Steel sex toys

I've noticed recently that a few sites have been selling cheaper steel sex toys that look like the Njoy range, but I don't think they are.

http://www.bondara.co.uk/stainless-steel-dildo

 This is one example, I've noticed a few other UK sites selling these at a similar price, just without Njoy brand mentioned.

Just wondering what LH/ others think?

I'm just finding it odd.

You're right - they aren't the original Njoy range but they are using the photography from Njoy. We have been aware of this for a while and we have forwarded links to Njoy of the sites that are selling copies. Njoy is however a small independent company in the USA and they don't have the man power to chase up the offenders. It's a huge shame that companies do this as it took years for Njoy to develop the designs and and get them to market. 

I thought so.

On another site I saw products that where Lelo look a likes as well. Not sure where that was, but if I come across it I will post the link here.

Hope something is done about it in the future, though I understand that small companies might not have the time to chase them up.

I'm all for cheap, generic sex toys, but when it hurts small companies like Njoy and those who took a lot of time and effort to lift off from the ground, and for extra salt in the wound, they have their pictures nicked from their main website, well, I'm pretty against that in all ways!

Yes there are several copies of top brands that have been produced over the past few years - they seem to target the luxury brands like Lelo, Njoy, We-Vibe and Fun Factory. Sometimes I understand that a company may stock them without realising they are copies but other times you can see the boundaries being crossed where customers can be mislead to believe they are getting the genuine article. The issue with something like Njoy is that they don't necessarily hold a patent on the design so there is only so much they can do. 

Oooh. shiney! lol

I may be naive, but I dont think generic necessarily means worse. There are generic medicines which you can buy. They are still safe, but sometimes can cost fraction of the price (even half the price of the original) and help lot of people. But I think it should be stated clearly that these are not the manufacturer they are made to resemble but a generic toy. Of course its bad when it hurts small companies, who worked hard to get where they are now.

Haywire wrote:

Oooh. shiney! lol

Browncoat? (and if you're not and don't understand, don't worry, this isn't anything insulting!)

 Copies and the like are always part of the market, it's a real shame for everyone involved if they are poorly made; not that I'm saying it's right at all!

What really annoys me about the bondara ad is they stole the nJoy image and just slapped their watermark on top!  If it was an image of the actual product  it would be far less offensive!

From a moral standpoint, as well as a 'long term' view, we need to protect the likes of Njoy.  They're artists, in their own way, and they deserve recognition, respect, and profit from their efforts.  And, if we turn our backs on them in favour of the kind of people who can't do anythign but churn out copies, then companies like Njoy will die off, and all innovation will stall: we'll be left with nothing new or unique, just mass-produced repeats.  And as if that's not enough, the new designers will find they have no place to go, as they'll not get the support of the leecher-types until they've already proven the success of their idea, and it's pretty hard to go from a randomer with an idea and a successful toy creator if there's no smaller companies willing to give you the chance to build and showcase.

Plus, when it's the likes of that where they show a product image which is definitely not what they're providing, that's just illegal and obnoxious, and I don't want no truck with criminals!

Yes, as a broke type, I love the idea of cheap versions, but I'm not willing to shoot myself in the foot: I'd prefer to wait until I can afford *real* stuff and get it legit, than feel bad about my fake.

BashfulBabe wrote:

From a moral standpoint, as well as a 'long term' view, we need to protect the likes of Njoy.  They're artists, in their own way, and they deserve recognition, respect, and profit from their efforts.  And, if we turn our backs on them in favour of the kind of people who can't do anythign but churn out copies, then companies like Njoy will die off, and all innovation will stall: we'll be left with nothing new or unique, just mass-produced repeats.  And as if that's not enough, the new designers will find they have no place to go, as they'll not get the support of the leecher-types until they've already proven the success of their idea, and it's pretty hard to go from a randomer with an idea and a successful toy creator if there's no smaller companies willing to give you the chance to build and showcase.

Plus, when it's the likes of that where they show a product image which is definitely not what they're providing, that's just illegal and obnoxious, and I don't want no truck with criminals!

Yes, as a broke type, I love the idea of cheap versions, but I'm not willing to shoot myself in the foot: I'd prefer to wait until I can afford *real* stuff and get it legit, than feel bad about my fake.

I feel the same way BB! I also feel that there is something really special about owning a branded product like Lelo or Njoy and such. Having a cheaper knocked off product is never going to feel as special.

Same as jewelery, actually.

Njoy have managd to gain an enormous respect in the sextoy industry just with the few products they do; that takes enthusiasm and staying power to work hard at marketing not to get swallowed up by the huge range of larger companies; theyve managed to claw themselves to become one of the top of the range products; wanted and adored by most of us.

So yes bashfulbabe i completely agree with you and Avriele you are so right we all know when we have something special in a luxury toy with the expensive boxes and tissue, silk and bows wrapping it really makes us feel special and is something to unwrap with pride.

A cheaper product couldnt manage to give us the whole experience, the unwrapping, the product and the quality.

It's the same with almost everything in the retail industry though. Jewelery, clothes, shoes, music, electrical equiptment, food, drinks, ... everything really.

There will always be cheaper, no frills versions around. And sometimes thats not a problem, but when it hurts the brands who made the original and put a lot of work in to it, and are going to be poisoned by these cheaper versions taking away the small buisness they have got, well, that is just not fair at all.

Laveila wrote:

I may be naive, but I dont think generic necessarily means worse. There are generic medicines which you can buy. They are still safe, but sometimes can cost fraction of the price (even half the price of the original) and help lot of people. But I think it should be stated clearly that these are not the manufacturer they are made to resemble but a generic toy. Of course its bad when it hurts small companies, who worked hard to get where they are now.

Generic medicines and counterfeit goods are quite different.

A regulated drug generally (I think) only has one or very few accepted chemical structures. So whoever makes it, it's always going to be the same end product.

Counterfeit products have a lot more variables that can change during the production process - quality of materials, of assembly, of motor, etc. That's why they're generally cheaper but inferior, as corners can be cut.

I think that the drugs have some elements bit different in them, thats why they are cheaper. But not 100% sure.

As for generic toys. Weaker motor? yes, likely even less quiet. Maybe not that high quality silicone. I do have Lelo toys and I would never go for a cheaper version as these are great and I love them. But still dont think the cheaper generic toys are unsafe, at least in some countries, not sure how in UK, they would be forbidden if they contained dangerous elements in them.