Why does MRD website block the use of VPN?

wrinkles · Post by **wrinkles** » Fri Jan 27, 2023 3:18 pm

I typically use a VPN when browsing. When I try to hit the URL for My Robot Doll website I get a message (slightly different depending on browser) that "Please disable your VPN, clear your cache and cookies (or use private mode), refresh and try again.". Seems odd. Why would that occur? Wouldn't this subject matter be a very valid reason to use VPN? Just curious, and for context I have an active order with MRD and they have been a great company to work with thus far.

hardwiguy · Post by **hardwiguy** » Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:52 pm

Since nobody else has commented on this, I imagine that there might be a Belgian law that prevents them from doing it? Or an EU law? Have you emailed their support team / Alice and asked them about this?

hardwiguy · Post by **hardwiguy** » Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:57 pm

Update: I wanted to try this myself, and used ProtonVPN and actually set my location to Belgium. I got the following pop-up:

: Screenshot 2023-01-31 at 7.54.43 PM.png (98.3 KiB) Viewed 1585 times

That is a bit strange and now I am curious as to why they don't allow/block VPNs. I don't know how to tag other accounts on this forum, so I'll just leave it like this and hope someone has a better answer than me.

EDIT: Keeping the VPN on and set to a Belgium server, I visited some other TDF-approved doll store sites, and didn't have any problem accessing them.

wrinkles · Post by **wrinkles** » Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:29 pm

hardwiguy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:52 pm Since nobody else has commented on this, I imagine that there might be a Belgian law that prevents them from doing it? Or an EU law? Have you emailed their support team / Alice and asked them about this?

I have not yet asked MRD. I was curious first if was just me. Sounds like it is not. It is a bit strange but its not a huge deal. I dont frequent the site enough to warrent chasing the answer too hard. Hopefully MRD will post something here.

Socratus · Post by **Socratus** » Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:04 pm

Had this issue. Funny how some sites are funny about it and others not. I just couldn't be bothered looking if they're that fussy. They should consider the potential lost customers as a lot of people can't be bothered to switch off their vpns.

deeno · Post by **deeno** » Wed Feb 01, 2023 4:43 pm

It's blocked for me too in Safari with iCloud Private Relay. I can always switch browsers if I need to visit the site.

FCD94 · Post by **FCD94** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:29 pm

Like many people I use a VPN when online. For some reason this is blocked on the MyRobotDoll site, at the vendor's end. When I arrive at the www.myrobotdoll.com storefront, a notification window pops up saying I am blocked & must disable my VPN & clear cache/use private mode (though a private window gives the same result), with an 'exit' redirect to Google.

Why is this?

hardwiguy · Post by **hardwiguy** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:46 pm

I sent a private message to their account on here, referencing this thread, 2 days ago. I don't believe MRD has read it yet. It's not a big deal at all for me personally, but I do think that, given how transparent they are on their own website about all of their terms and conditions (probably mandated by GDPR) that they'd want to answer this one as well.

hardwiguy · Post by **hardwiguy** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:48 pm

Hey OP, did you not see this (very recent/current) thread before posting?

viewtopic.php?t=162509

Socratus · Post by **Socratus** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:01 pm

No one expects the VPN Inquisition!

FCD94 · Post by **FCD94** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 6:06 pm

hardwiguy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:48 pm Hey OP, did you not see this (very recent/current) thread before posting?

viewtopic.php?t=162509

No I had no idea. Thanks! If MyRobotDoll someday answers either or both threads I'll ask if we can get it merged.

hardwiguy · Post by **hardwiguy** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 7:22 pm

FCD94 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 6:06 pm
hardwiguy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:48 pm Hey OP, did you not see this (very recent/current) thread before posting?

viewtopic.php?t=162509
No I had no idea. Thanks! If MyRobotDoll someday answers either or both threads I'll ask if we can get it merged.

Something tells me that they're not going to answer this-- they've had multiple chances to and are seemingly ignoring it. Quite strange especially considering how forthcoming MRD is about pretty much everything else.

informalproblem · Post by **informalproblem** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:52 pm

They most likely block VPNs because that helps obscure your identity. Companies use trackers to help gauge their audience by location, to help with advertisement. Also, they can easily track the individual user and see their interest. Are you looking at a 166cm doll with b cup, rather often? They can take that data, sell it to data agencies, with your IP address, and there is more information about you to build a profile around. How often you visit dolls with specific characteristics is worth selling. There are several websites you can visit that will show you this data.

I'm a developer myself, and while I don't deal with customer data, I have friends that do. Just by visiting a site, you become a product.

Siliconeman · Post by **Siliconeman** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 1:02 am

I have the same problem. Access denied for using VPN.

Well I am not going to disable my VPN for one sex doll site. Maybe they should do some changes on their pages.

Cheers!

Sili

TDF_Management · Post by **TDF_Management** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:12 pm

Topics "Why does MRD website block use of VPN" and "Cannot browse MuRobotDoll site with VPN?" have been merged and the topic locked, as this has been explained and the link to the sticky on this topic is in this post.

MRD's notice on VPN usage is here: viewtopic.php?t=163391