ever agree on. The discussion, however, is useful.
Posted by: Deliciously Naughty | March 09, 2007 at 06:21 AM
where this store located?
Posted by: Aida | June 12, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I think that the store should be allowed to go whereeveritwants! As long as nothing can be viewed from the outside. Unfortunately, the manchester store's items can be seen. I am not understanding why they have drug para. there??? I think that is going too far. But more power to them and anyone else that shops in there. I have been trying to get up the nerve to go in but havent yet. Give me some pep talk will ya guys!!!!
Posted by: sexymom | July 03, 2007 at 09:39 PM
was really nervous and embarassed the first time I went into a sexshop when I was in my early 20's (I should write about it some time, but that's besides the point). I picked Grand Opening (a store that is sadly now just online-they used to have a store in Boston), which is a women friendly store. Going to that sort of environment makes it a much more comfortable experience. My advice might be to go to Toys in Babeland in NYC or Good Vibrations in Boston for your first adventure if you'd feel more comfortable in that type of store instead.
If you want to go with VIP, some things that might make you feel more comfortable are...
1-Going after dark on like a Tuesday (weekdays are generally more quiet, and the dark can help you feel more comfortable if you want total anonymity)
2-Masturbating before you get in the car (being more motivated and excited can help you get over the hurdle of opening the door and walking in)
3-Have a sexy shopping day if you're kind of a girly girl like me or would like it--go to your favorite place to buy lingerie and play for awhile, go to a shoe store and try on some sexy shoes, maybe play in Sephora, treat yourself to a few Godivas, have a nice "pink drink", and then go to VIP. Being in the right mindset (effectively taking yourself on a date before going) helps enormously
Or you can go with my method--walk to the door, then walk away and pace for a few seconds while giving yourself a peptalk under your breath, then forcing yourself to just open the door and walk in. Getting past that hurdle is the biggest step. I found that once you're in, it just becomes like shopping for almost anything else.
I hope this helped.
Posted by: Deliciously Naughty | July 03, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sexual intercourse, yet he has left it out of his heaven. - Mark Twain
Hum... There's more sexual activity in Churches of all denominations.
Healthy sex between consenting adults is heaven on earth. Purchasing items from VIP adds to sexual enjoyment. Too often marriage becomes boring with the same old pilgrim routine of normal bedroom sex.
There are very few people that do not enjoy sex, those that don't enjoy sex, are the ones complaining VIP will corrupt the neighborhood. Truth is, there is more corruption in Congress, the Presidency, Big Oil Companies, Wall Street and Pharmaceutical Companies, etc. than from the sexual content behind windowless VIP stores.
VIP stores should be allowed to operate as a retail stores does, but with-in strict local zoning rules.
The local complainers should focus their attention on the above corruption.
Posted by: Odnocer | June 23, 2008 at 02:57 AM
The wealthy rich, example - Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, etc., have so much to give, yet they give the least. Sure, they might give to charity, but it's a tax write off or it will promote sales of their services and products.
Now, the American Soldier, has the least to give, but they give the most, their lives. The wealthy rich stands behind US Forces, but after the US Forces win a victory, the wealthy rich are in the fore-front, declearing it was their money that made the U.S. great. Really, tell that to all the soldiers who don't own homes, nor do they have good jobs that pay them enough wages to purchase a modern home after they return from serving their country.
I could go on and on, but the VIP complainers should focus on the corrupted Congress (The House and especially the Senate), Wall Street (Big Oil Companies raping the American public of their hard earned wages by over inflating heating oil and gasoline prices), Pharmaceutical Companies (again, falsely over inflating drug prices effecting seniors and the general public) & (kickbacks going to greedy Doctors). CEOs that retire after three or four years of service (stealing employees 401K savings or company profits) Are the stockholders blind or powerless to fire and withhold CEO salaries/benefits w/stock options, etc.?
Is America safer today? From whom? Terrorist? Maybe, it's a select group of wealthy rich Americans whom have made living life here in the United States harder to make ends meet each day, week, month and year. God knows our law enforcement don't make enough money to protect Americans from white collar criminals. Ever watch COPS? Ever see a Police Officer cuff a white collar, wealthy rich person? Nah! Well, maybe once or twice, after all there are more poor people that need to be cuffed than the few wealthy ones.
Less big government is the mind set of conservatives, therefore... less FDA Food inspectors and now we have food poisoning (Tomatoes, Peanut Butter, Canned meats, etc.) the corruption list goes on and on.
Banking and Credit Card Industry (Senator Dodd, who heads it, received a low interest loan).
Where are all the honest Supreme Court Judges? Are they blind or doesn't it effect them either.
Non-sexual people are focused on closing an adult VIP store from their community. It's not like VIP has windows to look into and see items sold there.
The entrance is posted "NO MINORS" and security is there to prevent minors from entering. VIP is a very clean store, the employees are very professional in appearance and have willingness to be helpful. They will assist anyone seeking knownledge in any of their products sold there.
Hum.. Divorce isn't from porn, it's from poor performance in sexual activity with ones spouse, mostly due to lack of, or no sex training. Yep! Very one married is a sexual expert. Therefore, they can maintain sexual gratification for each other throughout their marriage. If you don't try some new sexual activity, sex will stay old and gets older each year with the same spouse. That's where VIP can help. Visit the pros at VIP. Honestly, they want to help married and non-married couples enjoy each other for life.
Posted by: Recondo Soldier | June 25, 2008 at 02:57 AM
I absolutely LOVE going to VIP. It is like an adventure going in there everytime. I have Alot of the outfits and toys. My fiance absolutely loves them. I want to work there so bad. And i'd love to be able to shop online also. Does anyone kno the website???
Posted by: Jessica | November 20, 2008 at 11:12 AM