Woolworths no longer selling toys

[Gob]

Woolworths became the first Australian supermarket chain to sell battery-powered sex toys. But the gamble is over after less than a fortnight.




Shoppers were able to purchase their weekly groceries and sex aids under one roof after the retailer unveiled a new Vibrating Bullet ''clitoral stimulator'' across 900 stores.

While manufacturer Durex hailed the controversial move as a ''game changer for the industry'', the ''fresh food people'' have now performed an extraordinary U-turn, clearing thousands of the products off shelves on Friday after learning, via The Sun-Herald, that a leading Christian group had called for a nationwide boycott of its stores.

Roslyn Phillips, research officer with Christian advocacy group FamilyVoice Australia, said sex toys belong in sex shops.
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''Society is already suffering massive problems with young children being over-sexualised … this move by Woolies just makes the problem worse,'' Ms Phillips said.

''I, personally, would not patronise Woolies while this situation exists and I encourage everyone else to boycott them too. I hope parents will let Woolies know how they feel and I hope they tell them they'll continue to shop elsewhere until these products are removed.''

While rival Coles stocks a small vibrating ring that slips over a condom, Woolworths decided to boldly go where no supermarket has gone before, by selling battery-powered vibrators. Designed to give ''5 hours of quivering pleasure'', the ''discreet and powerful'' device costs $24.95 and was positioned within the existing sexual health section that includes condoms and lubricants. However, the same aisle features many family-oriented products such as toothpastes, shampoos and shower gels.

In many stores the vibrators themselves sat within arm's reach of popular children's products.

The Australian Family Association's national spokeswoman, Terri Kelleher, said for that reason, and others, the sale of vibrators was ''diabolically wrong''.

''Do we really need to be explaining to our children what a vibrator is whilst walking down the supermarket aisle?'' Ms Kelleher said.

''It completely undermines that parental prerogative as to when and how you raise these sorts of things with children.''

Fiona Patten, president of the Australian Sex Party, agrees. She said: ''While I have no problem with anyone selling vibrators, I think they should be sold from an age-restricted area.''

But sexologist Nikki Goldstein argued that grocery stores already promote safe sex through the sale of condoms, ''so why shouldn't they also promote pleasurable sex through sex toys?

''Why is it so offensive?'' she asked. ''We are taught to view such products as dirty, naughty, shameful and outside the boundaries of normality, and that's wrong. A vibrator is no different to a vitamin in that it does something positive for your body.''

Dr Goldstein believes the introduction of small vibrators should be accepted in supermarkets.

''This is a discreet product that is discreetly packaged. I don't think it will open the floodgates.''

A spokesman for Woolworths confirmed an email was sent to all store managers on Friday afternoon advising them to withdraw the products immediately. By 6pm the vibrators had vanished from many stores, including Park Street, Sydney.

''Woolworths has taken the decision to not offer the new Durex vibrator,'' the spokesman said.

''This is a product that is more appropriate for pharmacies than supermarkets.''

In 2007 Britain's high street retailer Boots scrapped its Durex sex toy range after public criticism. Last year, Boots launched a second attempt at introducing the same toys but copped a further backlash after an incident involving a mother who found her two sons playing with a vibrator at the checkout.

Durex said in a statement on Saturday: ''Products that assist Australians to have great sex should be made easily available to consumers through a variety of channels.''

[oldr_n_wsr]

I thought Woolworths went the way of the dodo bird?

ETA
Haven't seen sex toys in Walmart or Target. They are in the adult stores and a lesser selection in the pharmacies (CVS mainly, I haven't been in a Walgreens or Riteaid lately).

[Econoline]

Apparently Woolworths Limited is not related to the F.W.Woolworth Company.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I remember Woolworths and EJ Korvettes which were the big five and dimes. We also had the smaller local five and dimes like Big D and Smilies 5&10 stores. All are gone now.

[Big RR]

I never thought of korvettes as a 5 and dime; more like something between a five and dime and sears.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Perhaps, but woolworths was bigger and more expensive than Big D and Smilies so my baseline might be different. That and I could walk to Smilies and Big D (and ride a bike to Korvettes). Woolworths was in the Roosevelt Field mall which also had Macy's and Gimbles and maybe Alexanders at the time.
Now Roosevelt field is this big ass mall. I thinks it's 2 stories now (I haven't been there in over 25 years) and I read somewhere they are trying to expand to another story.

Trip down memory lane.

[Econoline]

You forgot about the original "five and dime" store chain, S.S.Kresge--which still exists (what did you think the "K" in "Kmart" stands for?)

[oldr_n_wsr]

I remember S&S Kresge, but they were not around locally. At least not that I remember. I didn't know it morphed into K-Mart, which is now owned by sears (and going down with it).
Smilies and Big D were where we got slingshots (they had both whammo and crossman models. Wristrockets were not around back then), car and plane models, matchbox cars, back to school stuff, halloweens stuff (chalk, shaving cream...). Korvettes we got arrows, fishing lures, rods, reels, killie traps.

[dales]

You forgot about the original "five and dime" store chain, S.S.Kresge--which still exists (what did you think the "K" in "Kmart" stands for?)

That's why I like this place, one can learn something new every day.

[rubato]

You forgot about the original "five and dime" store chain, S.S.Kresge--which still exists (what did you think the "K" in "Kmart" stands for?)

Apparently Woolworths was the original. From reading the wiki write up.

Yrs,
Rubato

[Big RR]

oldr--perhaps there were smaller and bigger Woolworths stores; the only ones I recall were akin to the dollar stores you see now. Korvettes, as I recall, was bigger and even sold electronics (like TVs) and appliances (stoves, etc.), but maybe not all of them.

As for Kresges, at the time it was morphing into the discounter K Mart, another 5 and dime, WT Grant And Co, was trying the same opening a line of (as I recall); it never caught on the way K Mart did.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I remember Woolworths being bigger than the dollars stored we have now, but then again, I was smaller than I am now. Also, everything at Rossevelt Field seemed bigger than the local stores. Korvettes was pretty big as it had it's own building and parking and fields all around it. It wasn't on a "town" street. Although now that area is jam packed with stores. It was on the coroner of Glen Cove road and Westbury Ave (in Carle Place I believe) just a fewe block north of Roosevelt Field mall. Don't know what it is now. I think it became the Nassau BOCES for a while, might still be.

In what used to be woods between the Korvettes parking lot and the Mineola dump we used to catch garter snakes.

[Long Run]

[Econoline]

Oh come on, LR...you post that, somebody (that would be me) has got to post this:



There's probably gonna be an ad. (I hate that.) But stick with it; she's got a wonderful, sweet, nostalgic intro before she starts singing the song--which is all those adjectives and more.....