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IAMA sex toy reviewer and online sex store employee. Everyone I work with knows way too much about my dick and sex life. AMA.
for the dozens of requests and PMs, the coupon code for this AMA is 'reddit'... And they approved a large discount... 25 percent
I work for an online sex toy company, condomania.com.
A giant part of my job is to review toys and do web stuff. I started pretty recently, but a lot of my reviews can be seen at blog.condomania.com. More are queued up for when the new site launches.
Ask me anything about this industry, reviewing this stuff, and whatnot.
Proof: http://imgur.com/avQ63 (I blurred out my real name and phone number, obviously). This is what I use as a business card.
-WOW GUYS- what a fun thing.... seriously having such a blast... my fingers hurt from AlienBlue (buy it) and now I'm back on my PC Computer for some next level answers.
faq:
"Your girlfriend's DAD got you this job?"
- he sent my resume to a networking group blindly and we haven't spoken much of it since
"Can we have a coupon code?"
- request sent to web devs
"How big is your DICK lol?"
- as someone did the math for me, 3.5" by 5", just under average
"Favorite thing?"
- Dream Sleeve, SO FAR: http://www.condomania.com/dream-sleeve.html
"Can you sponsor our thing?"
- I would love to look at trying, who knows... we might be able to do it. No promises, but I will read and forward every PM!
"How did you get this job, can I have it?"
- a bit of luck, a lot of writing experience, networking, and a healthy view of sex... right place right time and right skills sort of thing... sorry I can't do more than that for you
"nobody cares, go kill yourself"
- will do, niggereater (or something)
** reddit, you rule, man **
more proof, as requested: one of the boxes beside my bed... reviews for these are coming up soon http://imgur.com/AlfLV
Also, how did I forget this! if you liked this AMA, make my life easier by checking us out on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/condomaniacs) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/Condomania_com) because we JUST had to restart the Twitter due to a poor naming issue ... we only post relevant stuff and deals, I swear.
**well folks, I'm exhausted... I'll give it a few more minutes then shut it down for the night. Thanks for everything. If you need to know more stuff or I didn't answer your question please PM, this is what I do for a living :)
Thank you also to those with tips on the business/products/my reviews and personality ... It has all been noted by the important folks and we aim to always evolve**
rusty_reviews_sex875 karma
Not a word of a lie:
I'm more of a marketing student than anything, and my girlfriend's dad sent my resume to some friends.
I got an email from my (now) boss asking if I would be interested in doing condomania.com
"Sure" I thought, "I can learn about condos"
I was very fucking stoked to learn I wouldn't be writing about Real Estate :)
Skeezer19911502 karma
"The more he fucks those fleshlights, the less he'll fuck my daughter."
khasiv223 karma
Guess this guy doesn't want rusty_reviews_sex as the father to his grandchildren.
rusty_reviews_sex82 karma
He knew she owned "some businesses"... Sent it to a networking group
rusty_reviews_sex419 karma
I should say that I don't mean to come across as whoring out our company, but there isn't much else I can do to provide proof.
OP surely must deliver.
Bombini411 karma
I bought a vibrator once, and it was shipped to me in a bubble envelope. WTF?
rusty_reviews_sex847 karma
Did you... sanitize... it?
That's the equivalent of when you buy shrimp out of the trunk of an '84 Cutlass 500 miles from the ocean.
ranzLbsgiS188 karma
whoa... true story: Just a few hours ago a guy came to my house selling seafood out of his van. I live in St. Louis...
Bombini111 karma
Yes, I hope so.
I might recommend sanitizing any sex toy... right?
edit: It was properly sealed and in a plastic package within the bubble envelope. I'm more asking why a company would be so negligent enough to not recognize it's an intimate thing.
rusty_reviews_sex435 karma
Yes. Everything reviewed (and more) has actually been tested in the bedroom/living room/bathroom by me. Usually pretty extensively.
