New Zealand mother shocked to find display of vibrators while visiting Chemist Warehouse with teenage daughter

“I thought they were Korean facial vibrators that were supposed to clean pores.”

The woman, who initially thought they were “oddly shaped” facial massagers, was shocked when her daughter explained their purpose to her, informing her they were sex toys.

“One of them was called French Tickler,” the mother said. “My daughter laughed and thought it was just hilarious.”

The devices were displayed out of their boxes.

“I was mortified,” she said, especially since her daughter’s friend was with them.

“I was shocked, absolutely shocked to see something like that in the Chemist Warehouse, right next to all the lip glosses.”

When asked what she found so disturbing and what prompted her to complain, she said: “I feel like doing something like this is normalising young girls into thinking it’s absolutely okay to use this equipment.

“This product is available to anyone who enters the Chemist Warehouse, from children aged 5 to 80. Sex toys cannot be lumped together with Lego.”

She was also struck by the colours, which she compared to those of sweets such as M&M’s.

After leaving the store, she decided to express her disappointment.

“I can’t say anything about it,” she said. “I called everyone, I was so shocked.”

She contacted the Chemist Warehouse branch in Sylvia Park and spoke to the “lovely” manager, who told her the store had received “further complaints and had emailed head office”.

However, the staff member explained that they could not remove the products from the store without management’s approval.

Contacted by the HeraldThe store manager confirmed that she had spoken to the woman and informed the company’s CEO and buying team.

“We completely understand his concern,” the manager said, confirming that he had received two complaints about the display of sex toys, which has been in place since January.

“It’s on display next to our cosmetics,” she said, aligned but not with them.

“Not too close to the counter.”

The display featured a brand called Vacation Vibes, which customers sometimes thought was sunscreen.

“They are sometimes confused about the name of the product itself,” the official said.

The packaging is “quite sensitive,” she explained.

THE Herald understands that merchandise does not include explicit signage or information explaining the nature of the item, and that inventory and merchandising decisions are not made at the store level.

THE Herald also contacted a company representative for comment.

Hamilton’s mother said she also complained to management at Sylva Park Mall, who told her that while they were “aware” of the problem, there was nothing they could do about it.

“I called the Department of Children and spoke to their social welfare adviser,” who said “it was not within their legislative authority.”

She also filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority.

The mother said that “their job was to control anything that could cause moral, ethical or physical harm to the children, and I would classify that as moral harm or ethical harm.”

The ASA states in Principle 1 of its Code that “advertisements should be prepared and placed with an appropriate sense of social responsibility towards consumers and society” and that “advertisements targeting children or young people should comply with the ASA’s Code of Advertising to Children and Young People”.

Chemist Warehouse isn’t the only non-specialist New Zealand retailer selling sex toys. Life Pharmacy sells a range of vibrators. Woolworths stocks the Durex Play Accessory Delight Vibrating Bullet, while beauty chain Sephora has a range of models.