How to Buy Sex Toys Online Safely (2026)
Packaging & Discretion ยง
All major adult retailers ship in plain packaging โ brown or white boxes with no adult branding, imagery, or text visible externally. This is standard practice, not something you need to request.
Credit card statement: Appears as a generic merchant name. Amazon shows as "Amazon" (not what you bought). Lovehoney shows as "LH Trading Ltd". We-Vibe shows as "Standard Innovation Corp". Nothing identifiable as adult content.
Return address: Similarly generic โ a company address, not "Sex Toy Warehouse."
Trusted Retailers ยง
Amazon ยง
Widest selection, fastest shipping, easiest returns. Ships in Amazon-branded boxes (no adult content). Verified reviews helpful. Watch for fake counterfeit products from unverified third-party sellers โ stick to "Sold by Amazon" or official brand stores.
Lovehoney ยง
Specialist adult retailer since 2002. Excellent return policy (Happiness Guarantee), knowledgeable customer service, discreet packaging standard. Better selection of smaller brands than Amazon. Good sale prices.
Official Brand Sites (We-Vibe, LELO, Womanizer) ยง
Buying directly from We-Vibe.com, LELO.com, or Womanizer.com guarantees authenticity โ no counterfeit risk. Often have exclusive colors or bundles. Warranty claims are easier with direct purchase. Prices are typically the same as Amazon.
Avoiding Fake Products ยง
Counterfeit sex toys are a real problem, especially on Amazon's third-party marketplace and AliExpress. Fakes often use unsafe materials and may malfunction.
โข Price dramatically below MSRP (a $199 Womanizer for $30 is fake)
โข Seller not the official brand store
โข Reviews mentioning "not as pictured" or "cheap smell"
โข No brand name in the product listing, just generic description
โข Ships from overseas with long delivery time on a supposedly US/EU brand
How to verify authenticity: ยง
- Buy from official brand store or "Sold by Amazon" (not third-party)
- Check the brand's website for authorized retailers list
- Verify the price is within 20% of MSRP โ too cheap = fake
- Check seller's review count and age โ new sellers with only this product = suspicious
Reading Product Listings ยง
Materials: Look for "medical-grade silicone," "ABS plastic," or "body-safe." If the material isn't specified or says "rubber" without further detail, pass.
Waterproofing: "IPX7" = fully waterproof for submersion. "Splashproof" = resistant to water but not submergible. Check this if you plan to use in bath/shower.
Charging: USB rechargeable is standard on quality toys. If it runs on replaceable batteries only (especially AA/AAA), it's typically a budget/lower quality product.
Warranty: LELO offers a 1-year warranty. We-Vibe 2 years. Womanizer 2 years. No warranty information = budget/counterfeit.
Returns & What If Something's Wrong ยง
Most retailers have generous return policies for sex toys given the nature of the products. Amazon: 30-day returns on most items. Lovehoney: 365-day returns (Happiness Guarantee). Official brand sites: typically 30-60 days.
For hygiene reasons, most retailers require that internal toys be returned unused. External toys (vibrators used externally) are more often returnable after use.
FAQ ยง
Is buying sex toys online safe? ยง
Yes. Major retailers ship discreetly, card statements show generic names, and the transaction is as private as any other online purchase.
How discreet is the packaging? ยง
Completely โ plain brown/white box, no adult branding visible. Generic merchant name on card statements.
What are the best websites to buy sex toys? ยง
Amazon (convenience), Lovehoney (specialist, great returns), official brand sites (authenticity guarantee).