7/15/2010

The Eden's Fantasy Dilemma, or Why I'm Through



All right, I'm blogging about it.

Although I mostly read and subscribe to D/s blogs, these overlap enough with the "sex blogger community" (I think that would include BDSM, but those in the group write about mostly sexual health and toy reviews) that I noticed when the whole blogger community got in an uproar this May about Eden's Fantasy.

Just before the big fiascos came out, I signed up to be an Eden's Fantasy (EF) reviewer. The name Sexperts was taken (sad face), so I couldn't sign up under that name, but I did a few free reviews for them. Ultimately, I was hoping to receive toy reviews and get more involved in the EF community, which is substantial. There are blogs, forums, reviews, messaging, and more.

There will always be bloggers screaming about how they were mistreated, and if it were just one or maybe two bloggers, I'd probably ignore it.

The thing is, though, many prominent members of the sex blogging community have written openly about their issues with EF and its leadership. Finally, this thing got so big I also felt I needed to write about it.

Essin' Em has written about her issues with EF when she was employed by them. She was unhappy with EF for backing out of a Sex Bloggers Calendar, for sharing some bloggers' public information on the web (!!) and then not taking responsibility for it, and then for allegedly lying and saying they never had a Google doc spreadsheet of the bloggers' contact info. Fred, the owner of EF, wrote a rebuttal about the Google doc spreadsheet incident here.

AAG also worked for EF and was fired, which was not her issue with the company. Her issue is that she has not been reimbursed for the final week of work she did before leaving the company. Of course any boss has the right to fire an employee, but not to withhold pay simply because he was unhappy with the work prior to firing.

Epiphora has recently been blocked from the EF community without being given warnings or specifics as to what she did wrong. In my opinion, the worst part is that EF then wrote a public announcement about this to humiliate her, then later wrote that since she didn't try to appeal but only wrote about it on her blog, they stood by their decision. Well, her original notice said the decision was "final." And they are mad because she didn't appeal?! Very high school.

After the to-do about Epiphora being blocked, Just Your Average Guy wrote a public post saying he was disappointed in EF and would be leaving. As you can read in the comments, an administrator temporarily locked his account for a "cooling-off" period because he had been "spamming."

Curvaceous Dee is unhappy with EF because they accidentally made public some bloggers' private information, including her real name.

That Sex Toy Chick has, without naming EF, made it clear that "a company" she disagrees with is the same company AAG and Essin' Em wrote about. She was forced to file with the state to be awarded money that was owed her. The owner of EF, Fred, also stopped her from creating a new sex toy called ChillDils by accusing her of copyright infringement, but did not give her proof of copyright when requested. She says EF is now selling their product again, after years of it being dormant, right when she was ready to start her own Chilldils. I don't know the name of the product, so I cannot verify that.

Maybe Maimed But Never Harmed by MayMay wrote a popular article called "EF's unethical technology is a self-referential black hole." This author had discovered that EF's links to their reviewer and bloggers' websites were actually not giving traffic to these sites. In other words, they're lying to and screwing over their community. According to Women's Tribune, an initial inquiry about it on the EF forum was deleted (you'll have to enlarge the screen shot), but another forum discussion opened by a community member asking about it. A staff member, Victoria, said the post was deleted because the staff had already gone home for the day and they have now talked it out and addressed the issue. Fred (I feel like I know him already!) wrote an explanation of EF's linking practices. Furthermore, after reading Fred's explanation, MayMay said it makes no sense, and said, and I quote, "I call bullshit on Eden Fantasy's response."

The author of Women's Tribune made a post on the EF forum that the explanation did not make sense, and her post was deleted and then she was blocked (read her story for details). Mistress Kay was also blocked from EF for similar posts.

Maria wrote on the EF forum and said she was unhappy with EF, can't trust the company, and is leaving. Aside from the aforementioned drama, she is unhappy because EF divides its toys by male and female, and even gay and straight, which is both confusing and politically incorrect. After many months, EF still had not changed the toy categories. The owner of EF, Fred, wrote her a comment defending the company and saying he invited this discussion on the open forum. He says the problem is being fixed.

Epiphora also wrote a great post about many people who worked or reviewed for EF and shared their bad experiences with her anonymously. I'd recommend reading them before you make a decision.

The sex blogging community is rallying in support, including posts by:
Ask Garnet (this is where I first heard about it all!)

and honestly, so many more I'm tired of typing them out. lol.

For a list of all the links that have to do with Eden's Fantasy, check out Britni's site. You can get some great info there, and if you're new to this whole debacle it's a great place to start sorting out the truth and the madness.

So, I guess that's it. I won't be buying from EF anymore, or writing reviews for them, or being part of their community at all. I feel beholden to support my fellow sex bloggers, especially these women who are putting their hearts and souls into making the online sex community a more wholesome, healthy place. Babeland and Good Vibrations are still awesome, and I'm always in the market for more cool stores that are sex-positive, friendly, and not full of porn and sleaze.

At first glance, EF really seemed more like Babeland and Good Vibrations, but after soooo many bloggers are decrying them, I feel like there's something wrong there. There could be a good reason for one blogger to boycott them, or maybe two, but not these dozens of people whose names I know. So add me to the list of sex bloggers boycotting EF. I'm sure they won't even miss me. And hey, if you decide to boycott them too, please let me know in one of your comments or with a link back here!

2 comments:

Epiphora said...

Pretty sad, isn't it?

I do want to note that the copyright claim against TTC was not made by EF themselves, but by a sex toy manufacturer.

Otherwise, great run-down, and thanks for the solidarity!

maymay said...

I find it hilarious that EdenFantasys has been claiming "copyright infringement." Those aware of the early days of that cesspool of a company will remember that the overwhelming majority of the content of their website was scraped from various other online sex toy retailer websites, even including customer service numbers, or so I hear over and over again about these people.

It is unfortunate that so many people are so quick to dismiss this history. EdenFantasys's own forums have, as you point out, attempted to become their own version of revisionist history. That alone is totally disgusting to me.

Anyway, I'm glad to see you're making your own opinions known. I wish more people had the good sense and strong sense of ethics to reject the notion that associating with EdenFantasys is just the way it has to be. (I'm looking at you, Masocast and Sinclair Sexsmith.)