Asherbanipal243 karma
What all do you test? Like... You're a guy... Soooo I'm not sure if there are limited things you test? Did things just get weird with that question?
rusty_reviews_sex436 karma
My girlfriend is a willing participant if I need to test things. No vibrators (yet), but she's be cool with me doing everything except publishing her name... she rules :)
rusty_reviews_sex332 karma
That being said I'm sure vibrators are on the way with the site redesign.
rusty_reviews_sex232 karma
Naw, I'll just keep reviewing solo stuff. Lube is underused by single dudes.
rusty_reviews_sex467 karma
At this job: zero
At life: two, and each time I vow not to ever again (no disrespect to anyone who does)
zephrin99 karma
Best lube out there. I manage a brick and mortar store and have a close relationship with the Gun Oil (Empowered Products) sales rep. Great guy, great company.
Edit: spelling.
Asherbanipal175 karma
Do you get special deals? Do you pass those savings on to loving friends....me?
rusty_reviews_sex361 karma
My deal is that I walk into the warehouse and take shit as 'marketing costs', which they truly are.
I always say the same thing to people who ask for free stuff, usually women: "if you aren't going to use it with me, I don't really benefit"
That being said if you run some sort of sex charity or fraternity, or run an influential blog... maybe!
nlsun72 karma
Actually, the College Democrats group I used to be in gets condoms donated from Trojan or Planned Parenthood or other sexual health clinics around town each year & gives them away around campus on Valentine's Day. They attach facts about STIs to the condoms (no staplers are allowed near the give-aways!). They go through around 2,000 every Val's Day.
Note: It's REALLY strange how many people will REFUSE a free condom.
TheChedda52 karma
Free condoms = awesome. Some weirdo who pokes holes in condoms and gives them away = not awesome. Why take the chance? Just buy some.
rusty_reviews_sex41 karma
You SHOULD own some, but I mean... if you are GOING to do it anyways, grab the free one and check for marks and holes.
Asherbanipal163 karma
Does your family know what you do? If so, how do they feel about it.
Friends know?
rusty_reviews_sex329 karma
Great question!
My mom knows WHAT I do, but I refuse to let her read my reviews, so she doesn't know WHERE.
My name is actually a reference to Rusty Shackleford (KOTH), but I quickly realized it was also her husband's name and she wasn't impressed.
My GF knows, obviously.
In general everyone around me is cool. Some of my friends RSS the blog and text me after they read new submissions.
rustyshacklford683 karma
In that case, I need you to sign some paperwork so that I can get on with my life.
CaptainBipto105 karma
Rusty Shackleford is the name I use to order pizzas, as well as the name I use anywhere on the internet where I expect SPAM. Well done on KOTH refrence.
etherealmorning155 karma
What do people know about your dick that you would rather they not know?
rusty_reviews_sex364 karma
I stopped caring. I think that most people know the size (we sell custom fit condoms that you size with a printable chart) so my boss knows the EXACT specs of The Pentagon. It made me uncomfortable at first, but now we just talk so openly about sex. I think they also know I'm circumsized?
"So last night (girlfriend) and I we getting really rough and I think I accidentally choked her too hard"
"Hmmmm... safety word?"
CerpinTaxes384 karma
Personally I found it pretty amusing that the custom fit "sizing chart" goes to great lengths (no pun intended) to avoid embarrassing the user by not using real standardized measurements in cm or inches but also by making their own measurements non sequential. "A" being the smallest girth then D, W, E, M, J, S and the smallest length being 61, the largest 59 and 36 being in the middle.
I've never seen so much effort to make a chart so unintuitive.
rusty_reviews_sex114 karma
It's a really good system. It keeps ambarassment " " down ever though there's nothing to be unhappy about. It's more value than effort to sort.
rusty_reviews_sex91 karma
Coripa Custom Fit 36N. Do some googling or go on our site to the fit guide :)
cocato113 karma
You said something about having to test vibrators soon, would you do that? Or would you have your girlfriend test it and see how it works? Also, do you have any toys where you would not try it, such as anal beads?
rusty_reviews_sex187 karma
Good questions!
I will try anything on her, and (sadly) I don't think anything large is going in my ass.
Vibrators: I'll use them on her/play around and she can tell me her thoughts. I'm a good writer and she's not.
