We discussed shopping for implements in vanilla stores and this is what you said:
Dan: I still recall vividly my trip to a mall to find a heavy hairbrush after
we had our initial discussion about trying spanking as domestic
discipline. Yes, I was firmly convinced that every single female sales
clerk knew why I was looking for one. The same occurred when I bought a
solid wooden bath brush. Whether the clerks really did suspect my
ulterior motive is impossible to know but, really, how many men show for
wooden "paddle"-style hairbrushes and bath brushes? I am guessing not
that many.
Roz: I have wondered if the staff knew the dual purpose when buying things
like wooden spoons etc. We went into a gift shop once around Christmas
that had, among other things, a riding crop, toy fluffy cuffs etc. That
was embarrassing. I tried to pretend they were gag Christmas gifts.
Leigh: I don't feel embarrassed when buying implements with a dual purpose. I
usually shop for other things online, so I'm not embarrassed at all.
haha
Wilma: I thought for sure Barney would feel odd going into a saddlery store to
buy a quirt. I had made up a 'story' for him just in case. You know, "
My sister in law lives out of town and asked me to ...." Nope. He just
walked in talked to the woman about the different ones and picked the
one he liked ( not one I am fussy about, not sure if ANY of them I would
'like').
As for at the beginning when we first started buying
things, no. Like Leigh, we buy the specific to spanking stuff generally
online.
Fred: I love pervertibles, most of my spanking toys are repurposed. Spoons, belts, brushes, shoe horns, I have them all.
Mostly I just see something that I like the look of and buy it. It's intended purpose is not obvious at the point of purchase. However
... Some time back I had in mind to make some floggers, so I thought
that I could acquire suitable leather strips by repurposing some belts,
so I headed out to the thrift stores on a buying mission. I took a kinky
friend along. She is talkative type and soon she had the thrift store
assistant engaged in conversation. I arrived the checkout with an armful
of belts, a couple of brushes and a pair of plimsolls.
"Interesting
items you have here." Thrift lady observed. I would have kept quiet,
made my donation and left but my companion made the mistake of saying
"We are looking for materials for a craft project."
"Really what's sort of project?" Thrift lady asked.
We
just looked at each other, neither of us really having a suitable
reply/cover story. It sort of ended in awkward silence as we handed over
the cash and left.
These days I get my pervertibles on online auction sites, it's easier.
Jenn: For the most part, I don't think the staff are aware of what I'm
thinking while shopping for "pervertibles". The first one I bought was a
hairbrush. I wanted it as a brush, too, so I just looked at the back
quickly to notice that there were no protrusions that would prevent its
dual use as a spanking tool. Later, when I shopped for a bath brush. I
did slap it against my left palm, but that was very brief and there was
no one around. I doubt the security cameras even noticed. Recently I
bought a a man's belt as a gift, and I did note that it would be great
for a strapping. I sometimes inspect wooden spoons, bath brushes, and
men's belts when I'm not planning to buy them, but I don't think anyone
is the wiser.
Jan: Hi Hermione, If we see stuff when we are vanilla shopping we just throw
it in the trolley amongst the rest and don't think anyone will ever
guess. Proper spanking stuff is what computers were made for surely?
Ronnie: I used to feel a little embarrassed but not any more. Now I rarely buy spanking toys from a vanilla shop it's all done on line.
Baxter: We went into the cooking store downtown and my intent was going to the
bread board section in search of a suitable spanking paddle. I found it,
showed it to my wife (she is the spanker) and she said if you want it,
get it. Well I went up to the counter and the woman scanned it and on
the screen, it said 'bread paddle'. I snickered and pointed to it and my
wife snickered also. Did the saleswoman have any idea what we were
snickering about or was she just bored, ringing up purchases and looking
at the clock? I doubt she had any idea. Another time, we went into the
hardware store and the cooking section and I pointed to a wooden spoon.
My wife said if you want it, get it. So into the basket it went and she
covered it with some other stuff we were buying. I whispered that it
only looks like we are buying a wooden spoon and she said 'yeah' and off
we went to check out. Doubt the cashier thought anything of it since we
were buying all sorts of stuff you find at hardware stores. But what if
they suspected anything? Maybe someone who is a cashier can say.
Joe from Alberta: This has nothing to do with spanking, but I one time was buying a few
items for an evening in with a female acquaintance. I like to be
prepared, so I was in this small family oriented store called Wal-Mart. I
deliberately went on a Thursday night after work, so there would be
less people around. Anyway, in the basket I had condoms, flavoured
condoms, whipped cream, coconut oil, water based lube,a fleet enema,
mouthwash, nylon clothes line, strawberries, and shaving cream.
So
I purposely went to the self checkout where there was nobody around.
As my luck always goes, this middle aged woman working a til waves me
over, and says "I can run you through here". My thought was "Oh %$@*^
great". So no sooner do I haul my sorry butt over there, and a woman
with two teenage daughters enters the line behind me. We go from
nobody; to me and four female people now present. So I thought "well,
ain't my fault". I started taking everything out of the basket, and
putting it on the conveyor belt to go through.
The older girl
starts giggling, and whispers to her sister "probably for his
boyfriend". I usually might get flustered, but that time I was so
p*ssed off about not being able to do the self checkout, I just looked
at her, and said "No...actually it's for a prostitute". The kid's face
turned red, and then her mom started laughing, and told her to shut up.
Why
in the name of god, the woman at the till just didn't let me do the
self checkout thing is beyond me. But since then I make sure I don't go
through the regular lineups when I'm getting things beyond normal items
no matter what. I don't think I have a story that can top this one.
I don't think so either. I have been redirected by managers at Walmart when they want to even out the traffic among the checkouts.
Hermione: Like many of you, I do most of my implement shopping online. I do remember finding a dogleg bath brush in Pottery Barn a few years ago. I was certain the clerk knew exactly what it was intended to be used for. I've also blushed as I bought wooden spoons at a dollar store. I felt uncomfortable the first time I shopped in an adult store, because all the serious implements were behind the counter, but the sales associate put me at ease and I actually enjoyed my visit.
Thank you all for sharing your interesting and embarrassing experiences.