Disclosing Smoking Home

[nsjvintage4]

I am new to selling on EBay.  I am trying to sell most of my Barbie Doll & Ornament Collection and Glassware.  I smoke.  The dolls and ornaments were displayed in both smoking and non-smoking environments, then stored in non-smoking environments for 5 years and then brought to my home in totes with lids and only removed to photograph and then again to mail.  Since I smoke, I have no idea the exact odor they have.  I received a positive review from one buyer but they noted the smell.  Another buyer never mentioned it.  But after the one did,  I immediately went to the only other listing I have right now and disclosed it.  I have 3 other items that have sold without this disclosure, but I also never said it was from a smoke free home.  Am I correct for disclosing this now?  What do I do if one of the other 3 buyers complain?  And does it have to be disclosed for glassware since that can be washed?  I really just want to be honest and get good ratings.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

[tweetystwades]

Sorry, after it's sold I guess it would considered a partial refund. You can go into the Paypal transaction and refund agreed upon amount.  

[nowthatsjustducky]

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@moondogblues wrote:
"I would not mention if you smoke or not, these people are buying antiques.  Many are just looking for discounts to begin with."

I am an antique/vintage dealer as well as an avid collector, and am nauseated by the smell of cigarette smoke. I have had to toss things in the garbage because of it. Many things you would not think could absorb the smell will. I collect Lucite bracelets, some STINK. They get washed and if that doesn't work they go in the garbage.

I have animals too and when I still sold here I made sure that I put that fact in CAPS, lots of people are very allergic.

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We have had cats for years, until a few months ago when we laid Jingles to rest.  I never mentioned this in any listings; and the only time there was any indicator of pets present is if one appeared in one of my pictures (which I would then add the disclaimer of "Cat not included" )  I never once ever had any buyers asking about pets or complaining after receiving their items.

[7606dennis]

Wow!  I hadn't even considered a fireplace.  I don't have much use for one here in Florida, but I can see how that would be an issue in many areas.  Thanks for the enlightenment!

[iart]

Is odor a condition issue? Of course!

Find a non-smoker to sniff your items. If any hint of odor, disclose it.

If they smell, I would think the best condition you can use is acceptable. Your sales will drop, no doubt.

[7606dennis]

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

I have cats it is not disclosed in my listings nor will it ever be. 

I sell vintage that has come from who knows where it has been and its history! That a current seller's home has no pets means a big fat nothing burger. 

If people want clean room sanitized osha products, then they need to purchase new, preferably not from China. 

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While I can understand why a person buying used and vintage items should not expect completely sanitized items when purchasing, I'm not sure why an advisory mention in a listing would be an issue.  Often people caught up in the excitement of finding a particularly nice piece have some things slip their minds.  The use of an advisory notation can serve as a way of averting displeasure on the part of the customer and, if worse comes to worse, provide some sort of legal cushion if needed.

[mistwomandancing]

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moondogblues wrote:
I guess I could also have said 'reek'.....lol.

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Yes, if it's cigarette smoke odor, you have to say it REEKS !!! 

[turquoisetulips]

I read one time if you put things like that out in the sun for about 6  hours the sunglight will kill the germs or whatever  that causes those odors to linger . . Afterwards ask someone who doesn't smoke if they can detect any odors . I've never done this so I can't say if it really works or not ,, but I guess it might be worth a try .Good luck 

[kattinsanity]

Where I am in WI. heat comes with humidity.  I would think setting something out in the sun on a humid day would only make it worse~~not take the odor away?

[jonathankirkland]

As a seller who else buys here, I can DEFINITELY attest to the fact that it's a plus for me when a seller discloses "smoke free, pet free home".

I have pretty bad allergies and if I were to receive something with a smoke smell (it's happend before, it was repulsive), or laden with animal dander it would cause me to have a really bad and annoying allergic reaction.

So yes, I do think it makes a difference.

[kattinsanity]

"REEKS OF SMOKE" yet wants to keep the item.  That totally reminds me of my own sister.  She smoked almost all her life and then quit.  After quitting she claimed all kinds of allergies to cigarette smoke YET was the 1st one in MY car if it meant a free ride the 175 miles to visit my mother , spent every week end in the smoky bars because that's where her favorite band was, etc..  THEN she would b----- and complain she had to go home and wash her clothes and take a shower and wash her hair because she REEKED OF SMOKE.  Her supposed alergies never bothered her if the situation warranted her having to be in a smoke filled bar, car or wherever.

[pepper1202]

As a vintage Barbie collector,I say it’s imperative  that you disclose that you have a smoking household. There is nothing worse than buying an item (often at a high price) and receiving something that reeks. I’ve been able to neutralize most of my purchases that come with an odor by locking them in a plastic zip bag with a box of baking soda but this shouldn’t be my job.

disclose, disclose, disclose...

[ms.rodriguez*]

Smoke will change the color of some plastics. The smell gets absorbed into the plastics. I once returned a Hot WHeels redline . The seller had to refund. I can't think of a worse odor than cigarette smoke. It makes me sick and triggers my allergies.

I once bought a lot of vintage gi joe clothes. It has a moldy smell. I got a big paper bag. put the clothes insidde and pour baking soda into the bag. I shook the bag. I left it closed in my garage. Every few days, I would shake the bag. I then transfer the clothes to a new bag with fresh baking soda. Shake off as much of the old baking soda as possible. (Make sure that the baking soda is brand new, SEALED BOX). OPEN The box and pour baking soda into the bag. After a week or so , take the clothes outside and shake off ALL of the baking soda. This will take you a while because you will have a fresh smelling item (hopefully) but it will have the baking soda residue. Once I shook everything off the clothes, I rinsed off some of the items (the ones that would NOT bleed or shrink ) in the kitchen sink. I let the items dry on a clean, towel. Blot occassionally and make sure that the items are layed out neat. I worked like a dog but I did get the smell out and the baking soda residue and every item sold.

So yes, if you have to disclose it. Personally, I would never buy anything contaminated by cigarette smoke again unless I find it in a yard sale and it's dirt cheap.

[city*satins]

Another useful way to get rid of odors caused by mold is to put the item in the deep freeze for a couple of days.

I've used this on a range of items from books to vintage lingerie.

If you're concerned about putting moldy items next to foodstuffs, you can put the item in a ziplock bag. 

I use the deep freeze in our basement which ceased being needed for mass quantities of food when the kids grew up and left the nest.

[transamcc]

As a former smoker I can see your plight. Many are not as sensitive as I, but I smoked for 54 years before quitting in 2012. I can readily detect tobacco odor on packing materials and product upon arrival and opening the package. In pleasant weather with many going with car and truck windows down to enjoy the outdoors, I can detect a cigarette in traffic 4 car lengths ahead of me at a stoplight. I have always enjoyed the scent of a fresh cigarette upon first lighting it and that scent was what enticed me to start the summer before my 14th birthday! One brand advertised "toasted to taste better" and they also smelled great to me as a youngster. Tell them you smoke and that you touched the item, many will know it anyway, some will mention same.

[ozarkjoe]

I think that some of us just found a new career.  We can sell our consulting services as professional sniffers for all kinds of odors.