Anal beads I would use on her, for sure, but like I said, not me. I can't really think of anything I WON'T try on her.
rusty_reviews_sex325 karma
They will be forthcoming.
I used one pocket pussy and it gets stuck between my balls and the head of my penis. It's so tight that it's like a lube-y chinese finger trap.
I will only be moderately kind to such a device.
PVT_Asshole209 karma
Have sex with a finger trap. My god it's so simple. Brilliant.
Only 5 tickets each too.
Always_be_awesome94 karma
•As a woman I automatically think of what's out there for us. Is there as much diversity in products for men? •My favorite brand is Lelo, but man their stuff is pricy. What would a lower priced alternative be?
rusty_reviews_sex116 karma
Men have a small amount of diversity. A lot of pocket pussies and vibrating rings. We benefit a lot from lube (go Gun Oil) and sometimes anal beads.
My boss (woman) replied to my text about the Lelo alternative and said to try Wabbit stuff.
http://www.condomania.com/amethyst-wabbit-erotic-vibrator.html
SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT319 karma
I'm not sure how I feel about the name "wabbit" being associated in sexual activity... it's like elmer fudd is trying to fuck you in both holes
rusty_reviews_sex67 karma
Hahaha right?!?! And now I've made that association forever.
Cannot unsee.
GuanYuber71 karma
This is weird, since I recently took a short trip to Tokyo and found this store.
Not a question, I just thought you'd find it interesting. Also, it is a condom shop, not a condo shop. ;)
rusty_reviews_sex103 karma
There are some insane novelty items we have. Penis lollipops, condom hats, dick glasses. That stuff cracks is up like we are ten.
rusty_reviews_sex50 karma
I would have to ask someone else to! Like I said, I don't do any now, but there are plans for that in the future...
Kotofosho40 karma
How much do you make a year?
What do you look for when reviewing a product?
What is your average day?
rusty_reviews_sex47 karma
It's enough to get by comfortably. I'll ballpark at 30-50k.
Typical day is a lot of writing and responding to occasional social stuff. I do a bit more but it's not as fun to write about.
fathobo39 karma
I know you've already stated that you haven't worked with vibrators yet, but have you heard of the new ones that vibrate to the intensity of the music you're listening too? If so, have you heard good things about them?
Also, not in a number sense, but in a general sense, do a lot of Americans use sex toys, whether it be male or female? I still feel as if it is taboo in the U.S. to masturbate, ESPECIALLY with a sex toy.
rusty_reviews_sex47 karma
I think that that taboo nature helps keep places like us in business. If you call, someone will talk comfortably and openly about vibrators all day long. Maybe me.
I think it's more common than we think, but sadly too taboo.
willface35 karma
What's your family life like? Do they know what you do? What's their opinion/reaction?
rusty_reviews_sex94 karma
I live in a different city. My family rules. I could show up for Christmas with a tranny and they'd be chill.
I don't want my parents READING my reviews, so they don't know which site I work for.
The only people who don't know the details of what I do are people I don't like and my GF's family (very conservative at times)
imperial8739 karma
Christmas with a tranny
Ha I wish I could say the same. I was having breakfast with my dad and my transgender coworker came in, I spoke to her for a few min...and I could see the look of horror/confusion growing on my dad's face. The second she was out of ear shot my dad put his hand on my shoulder and said "son, I know you are desperate, but she isn't even passable."
If you mom knew what site you worked for, would she actually read the reviews? It seems like it would be even more awkward for her.
publ1c_stat1c23 karma
This is what I use as a business card.
Has this ever got you laid, or any funny stories associated with this? Personally, if a client handed me a condom as a card, more than a few questions would be raised.
talentedtraveler22 karma
What are some of your favorite items?
How would you describe fleshlight type items?
What is a Rub my ducky?
edit* ducky
rusty_reviews_sex32 karma
Gun Oil and the dream sleeve.
Read my dream sleeve (pocket pussy) review :)
Rub my ducky is a vibrating rubber duck you can leave in plain sight :)
Good gift
CrunchCrunch25485 karma
Do you get a lot of accidental web traffic for people looking for condos since your website is condo mania.com?
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