About Adam and Eve and its parent company, PHE, Inc.
- 20 million satisfied customers worldwide
- Offers thousands of adult products from vibrators to strokers
- Founded in 1971, giving us a time-tested reputation for reliability
- Named Business of the Year by the local community…read more
- Protecting your privacy and security are our top priorities
- We deliver in plain packages & offer 90 day risk-free returns
About Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve is the nation's largest marketer of adult products with millions of satisfied customers worldwide. We opened our doors in March 1971, making us one of the oldest companies in the adult industry as well. Over the decades, we've built a time-tested reputation for honesty and reliability in an industry known for shady business dealings and fly-by-night operations. Our loyal customers know they can rely on Adam and Eve to treat them fairly, protect their privacy, and stand by our promises.
We Care About Our Customers
One of our goals is providing customers with the best service possible. It's why we are the only adult company with a fully staffed support center open 24/7. You can call or email us anytime with questions about your new toy, and we'll be there to answer them.
It's why we're the only adult retailer to accept no-questions-asked returns on sex toys under our 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy.
It's why we've created sister companies, like AdamMale or AdamEveVOD, to focus on your special needs.
And it's why we're also building one of the largest sexual education centers online, with articles and videos about sex toys, dating and relationships, sexual health, and more.
Our customers deserve the best, and we'll do whatever it takes to give it to them.
The History of Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve's success rests on a history of hard-work, dedication, and a willingness to fight for what's right - regardless of the cost. Phil Harvey founded Adam and Eve in 1971 as part of his master's thesis in family planning at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - making it the first mail-order contraceptive business in America. The orders poured in, and Phil soon began expanding into other areas - experimenting with more mainstream products like bar paraphernalia, jewelry, hammocks, and even outdoor grills before focusing exclusively on the rapidly growing demand for adult products.
Business was booming until the mid-1980s when officials in the Reagan administration decided to crackdown on the fast-growing adult industry and set their sights on Adam and Eve. Justice Department officials found a legal ally in neighboring Alamance County, North Carolina and Phil was charged for violating the federal Comstock Law. The 1873 law prohibited the distribution of obscene materials, including condoms, through the mail. Armed federal agents and police raided Adam and Eve in May 1986, detaining and interrogating employees for hours without access to legal counsel. In the subsequent trial against Phil, it took the jury less than 5 minutes to reach a not-guilty verdict.
But that didn't stop the Justice Department from trying again. Federal officials persuaded prosecutors in Alabama, Utah and other states to file similar charges against Phil with the aim of using huge legal fees to bankrupt the company or simply pressuring Adam and Eve out of business. Disgusted at the way federal officials were trampling on the Constitution, Phil filed a civil lawsuit against the Justice Department in 1990, accusing them of grossly abusing their power. Phil's fight, coupled with the growing acceptance of the adult industry and other factors, persuaded Justice Department officials to head to the bargaining table. They agreed to cease their fight against Adam and Eve and radically alter their tactics in obscenity cases if Phil agreed to plead guilty to one set of the charges against him - giving the government something to show for seven years of persecution. If you want to learn more about Phil's struggle with the Justice Department, check out his bookThe Government vs. Erotica: The Siege of Adam and Eve.
With sales exploding and the government legal battle over, Phil set his sights on the future. The first step was moving Adam and Eve from a crowded warehouse in Carrboro, NC to somewhere with room to grow. Phil didn't want to leave his dedicated employees behind, so he focused on the surrounding area, eventually finding a plot of land in nearby Hillsborough. While local residents initially greeted the move with petitions and protests, Adam and Eve officials worked with them to relieve their concerns. The company's spirit of civic involvement, donations to local community groups and charities and employee public service projects soon won over the citizens of Hillsborough. In fact, PHE, Inc. (the parent company of Adam and Eve) was even named Business of the Year by the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce - an unheard-of achievement for an adult company.
Not content to rest on our laurels, Adam and Eve continues to explore new ideas and initiatives to find ways to better serve our customers and maintain our title as the #1 Adult Retailer in the Nation.
We Make Giving Back Sexy
Giving back to the community is an important part of Adam and Eve's culture. Employees hold fundraisers throughout the year to support causes from breast cancer research to local animal shelters. And Adam and Eve matches every dollar they raise, while also making significant stand-alone contributions to other charities. One of the largest beneficiaries is DKT International. DKT provides condoms and birth control to millions of men and women in Africa, Asia and Latin America to eliminate the spread of STDs and promote family planning.
All this hard work doesn't go unnoticed. The Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce named us their Business of the Year - partly for our outstanding corporate citizenship and community outreach programs. This is the first time an adult company received such an award, but we're determined it won't be the last!
Working at Adam and Eve
PHE, Inc.—the parent company of Adam and Eve—is based on a 10-acre site in historic Hillsborough, N.C. We are one of the largest private employers in the county with a diverse staff of over 300 people, from recent high school and college graduates to white-haired grandparents. First-time visitors to Adam and Eve expect to find porno stars around every corner and a non-stop party. But they end up disappointed by just how normal we are. Despite our products, Adam and Eve functions like any other regular business. Employees answer the phones, pack up orders, sort through spreadsheets, and go to meetings. Our meetings just happen to discuss vibrators and bondage toys instead of more mundane topics.
Adam and Eve employees enjoy a number of great benefits, including half-day Fridays, generous vacation time, and performance bonuses. Adam and Eve routinely promotes from within – our current president started here over 30 years ago picking and packing orders. And he's not the only one with a similar story to tell.
One of our most significant benefits is a stock-share program to reward exceptional employees. About 100 employees currently own company shares. Having a personal stake in Adam and Eve's future motivates us all to work even harder.
All these efforts pay off when you look at our retention rates and company culture. Roughly half of our employees have worked here for 10 years or more. This longevity gives Adam and Eve a rare family-like atmosphere.