eBay

nsjvintage4 · ‎10-05-2017

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.

mythos_of_time · ‎10-05-2017

Problem with smoking is that smells come from a lot of places, I smoke, so I would always thoroughly wash my hands before going back to my office and handling the products.

The nicotine on your hands can leave a very strong odor that you as a smoker might not be able to pick up, but people with sensitivities to scents and odors certainly will, but I think if you keep the items in an environment that has relatively little contact with smoke, and if you wash your hands or wear gloves before handling the product you would limit the exposure.

Disclosing that they MAY have been exposed to a smoke isn't necessarily a bad thing. Glassware and Ornaments probably won't have much of an issue since glass doesn't pick up odors simply from air exposure, the barbie doll's might be a different matter, but if someone wants something bad enough and the smell isn't a problem for them, then the disclosure means nothing to them, or at least very little.

So I say feel free to disclose it, it won't really hurt you.

emerald40 · ‎10-05-2017

Yes, it is much better to be honest then have it become a problem later because yo did not disclose it.

I have 2 dogs and a long haired cat. Even though they do not have access to the area where I store my items, I know I can transfer the fur and dander going from one rom to another.

Same thing when you smoke.

muttlymob · ‎10-05-2017

Disclose it. Even if the item itself either may not pick up the smell, or it can be washed, your packing materials especially cardboard boxes will pick up smells.

Best to be up front so the buyer is not surprised if the package has an odor.

jonathankirkland · ‎10-05-2017

Smoking is so 90s.

Switch to vaping; problem solved.

But to answer your question, yes you are absolutely obligated to disclose this information. And if you are curious to know just how bad an item might reek, invite one of your friends or family members over who does not smoke to check it out for you.

I can guarantee you a non-smoker or even a former smoker (such as myself) will be able to detect how bad it is.

sugarnspice777 · ‎10-05-2017

Here is in the first sentence of any listing i have that has fabric, clothing, dolles etc...

You are buying a ____year old antique/vintage item, some can have age/smoke etc smells and it come with the territory. It is up to you to dry clean or wash. I do not take returns or give discount for sensitive noses. Buy at your own risk on that.

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

zzydny · ‎10-05-2017

Yes, you absolutely must disclose it. It's not just a matter of "smell" in some instances. Just for example, I have disabling health issues and I have asthma. It is medically necessary for me to avoid completely coming into contact with smoke-related stuff. Just walking too close to a smoker (who is not even smoking) in the store can trigger an asthma attack.

If your items pose a danger to someone's health, that also poses a danger to you as a seller. This is an important consideration. You don't want to have to deal with a lot of complaints, returns, and possible negging.

I've been through this a few times here on eBay--the worst being a box of highly collectable books that were also highly smoke-infected. They cost a lot of money. I got a full refund and was told to keep the books. So I wore gloves and a mask and I worked hard to try to clear the stink. It took months. I had been looking for a copy of one of those books for a decade. I still have the books stored away but I've haven't been able to read them, and I may never be able to do so. It's deeply disappointing.

Honestly, I don't just "want" to know if I'm buying from a smoker--I NEED to know because I should NOT buy. Knowing would save the both of us a lot of time and trouble.

nowthatsjustducky · ‎10-05-2017

I would say as a general rule of thumb that if you know for a fact the item came from an environment where smoking is allowed, there is no reason not to mention it.

If you get your items second hand from thrift stores, yard sales, etc, then you do not know one way or another if it ever spent any time in a smoking environment, and therefore it would be on the buyer to ask before bidding or buying.

And if you can tell that it has picked up smoke or other odors, then it would be in your best interests to reveal that in the listing instead of waiting for a potential buyer to ask.

If it works, sell it. If it works well, sell it for more. If it doesn't work, quadruple the price and sell it as an antique.

-- Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #80

nsjvintage4 · ‎10-05-2017

Thank you to everyone who responded. I'm still learning and all of you gave me different ways of thinking about this issue. I have gone to all of my listings and disclosed it. For the items that I sold recently before this disclosure, I will have to see if there are any complaints and handle them as necessary.

mistwomandancing · ‎10-05-2017

I have some books my sister (who smokes and always did) gave me from 25 YEARS ago, and I smell the smoky smell every single time I open them and turn a page! THAT'S how amazing and pervasive and long-lived that smell is. Permeates paper especially well, and then lives into eternity.

My guess is, depending in which item your buyer receives, they either won't notice the smell any longer, or will notice but not especially care. But then, there are the Other Ones, who will notice and react as though you'd sent them something coated with anthrax powder! Those are the types who can damage your business with nasty remarks, nasty feedbacks (which buyers still read...) and they always state not just that the item smelled smoky, or a little smoky, or kinda' smoky. They state that it REEKS of smoke!!!

I'd advise that these items have been stored away from smoking, but in a home with a smoker! Let those who aren't much bothered be your buyers. Let those who are upset if they smell this odor know up front, so you don't have to deal with them, and they can be free of dealing with something that REEKS of smoke.

lex-talon · ‎10-05-2017

It's always best to disclose it. I'm a non-smoker myself and have ordered items that had strong cigarette odor on them.

Those sellers never mentioned it in their listings.

Some buyers don't mind, but others cannot stand the odor.

The odor is hard to get rid of for sure.

shamrockapparel411 · ‎10-05-2017

By all means disclose...esp if you sell to women. The first thing they do when they open a package is scratch 'n sniff the item. So weird, but TRUE. Been selling for 15 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

emerald40 · ‎10-05-2017

@shamrockapparel411 wrote:
By all means disclose...esp if you sell to women. The first thing they do when they open a package is scratch 'n sniff the item. So weird, but TRUE. Been selling for 15 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not think you can attribute that blanket of a statement to all women.

I have never sniffed an ebay item I have purchased and there may be well over 1000 of them.

mistwomandancing · ‎10-05-2017

jab_ttfn wrote:
By all means disclose...esp if you sell to women. The first thing they do when they open a package is scratch 'n sniff the item. So weird, but TRUE. Been selling for 15 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I shudder to think of what kind of women you know who would *scratch and sniff* items after opening a package. lol

odditiesandantiquities1 · ‎10-05-2017

@emerald40 wrote:
Yes, it is much better to be honest then have it become a problem later because yo did not disclose it.

I have 2 dogs and a long haired cat. Even though they do not have access to the area where I store my items, I know I can transfer the fur and dander going from one rom to another.

Same thing when you smoke.

We have 7 cats, all 5 were strays and 2 were babies of one. We certainly know about cat hair and I am forever vacuuming, we have several air purifiers. People have said that they don't even realize we have cats until they see them. I spend an awful lot of money on two litter machine's ($600+) each, but they are the most amazing things and there never is any odor from the machine at all. Mind you it does need emptying every day.

I do mention in my listings that I cannot promise that all my items come from smoke free homes. Sometimes at Goodwill's and the like, items will have a residual and I try my best to remove what I can. Honesty is the best policy.