"For External Use Only"?!

Contributor: Genderfree Genderfree
I've began to notice this lately. A lot of sex toys that I have seen recently have had "For external use only" written on their package. This includes dildos made out of the safest materials, like silicone, and ones with bases that would be entirely safe for anal penetration. Is this merely a formality, or does this mean something else?!
10/05/2012
  • Upgrade Your Hands-Free Play!
  • Long-distance pleasure set for couples
  • Save Extra 20% On Love Cushion And Toy Set!
  • Complete strap-on set for extra 15% off
  • Save 50% On Shower Nozzle With Enema Set
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
All promotions
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Formality, almost certainly. It's a way for companies to protect themselves and get their products to consumers, mainly in areas where the explicit sale of sex toys isn't legal, but the sale of novelties is.

If I'm recalling correctly, even one of my favorite companies, Tantus, has a teeny-tiny "novelty purposes only" message on their boxes, which you would know to be a complete joke if you've sampled their products and seen their website.
10/05/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Genderfree
I've began to notice this lately. A lot of sex toys that I have seen recently have had "For external use only" written on their package. This includes dildos made out of the safest materials, like silicone, and ones with bases that ... more
It's always been that way, for years and years. It's to avoid law suits, and honestly, it's not exactly reassuring. A lot of people will even avoid companies that do that. Cal Exotics often might as well say "caution! Your vagina could explode if using internally!" Because they're cautions and "disclaimers" will be so overboard and ALL over the package. Makes some people a little hesitant about those companies.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Because the world is the way it is, adult products have to be sold as novelties. The most extreme warning I've seen is "do not use on unexplained calf pain"; unexplained calf pain is often an indicator of a blood clot in the vein and massaging the area could cause the clot to dislodge and move into the heart.

I have never shied away from a product because of warning labels, they are required by federal law and additional warnings may be required by state law. It's really no different than the warnings you see on hair dryers "do not submerge in water or fall asleep while using".

If I recall correctly, there's a warning on cotton swabs telling you not to insert them in your ears but people do it every day.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Because the world is the way it is, adult products have to be sold as novelties. The most extreme warning I've seen is "do not use on unexplained calf pain"; unexplained calf pain is often an indicator of a blood clot in the vein and ... more
Though please, folks, don't actually fall asleep or hang around bodies of water when using a hair dryer, and don't jam a cotton swab all the way into the inner ear canal. These actions are more likely to result in injury than putting a dildo inside you.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Though please, folks, don't actually fall asleep or hang around bodies of water when using a hair dryer, and don't jam a cotton swab all the way into the inner ear canal. These actions are more likely to result in injury than putting a dildo ... more
No reasonably sane person should be doing those things anyway.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
No reasonably sane person should be doing those things anyway.
You'd be amazed what people who are otherwise "reasonably sane" will do unless explicitly told not to (and sometimes even then!). Working retail will cause you to weep for humanity.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
No reasonably sane person should be doing those things anyway.
You'd think.

I'd also think that a well respected manufacturer of Glass dildos wouldn't recommend that you put your glass dildo in the microwave.

"Run the wand under warm water or place it in the microwave to heat things up."

Really? So, when someone ends up with burns inside of their orifices and they sue your company because you recommended this and didn't provide step by step instructions on how to do it. What are they going to say?

Of course, most of us wouldn't do this because it's HOT! And the potential risk of having a random hot spot. However, someone who just got their 1st glass dildo and doesn't know anything about them just might do it.
10/05/2012
Contributor: cricket cricket
I never noticed these
10/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
You'd be amazed what people who are otherwise "reasonably sane" will do unless explicitly told not to (and sometimes even then!). Working retail will cause you to weep for humanity.
Amen to that! Retail was not my cup of tea at all. I saw the bad side of people more often than I'd like!
10/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
You'd think.

I'd also think that a well respected manufacturer of Glass dildos wouldn't recommend that you put your glass dildo in the microwave.

"Run the wand under warm water or place it in the microwave to heat ... more
Maybe you could bring this to their attention with a beautifully worded email.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Maybe you could bring this to their attention with a beautifully worded email.
I actually tweeted to them. And they tweeted step by step instructions. I was so shocked.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Bethy Cassatt Bethy Cassatt
Oh lord, this is a bit ridiculous. I can't stop laughing.
10/05/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
I asked about this a few weeks ago, and it seems like manufacturers are caught between a rock and a hard place. Between the the American public's ability to find new and unimagined ways to injure and maim themselves and their general love of lawsuits, these 'warnings' need to be on boxes for legal reasons.
10/05/2012
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
They're probably also there to minimize the chance of it being deemed a "medical device" requiring FDA approval.

On some of the toys the warnings are there because they really shouldn't be used internally at all - jelly type toys and the like.
10/08/2012
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Because the world is the way it is, adult products have to be sold as novelties. The most extreme warning I've seen is "do not use on unexplained calf pain"; unexplained calf pain is often an indicator of a blood clot in the vein and ... more
Oh, that makes sense. I can still use it on my baby cows, though.
10/08/2012
Contributor: emiliaa emiliaa
That scared me a little. Bahaha.
As well as the warning on cotton swabs... Do not insert into ear canal... oh god, if that meant anything, I'd be dead.
10/08/2012
Contributor: SepZet SepZet
It's like when the chainsaw companies tell you to not stop the chainsaw-chain with your hand or your genitals (I wish I was kidding). One person happened to do something stupid like that and was able to sue for it, so they just put it up to protect themselves.

Someone probably got sick a long time ago from using a sex toy and was able to sue for it, so they just are playing it safe.
10/10/2012
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Because the world is the way it is, adult products have to be sold as novelties. The most extreme warning I've seen is "do not use on unexplained calf pain"; unexplained calf pain is often an indicator of a blood clot in the vein and ... more
Well said. All these labels and warnings are self protection, by the companies, against litigious lawyers and buyers.
12/06/2012
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
I asked about this a few weeks ago, and it seems like manufacturers are caught between a rock and a hard place. Between the the American public's ability to find new and unimagined ways to injure and maim themselves and their general love of ... more
We bought our nephew a football helmet a few years ago, and it said on the inside "avoid all contact if possible", and "not intended to minimize risk or prevent any injury". Talk about disclaimers and washing your hands of "risk"!!!!
12/06/2012