Come As You Are

What it is

Come As You Are is a worker-owned cooperative and Canadian sex shop founded in 1997, operating both as a physical retail location in Toronto and as a comprehensive online e-commerce store serving customers across Canada and beyond. The business model is structured explicitly as a worker-owned cooperative rather than a traditional corporation with outside investors, which fundamentally affects business decision-making, profit distribution, and priorities in ways that center worker and community interests alongside customer service. The cooperative structure means employees have direct stakes in decisions about which products to stock, how to treat customers, what values the company pursues, and how profits are distributed and reinvested. The company's founding statement emphasizes an anti-capitalist, explicitly feminist stance toward sex retail, positioning the business as a deliberate alternative to mainstream corporate adult retailers. This ideological grounding shapes every aspect of operations from product selection to customer communication to community engagement. The business has been recognized and voted "best sex shop in Toronto" since 1997, indicating sustained local recognition and deep customer loyalty built over more than 25 years of consistent values and quality service. The physical location in Toronto combines with the online presence to serve both walk-in customers seeking in-person guidance and remote customers purchasing online. This organizational structure of worker ownership and feminist values distinguishes Come As You Are fundamentally from profit-driven retailers and creates accountability mechanisms built into the business structure.

Getting in

Prices are published in Canadian dollars on every product page with complete transparency, allowing customers to make informed pricing decisions before checkout or account creation. Items displayed range from approximately 3 dollars for basic accessories and supplies up to 275 dollars Canadian for premium products, creating a wide price range accessible to different budget levels. The site displays original prices and sale prices side-by-side, with promotional discounts clearly shown so customers can see both regular cost and promotional savings. Free shipping is offered on Canadian orders exceeding 85 dollars, a threshold that balances customer incentive to purchase multiple items with realistic expectations for typical purchases. A newsletter signup offers free shipping on the first order as an incentive for email communication, while making the offer transparent about what the subscriber is receiving. The website permits browsing and price comparison without requiring account creation or login, protecting customer privacy during research phases. Payment processing is described as secure and the company emphasizes data protection and privacy in its terms, suggesting attention to the sensitive nature of intimate purchases. Return and refund processes are described as "hassle-free" with no mention of restocking fees or hidden conditions, indicating customer-friendly policies. The site offers an in-house warranty on every item stocked, a commitment that goes significantly beyond typical retailer policies and signals confidence in product quality and durability. This warranty on every item, not just defective units, represents an exceptional customer protection policy.

What is actually there

The catalog is organized into comprehensive categories including new sex toy arrivals, sex information and educational content, books on related topics, vibrators with specific subcategories, G-spot vibrators, penis toys for male customers, and couples items for shared use. The books section indicates the retailer sees sex education as a core part of its mission and retail purpose, carrying titles on topics such as gender, relationships, sex work, consent, and erotic art rather than carrying only transactional products. Specific book categories include educational titles, BDSM and powerplay resources, erotica and romance, relationship guides, sex culture and politics, sex work history and perspective, gender studies, materials for kids and families, biography and memoir, erotic art and comics, coloring books, and zines. Specific product examples include the Lelo Boomerang Double Ended Vibe, Ohnut Depth Limiting Rings, Sliquid Massage Oil, and Fantasy Tower Silicone Dildo, all with detailed specifications including exact dimensions and material composition. Customer review counts and numerical ratings are visible on product pages, with products showing numbers of total reviews and average ratings. Search and filtering tools are present and functional. The breadth of educational and books content distinguishes this retailer from purely transactional stores and signals commitment to treating customers as whole people with information needs beyond product purchase.

Trust and safety

Come As You Are does not publish a compliance notice, which is notable because the company operates in Canada rather than the United States, making US legal compliance optional and not required by Canadian law. However, the cooperative's explicit commitment to ethical practices and transparency suggests a voluntary higher standard even where not legally mandated. The site emphasizes hassle-free warranties and protection for customers, with this customer protection embedded in the company's entire brand. The cooperative structure and worker-ownership create internal accountability mechanisms distinct from corporate hierarchies. The selection of products and book titles shows implicit curation toward safety and informed choice: the company stocks body-safe brands including premium medical-grade silicone options and educational materials promoting understanding of consent and hygiene. Product descriptions include material composition and safety information based on how products are presented and categorized. The cooperative structure means decisions about vendors, products, and brand relationships are made with input from workers as well as management, creating built-in accountability for ethical sourcing.

Is it alive

Come As You Are is clearly an active, vibrant, well-maintained operation with ongoing investment in customer experience. Customer reviews indicate recent purchases with review counts and dates suggesting active customer engagement. The site design is modern and functional, with an active blog and visible social media presence indicated by navigation links to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (Twitter). Seasonal promotions such as messaging about US shipping being on hold due to tariffs indicate responsiveness to current events and market conditions. New products and featured items are highlighted in the store, suggesting ongoing inventory additions and curation. The company actively communicates with customers about operational changes such as shipping holds, demonstrating transparent and timely communication. Navigation shows an active events section, suggesting the physical retail location hosts events and community engagement activities. The site message about US shipping on hold due to tariffs shows the company actively manages and communicates operational changes to customers in real time.

The grade

Come As You Are receives an A grade for combining worker-owned cooperative structure, transparent material-safe curation, accessible pricing, hassle-free warranty on every item, customer reviews, educational content, and discreet shipping. Prices are published before purchase in Canadian dollars, free shipping is available at a reasonable 85-dollar threshold, and the company offers an in-house warranty on all products, signaling confidence in product quality and longevity. The presence of comprehensive educational content on sex, gender, relationships, and body autonomy indicates the company treats customer education as integral to its mission rather than peripheral marketing. The implicit material safety curation through product selection and educational resources is evident throughout the site. The cooperative structure and explicit feminist mission create accountability to customers and workers that transcends typical corporate retail models. The long history of serving the Toronto community with consistent values demonstrates sustained commitment to ethics and quality. What prevents an A+ grade is the absence of explicit, published information about specific material safety standards or formal DMCA procedures. However, the overall commitment to cooperative values, customer protection through warranty, material safety education, and feminist ethics places this retailer among the very best in the industry.