October 15, 2020 |
Shay Martin Explains How to Spot a Fake Magic Wands & Other Toys |
NAPA, Calif.âThe pleasure products industry has been plagued by counterfeit devices for decades, but what many people don't realize is that these fakes impact far more than a manufacturer's bottom line. From health risks to negative press, counterfeit products are a significant issue impacting the industry, and many consumers are clueless about spotting them "in the wild."  Taking a rare opportunity to explore the wider impact of sex toy fakes, Vibratex owner and Vice President Shay Martin discussed âHow to Spot a Counterfeitâ and more with Cosmopolitan magazine at Cosmopolitan.com. Vibratex is the exclusive North American distributor of the Magic Wand brand, which is one of a handful of sex toy lines that consumers ask for by name. This demand makes Magic Wand a big target for counterfeiters, and Martin has become an expert on this specific issue. âWe hear from consumers who are dissatisfied with purchases and completely unaware that sex toy fakes are even possible,â Martin explained. âWe were happy to share some insights with Cosmopolitan in the hopes of helping people avoid disappointmentâand even danger.â Read the âHow to Spot a Counterfeit in the Wildâ segment, part of a larger piece titled âHow to Navigate the New Landscape of Everyoneâs-Doing-It Sex Toylandiaâ by authors Carina Hseih and Taylor Andrews, here. The story also ran in the September 2020 issue of the magazineâs print version. In her full interview with the authors, Martin stated that the scariest aspect of counterfeit sex toys is that âanythingâs possible.â âConsumers may wind up with something safeâor with something that is dangerously unsafe. Weâve seen everything from unsafe electrical components that overheat to silicone and rubber materials that literally smell harmful. The unpredictable nature is what worries us most,â Martin explained. According to Martin, consumers are far less likely to find fakes in brick-and-mortar stores today, as most reputable stores have done product vetting in advance. She offered consumers a list of key checkpoints to consider, however, if they are ever unsure. These points included asking the relevant salesperson what they know about the toy and brand, inspecting the product box and packaging, and⦠smelling it. âDoes the product smell like chemicals? If so, put it down and move on,â Martin advised. Martin also discussed the allure of large online marketplaces, which do house many authorized sellers and authentic products, including Magic Wands, and how to avoid potential pitfalls. âIf you do choose to buy on a site like Amazon, stick with those authorized sellers and avert your eyes from the sites with the super low prices,â Martin advised. âGenerally speaking, if you find two identical-looking items and one is listed at a price that seems too good to be true, it is very likely a fake. No matter where you shop for sex toys, remember what youâre going to do with it before choosing the one thatâs half the price of the other one that looks the same,â she added. In sum, when asked if counterfeit sex toys are really that bad, Martin said, âLetâs put it this way: Youâre buying something to place on or in an intimate and sensitive part of your body. Why would you purposely take that risk?â Hseih and Andrews concluded their piece congratulating readers for making it this far in 2020. âYou deserve to join in on all the sex-toy-buying fun and get yourself something pretty,â they wrote. âGo ahead, buy the one that caught your eyeâyou know you want to.â Thanks in part to Martin, consumers are now equipped with key tips to do so. For all Vibratex and Magic Wand sales questions and inquiries, contact Eddie Romero, Director of Business Development, via [email protected]. To learn more about Magic Wand, visit magicwandoriginal.com. Those interested may also join Magic Wand on Instagram at @truemagicwand.
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