BDCWire
Katy Nastro

Boston is home to some fabulous sex shops that will leave you and your loved one sat-is-fied. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you figure, hey, once or twice a year (more for you kinky sons-of-guns) let me dive into “the naughty pool” with my significant other. But for some of us, walking into an adult toy store can seem extremely embarrassing and slightly terrifying. But fear not, my friends! We spoke with local sex shops around Boston to get the best tips on how to approach the sex shopping experience. Take a gander below before your next trip to “whip world” to make your shopping (s)experience just the way you like it – perfectly normal and not at all creepy.

Editor’s note: The sex shop employees requested that their last names not be used.

[Photo: Evan Richman/Globe archives]

1. Don’t feel embarrassed
If the sign on the door says “Cum on in!” you should feel quite at home right off the bat. You are going into a sex shop – its not like the anyone will tell your parents, or you’ll be seen on the nightly news as the first person ever to walk into such an establishment, so RELAX. You don’t have to wear a disguise.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Lauren at Condom World on Newbury Street suggests going right up to the people that work there for advice and to use any common vernacular you prefer when speaking about you-know-what. They are professionals that have seen and heard it all – so your inquiry about “lube for your little buddy downstairs” probably isn’t the only intimate question they’ve ever heard.

3. It’s OK to not have a clue
First timer — that is, visiting a sex shop? It happens all the time. A bit scared to actually come in? Amazing Express in Chinatown suggests doing a bit of research online so you can call ahead to see if they have the item you’re looking for or simply just ask a couple questions – judgment free.

4. Don’t say “It’s for my friend…”
Hey, guess what? We know that blow up doll you just bought was not “for a friend.” Jaime at Sweet & Nasty in Back Bay says there is no need to put on a cover. “Come in, find what you’re looking for, ask or don’t ask, either way we are going to sell you the product,” she says. It’s a business, so don’t be bogus.

5. Security in numbers
“Couples are by far the easiest to assist,” says Lauren from Condom World. You both have one another for support and that will make it easier to decide what you’d like to try. No need for the guessing game. Just don’t get too randy in the store. Adult shops are not like Costco – you cannot try before you buy.

6. Be respectful of the shop owners/workers
Yes, they might have seen and heard it all like Susan from Hubba Hubba in Cambridge, but that doesn’t mean you have any right to walk in and ask where you can meet men/women who are into BDSM. They do not assist with what you do once you leave the store, nor appreciate you asking them personal questions about their own sex life. Yes, you might be in a sex store, but no this is not the red light district. Seek live demonstrations elsewhere.