I suppose it's good shops like Virgin stock porn, but in the end, I wonder how the prices compare with online stores?
I got some Private discs in Virgin Megastore in Amsterdam a few years back, but while they were a lot cheaper than red light district shops, they were still more expensive than online stores. Then again, DVDs, videos and CDs were generally a little more expensive than UK prices.

I envy the Americans having proper online/mail-order shopping for adult movies with no government restrictions and no need to submit movies to a censor for classification.
Then again, if you look at the general prices of mainstream DVDs and other consumer goods, I can imagine UK online stores would still charge more even if they weren't being restricted.

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Sigh ... will we ever get past the Daily Mail attitudes of UK politicians...

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It's not just the right-wing, conservative, Daily Mail attitude to deal with, but the unholy alliance of Christians and certain supposed feminists.

For example, David Sullivan's company is trying to get a sex shop license in Glasgow, but is having to consider what legal action, including going to the European courts, they can take as the Glasgow city council has made it clear they'll refuse the application on essentially moral grounds (i.e. they'll refuse it on planning grounds but really it's a moral decision). They already made it so difficult for a proposed lap dancing club (there are several already) that the potential owners gave up.

It's the old "exploitation of women" argument, despite the fact that some very poorly paid workers, work in menial jobs for the very same council. The other ironic thing is that some of the under-the-counter porn trade in Glasgow has occured from rented shop units owned by the council! I hasten to add they had absolutely nothing to do with it.

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At present we have dingy shops, small and grotesque in appearance. The whole business needs remodelling in the same way that bookies have been. In my view the ideal scenario would be to trade on a license for license basis the high street premises for larger better premises on industrial estates.
This way everybody benefits:
- The council and the 'moral' campaigner remove the sex shop from the high street.
- The consumer is given a much more welcoming and diverse shopping facility with more products, less stigma and potentially a much better atmosphere.
- The business has a chance to shake off it's shady image and start afresh with airy welcoming premises that attract a more diverse customer base.

I believe that with the right financial backing you could create a kind of Ann Summers/Homebase hybrid and make a genuinely successful and attractive business; one that would attract customers that would otherwise never consider visiting a sex shop.

Not that it will ever happen.

SNP.

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Had these stores had a little more class (like not having a front window completely covered with boxcover photos) and had stores more like the Hustler stores there never would have been a problem.

The current rule revolves around the amount of business that is adult related vs non-adult related when determining whether it is subject to "Adult" zoning restrictions.

A store like Virgin selling adult is a perfect example of what is allowed with absolutely no zoning issues at all.

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Having said that R18's IMO are not hard enough anyhow...

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I live in Brighton, which is supposedly a liberal fun-loving place, and there is only one licensed sex shop in the town. There are a couple of gay outlets, but I've not checked out whether they sell gay R18s (is there any?). The one and only time I went into the licensed shop, I looked at the prices and they were charging at least £40 per title, with maybe 3 for £100. I walked out immediately. With no competition (thank you local council) I'm not surprised they can charge that. Although online ordering is probably eating away at their sales.

Sure, most places do 1-for-1 trades at half price, but I just get envious when I read comments from Americans about how they were browsing through stacks of Evil Angel titles at their local rental store. Imagine that!

I don't think the US market appreciates that people in other countries don't have as ready access to titles, and being able to rent is important when deciding to buy a title. I'm not keen on spending money on a DVD with only screenshots and boxcovers to go on.

Regarding smartening up the shops, I do agree that some of Soho's unlicensed shops are a bit tacky. But the licensed ones along Brewer St are looking much more upmarket and professional now.

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I live up in Yorkshire , and all the R18 dvds are between £15 - £24 , but generally the average price is £20...as for gay dvd's i cant answer that one , this particular shop is in Doncaster...here is their web addy:

www.hotplanet.co.uk

Although it seems that they dont sell the dvd range online , only other products associated with sex shops...but you will be able to get a telephone number from the link , try giving them a ring..

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"Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law" - Aleister Crowley 1875-1947

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I don't live too far from Doncaster myself (Grimsby) so maybe I should go and have a look round next time I'm heading out that way?

SNP.

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SNP.

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