It doesn’t matter what kind of adult toy or adult product enthusiast you are – saving to buy that one expensive one you drool over, filling your collection to the brim, or experimenting to find a toy that best fits your body – the cost can add up very quickly.
Here are some ways you can help reduce the bill…
1. DISCOUNT CODES
At the checkout, if there is a space to add a discount code, find one!
It’s as simple as typing in the company’s name + “discount code”. There will be plenty of out-of-date ones, and a few failed tries, but there will always be one that works.
Some are for free shipping, others for extra discounts on clearance or overstocked items, and you can always find the 10-20% off ones. It might seem like small beans, but saving a dollar here and there can add up. Also, 20% off a big purchase can be a lot.
SIDE NOTE: Some bloggers who review sex toys might include a special discount code. I know because I’ve done this for two of my reviews.
2. LOOK FOR SALES
This might seem like a no-brainer, but if you exercise a little patience and revisit your preferred site or product again and again, you might catch a sale.
Also, even though one product might sell for one price on one site, that doesn’t mean it will be sold for that much on other sites – however, this more applies to white brands and not so much name brands.
3. AIM FOR HOLIDAYS
Speaking of patience and discounts, waiting for certain holidays can save you a ton of money.
Black Friday, pre-Christmas, Boxing Day, pre-Valentine’s Day are all great times, but some sellers in different countries might have other holidays they will attach sales to. It’s worth bookmarking your favorite sites and checking in around celebration seasons.
4. SIGN UP FOR MAILING LISTS
These have pros and cons, and it also is largely affected by how the company handles its newsletters.
If it’s something you can tolerate, sign up for the ones you’re interested in, and the ones that highlight special offers – usually distributors (not specific brands) will send you news about discounts, but even brands will give the occasional heads up.
5. USE LOYALTY/POINT SYSTEMS
I used to work in the kind of place that offered loyalty programs, and it drove me nuts seeing people turn down loyalty discounts that would have saved the A LOT of money.
If it’s a small, one-off purchase, it’s not really worth it. However, if you know you’re going to be buying many things from one site, sign up for their points system ASAP. Even if you only get something small or cheap in return, you’ll still get more than if you didn’t bother (on purchases you would have made anyway).
6. DO YOUR RESEARCH
I mentioned looking for sales, but this isn’t the kind of research I’m talking about. Part of saving money is not wasting it on bad purchases.
Look at the product images carefully – Check for things like sharp or bad seams on clothing or BDSM gear, be wary of cheap clothing on professional models, see if any sex toys are the real deal or rip-offs of name brands, etc.
Read reviews – If a handful of people complain about this or that, it might be a bad luck-of-the-draw. But if many people complain about the same thing, it’s probably a crappy purchase. It’s also good to see if there are any issues with sizing (eg. a Chinese L will not be the same as a European L – and I speak from personal experience).
Read product details carefully – Items in the image might not actually be included (eg. for strap on harnesses), it might advertise one material on the page but another on the product box, and pay close attention to size and dimensions!
Know the return policy – Some products you can’t return, and if you don’t like it, you’ve lost that money.
Compare different sites – This can help even out user reviews or weed out any inconsistencies.
7. BALANCE QUALITY VS PRICE
I make it no secret I like to go on the cheaper side – I know the markup some places put on their products and, let’s face it, not everyone is made of money.
However…
There’s a point where going super cheap will end up costing you more money in the long run. For example, if you’ve found a certain sex toy style you love, replacing it every time it breaks (plus shipping) could be the same as if you had bought a mid-priced one (or even high-end one) – and the nicer ones often come with warranties and guarantees.
No one is saying you HAVE TO buy luxury, but nicer toys might be worth a look (and looking is free).
8. BE A BETA TESTER
If you’re willing to be a guinea pig, some companies will ask people (often previous customers) to test a new toy – and usually through a newsletter announcement (another reason to sign up). The good news is that it will almost always be free. The downside is that the toy could have lots of issues. It’s a bit of a gamble yes, but maybe worth the leap.
9. BE A REVIEWER
There are many ways to do this.
For example, Lovehoney has a system that if you leave useful reviews on several of their products (good or bad reviews don’t matter as long as they’re helpful) they will send you something from your wish list for free to review next. It’s a time investment (as well as a financial one) but if you plan on spending anyway, you could get something in exchange for your feedback.
Or, if you want to go more serious, start a sex toy review blog and get into major detail.
Use social media to get more followers etc. Contact sellers for free samples. If you can reach enough people, you can get affiliate links (which you can make money from). Not only will you offset the cost of your sex toy habit, you’ll be helping others make informed purchases as well (and them saving money too!) YAY! https://yourdoll.com/
10. TAKE CARE OF THEM
This is an after-purchase action, but taking good care of your adult products (even the cheap ones) will extend their lifespans and keep them with you longer. It’s a long-term strategy for saving money.
FOR EXAMPLE – NEVER use silicone lube on a silicone sex toy. It sticks to the material, becomes a pain-in-the-ass substance that can eventually (if you do it often) degrade the toy. Things will start ripping and people will start crying.
Recent Comments