The world’s largest online retail giant might just hit a hump with one of their most recent offerings aimed at “Sex and Sensuality.” Literally thousands of products are available through their health and personal section but some industry watchers say Amazon’s attempt at an online fun party could come back to haunt them.
Shankar Gupta of Online Media Daily in an article that Amazon could face some negative repercussions for their recent repositioning of adult material. Gupta quoted Jupiter Research Retail Analyst Patti Freeman Evans as saying that a consumer backlash is a distinct possibility. “Any time you put up a particular product, which is potentially a controversial type of product, you’ll potentially see a backlash.”
While this in many ways could be a great and profitable market for Amazon, the negative publicity that could come with it, particular with some the conservative culture in the U.S. right now might be more the Amazon’s willing to tackle. Also, some states like Alabama do have laws against the sale of certain types of adult sex toys within the confines of the state.
The products are sold on a sort of consignment system. People peruse the products at Amazon’s website and then order. The products will actually ship from another retailer and these products don’t actually come from Amazon’s warehouses. Amazon has actually used this system with a number of other products in one form other.
Gupta also pointed out that Amazon has no age verification system and most people will be able to look through these products although it was pointed out the products are relatively tame. Credit cards in and of themselves can be used as an age verification so that might offer some control as far as ordering but anyway can see them.
John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
