Today, people are growing more aware of their sexuality, and thanks to these little gizmos and the internet, sex toys can be delivered discreetly and conveniently to your doorstep. The sex toys industry has come a long way with manufacturers constantly improving on the quality and the tremendous range of their products.

Different individuals will have different needs and motivations for buying sex toys. No matter what your preferences are, whether it is bondage, costumes, or novelty items, there is a huge following of people who appreciate such sexual preferences and the toys catered for them.

Suppose you've decided what you want, and perhaps ready to make a purchase. However, We know that walking into a physical sex toy shop can be a wee bit intimidating or even embarrassing for some. Fortunately for many of us, the online sex toys store is especially suited for this.

However, going about selecting the right online store can be a bit of a chore itself. There are many concerns that you need to address before buying from an online store. After all, not all online stores might be legitimate or provide good service. In order to soothe the nervous buyer, here are a few guidelines in selecting the right online store. By practicing these simple but safe methods, you will be able to reduce the possibility of online scams and fraud.

So, what do we look for in an online store?

* Always look for an "About Us" page. Never buy from a store that does not openly provide information such as their location, company information, as well as a contact telephone number for customer inquiries.

* The online store should accept more than one mode of ordering. You should be allowed to order by both online and offline methods. Offline methods of ordering are via fax or telephone orders. Granted, you may or may not want to order offline, but this ensures that you are not buying from a ghost company with no one but computers running the store.

* The store should accept more than one form of payment. The store should accept payment by check and credit card. Reason being check payments are at a lower risk of fraud because checks are much easier for the authorities to trace. Scam artists normally avoid receiving check payments.

* It is a given that secure shopping is important. Only buy from stores that offer secure ordering. This is safe because even if your credit card details are intercepted during transmission, it cannot be read.

* Good customer service. You can test their customer service by sending an email to enquire about a product. If they don't respond to you, chances are they will also be slow to act on return requests. Too many times we have put up with these types of sloppy customer service. It is your right as a consumer to receive proper service and support.

* Freebies. Everybody likes free stuff such as free gifts or free shipping. Although it does not make or break a store's reputation, it does show that the store values their customers by proactively seeking customer satisfaction.

* The store provides money back guarantees. Sex toy stores should carry a minimum 30 days money back guarantee. However, due to sanitary requirements of sex toys, money back guarantees apply only for unopened products. Afterall, you wouldn't want to buy merchandise which have been used by someone else, would you?

Hopefully, this list will help you overcome any fear of buying sex toys online, and will help you select a good store to buy from.