Condoms for sale at a Te Awamutu op shop

Little else beats the thrill of op shopping -  grabbing yourself a deal, raising money for charity and saving something that would otherwise be headed for landfill. 

A Te Awamutu op shop has caused a stir online after a photo was posted of them selling connies - advertised for sale at 50c each at the Hato Hone St John store.

“You check for any holes poked in ‘em?” asked one Reddit user.

Others joked that the birth control had “one careful owner” and were in “near-new condition”.

Asked whether they checked the dates on them before they were made available for sale, she confirmed they did but told the Herald the store would be pulling out of the condom market because some of the stock was due to expire.

Many people responding to the post noted that condoms were available elsewhere for free.

The popular barrier method can prevent unwanted pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections but Family Planning NZ’s Julie Avery told the Herald she had some concerns over how the condoms were being sold.

She said condoms should be sold in sealed boxes so customers could be sure individual condoms had not been tampered with and they should not be sold past their expiry dates, which are also carried on every individual condom.

Condoms used past their dates could break and be unsafe.

She pointed out that Family Planning clinics across NZ make condoms available and for those under 22, they’re free.

Anyone needing them can drop in or have a phone consult.

She acknowledged clinic spaces may not feel comfortable for some older people but anyone was welcome and anyone could also have a virtual consult.

“It’s much less confronting,” Avery said.

But for one social media user, the condoms were far from the raciest offering they had seen in a NZ op shop.

“My local op shop had nipple pasties once,” they claimed.

Article first publushed by NZ Herald, republished here with permission + edits. Condom image via u/flappytowel

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