Vibrations not so good at Woolies Vibrator stocks have been withdrawn. Photo: Eamonn Duff Woolworths had become the first major Australian supermarket chain to sell battery-powered sex toys. But the gamble lasted less than a fortnight. Shoppers were able to buy their weekly groceries and sex aids under one roof after the retail giant unveiled a new Vibrating Bullet "clitoral stimulator" across 900 stores nationally. While manufacturer Durex hailed the controversial move as a "game-changer for the industry," the "Fresh Food People" have performed a dramatic U-turn, clearing thousands of the products off shelves on Friday after learning, via Fairfax Media, a leading Christian ministry group had called for a nationwide "boycott" of its stores. Roslyn Phillips, research officer with Christian advocacy group FamilyVoice Australia, said sex toys belonged in sex shops. Society is already suffering massive problems with young children being oversexualised ... this move by Woolies just makes the problem worse. I, personally, would not patronise Woolies while this situation exists and I encourage everyone else to boycott them, too. I hope parents will let Woolies know how they feel and I hope they tell them they'll continue to shop elsewhere until these products are removed. While Coles stocks a small vibrating ring that slips over a condom, Woolworths decided to boldly go where no supermarket has gone before, by stocking battery-powered vibrators. Designed to give "five hours of quivering pleasure," the "discreet and powerful" device costs $24.99 and was positioned within the sexual health section that includes condoms and lubricants. However, the same aisle features numerous family-oriented products such as toothpastes, shampoos and shower gels. In many stores the vibrators themselves sat within arms reach of popular children's Band-Aid products featuring the Wiggles and Dora the Explorer. The Australian Family Association's national spokeswoman, Terri Kelleher, said for that reason, and others, the sale of vibrators was "diabolically wrong." Woolworths has been extending its range in areas such as homewares but do we really need to be explaining to our children what a vibrator is whilst walking down the supermarket aisle? It completely undermines that parental prerogative as to when and how you raise these sorts of things with children. Fiona Patten, president of the Australian Sex Party, agrees. She said: "While I have no problem with anyone selling vibrators, I think they should be sold from an age-restricted area." But sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein said grocery stores already promoted safe sex through the sale of condoms, "so why shouldn't they also promote pleasurable sex through sex toys?" "Why is it so offensive?" she asked. We are taught to view such products as dirty, naughty, shameful and outside the boundaries of normality - and that's wrong. A vibrator is no different to a vitamin in that it does something positive for your body. While Dr Goldstein believes the introduction of small vibrators should be accepted in supermarkets, she said it would be wrong if it paved the way for entire sections lined with "handcuffs and big dildos." This is a discreet product that is discreetly packaged. I don't think it will open the floodgates. ■Twitter: @eamonnduff