Most shop for sex toys and supplies online these days but there are still real shops around that you can walk into and pick up toys, lube, DVDs, etc. Are you comfortable in adult shops or kind of sneak in and out? I am cool with it and can walk around with a 10" dong in my hand looking at other stuff and not think twice about it but my current and past partners have always felt awkward. I have to admit I had a little fun with that but not to the point of being cruel. The folks working in the shop can not judge your purchases because they are the ones selling the products. Others in the store can not judge because they are shopping for similar items, albeit maybe different than your choices. I just find it funny how some folks can try to sneak in and out of these shops even though everyone is on the same desire page.
Well now, it depends. A shop in the main town centre, Iāve no problem going into that or carrying a bag of goodies with their name on it. But theres a small shop that sold more dvds than toys, and it always had men hanging around outside it. I wouldnāt go in there, because of the men.
Yes, absolutely. If the neighborhood is no good itās not fun for sure. My post was from meeting several that were too embarrassed to walk into a shop even though they were interested and curious about what was on the shelves.
No problem at all.
Iām exactly the same as @JoCat , I love going into decent adult stores and having a good nose around and look at the all the products either solo or with my OH. It doesnāt really happen anymore though as I never go into our local city these days (which only had a couple of the main well known in the UK high street stores anyway.)
We went to stay in London, quite a few years back now, and it was great exploring the plethora of different stores there. Some very classy with much more unusual and specialist (and expensive! 
) produce. Others, more like the regular main stream shops. Loved it. However, I wouldnāt feel happy going into the seedy little back alley places generally frequented just by men. There was one, exactly as @JoCat describes near where I grew up, Iād quite liked to have seen what they sold when I was younger but I wasnāt prepared to go in to look!
Weāve got the obvious well known one in our high street and weāre totally fine going in there for a bit of a browse. The staff were really nice, friendly and helpful. We certainly didnāt feel embarrassed about being in there. Iāve had the occasional browse on my own too and felt completely relaxed about it.
The only other adult shop from a different company is situated on an industrial estate right next door to a car repair place and couldnāt look more seedy if it tried!
We got stared at by the garage workers as we went in and then all time we were in the shop the owner or staff member behind the counter didnāt take his eyes off us once! I donāt know whether he thought we might nick something or what but it made me feel really uncomfortable. I felt uneasy at looking at the toys because of his constant staring and because it was so quiet in there we felt the need to whisper! Needless to say our browsing experience was short lived. On the way out we passed the role play outfits area and I noticed a sign saying āFitting Roomsā which led to a dingy curtained off areaā¦ no way on earth would I have been trying anything on in there! I could imagine that guys head poking through the curtain to see if I needed any help 
A sleazy version of Mr Benn springs to mind
We were the only customers in the shop which didnāt surprise us in the least when we saw the prices! I would not feel comfortable about going back there again. Itās the only time Iāve felt embarrassed about visiting a adult shop.
My first time I went in with my friend at the time, no shame. Walked out with a toy, at that point I was child free. Never been in one since, I donāt like the usual one thatās on most high streets, I have never seen any others in my local area! I do prefer online shopping, wether thatās toys or clothes. Iāve just come to dislike the outside world as I got older. 
It can be good to see and feel products or even try on stuff but it really depends on the shop and the staff as to how comfortable they make you feel. Iāve mainly visited shops with partners and if they are comfortable I am. Weāve also experienced some great advice from some staff, the āthat ones good but a bit this one has more rumble like vibesā or āthis is similar but slightly larger/smallerā etc. Not too pushy but there to help in the same way you would if buying a new TV or washing machine. They make it seem like any other purchase and can definitely put you at ease.
I have visited a few in the days before Lovehoney, but never in my local city, too much risk of being spotted coming out by someone i know!
Never had a problem with it. Personally, if I had a partner who is going to try and embarrass me then itās game on. Iād probably find an inflatable butt plug and ask if they thought it was big enough for them, or suggest a bondage kit and slightly-too-loudly exclaim how we might need it since I managed to escape easily the last time they tried to tie me down. Iāve never been one to back down from a challenge and my partners have always known that too lol.
I love them been in a good few times and the big one round here has footwear and clothingā¦greetings cardsā¦hosiery and fancy dress in the first part then you go through to the āother sideā for the furnitureā¦booksā¦toysā¦and dvds.
I took a clit clamp to the desk and asked the young lad if he knew how to put one on correctly as I said I wasnāt sure and didnāt want to damage myself. He quickly went for a female assistant and she was so helpfulā¦
I mean itās all in a days work for them surely? I didnāt care if someone I knew was in there as surely they were in for the same reason as myself?
I have found however that the choice of items and the quality is far superior from Lovehoneyā¦once I bought from here I wouldnāt go anywhere else.
So yeah am comfortableā¦went in the āseedyā ones too back in the 80ās. The small blackened out window onesā¦VHS porn filmsā¦and those solid plastic battery operated dildos with the dial at the bottom to turn them on and to increase the speed which did nothing but hurt and then eventually numb youā¦
Memories eh? So glad we have moved on in the sex toy world.
@be3169
For me - itās totally fine a woman in a lingerie shop but so difficult for a man - but after a few times itās a lot easier
I do like to see how nervous some men can be going through the lingerie
Very good point. Even harder if you make them shop for themselves. 
When I was single I wouldnāt dare go in any of them kind of shops.
Very confident going in them now with my Mrs, but still feel like an awkward spare part if she goes in the changing rooms too long. Still donāt think Iād go in them alone however
Before the internet I used to buy a lot of lingerie from that well known shop - but one day I wanted to buy a good butt plug - the shop staff were wonderful - however I almost died as they talked to me about how to use it and the pleasure from it - I just wanted them to put it in a bag - Iām sure I will work it out ā¦
I think these days its easier for men - and staff are trained to talk to men- always makes me smile when I hear the staff ask āare you looking for you or a partnerāā¦
Iām totally aok with in-person shopping. Thereās a huge adult warehouse not too far from where I live that is great fun wandering around.
Havenāt managed to get wifey along for a look-see.
ā¦ but, when we had got together 20 years ago, I did manage to convince her and a friend to check an adult shop out - which resulted in the purchase or 2 rabbit-style vibrators! 
Really interesting to read the replies on this topic. A little surprising to be honest. Totally get the seedy shop comments but my wife and I are totally different. I can barge in, pull something off the shelf and ask staff way on the other side of the shop āWhatās this for?ā My wife on the other hand tends to be quiet and embarrassed, not saying a word yet still interested in the toys.
We have a shop in our area that is a very nice and comfortable setting. We feel very comfortable there. You see people of all ages shopping. Itās a bit more pricey and can get things much cheaper in line, but sometimes you donāt want to wait. They have lots of lingerie on sale or clearance that my wife likes to buy.
Interesting point. I just realized I rarely see couples in the shops. Sometimes yes, usually males, sometimes alternate sexualities. Never crowded.
My daughter-in-law, who is Indian, arrived in Bristol with a minimum of luggage.
After some weeks she went shopping for new underwear and inadvertently wandered into that weāll known high street sex shop believing it to be a lingerie shop.
Once she realised the true nature of the shop she was afraid to come out again in case someone she knew saw her leaving.
It took her ages to pluck up the courage to run out.