eBay

keziak · ‎11-13-2019

I was humiliated today to hear from an ebayer that the books I sent were very musty. I had no idea or I would have put that in the listing or, if that bad, disposed of them. These aren't books stored in my house; I got them at a recent booksale. She did imply that it could have been the box or packing materials but that doesn't make much sense either. I issued an immediate refund. Have any of you run into a problem with a smell that you never detected yourself?

mam98031 · ‎11-13-2019

Some people are just more sensitive to smells than others. My daughter is one of them.

Not likely the packaging material but the items themselves. Even a good airing out won't get rid of musty smells completely. It helps, but it is still there. I'm very careful when purchasing used books for this very reason.

You took good care of your customer and that was the right thing to do. Make sure you check the other books you may have purchased with these so that you can be sure you don't have any additional problems.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

divwido · ‎11-13-2019

Old Books = Musty. Some people like them just for the smell. Anyone who expects otherwise is stupid.

I"m also one of those people who think everything smells odd/bad/spoiled. It's stupid and annoying.

Good Moms let you lick the Beaters.

Great Moms turn them off first.

eunster1313 · ‎11-13-2019

https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/why-do-books-smell-so-good.html

pvcliff · ‎11-13-2019

A book would really have to STINK for me to notice "musty". As a kid I loved the smell of my grandmother's house. It was built in 1896 and she moved in when she was two years old and spent her entire life there until she could no longer live alone. The big staircase went up to a landing, turned and continued up. To the right were bedroom doors and the bathroom with the pull chain potty and claw foot tub. To the left was a library and office. Those old books smelled wonderful and that delicious odor, and the scents of 100 year old upholstery and furniture permeated the house. Now cigarette smoke on the other hand, I can smell a mile away!

______________________________________________

They didn’t say it was your fault. They said they blame you.

rpalma · ‎11-13-2019

My experience has been that being in a box and wrapped in material in the box traps and enhances smells.

Smells are also affected by humidity, so being out in the environment during travel may cause an item to smell more temporarily.

I probably would have suggested a return unless I knew it was my mistake because I would want to re-evaluate what I sent and also avoid the occasional clever buyer looking for a discount or free item that they weren't interested in returning.

2015mhfashions · ‎11-13-2019

and also avoid the occasional clever buyer looking for a discount or free item that they weren't interested in returning.

Think this reply had it right, Return for refund covering the shipping cost would have been my way, apologize you hadn't noticed any smell but welcome to return, chances are they were looking for a partial or a free item and wouldn't have returned had you issued a label. No freebies here.

caldana2004 · ‎11-13-2019

I had a buyer make me a lowball order for books in which I accepted. Then they asked to return one of the two sent due to FOXING. Well, that was a new one for me. The book came from Barnes & Nobles. Foxing meant it had mold in it and smelled. I had them return it, and had two librarians look for the foxing. They didn't find it, and thus was punished by eBay for sending the book as new. Of course, they ask if I wanted to relist.

mam98031 · ‎11-13-2019

@caldana2004 wrote:
I had a buyer make me a lowball order for books in which I accepted. Then they asked to return one of the two sent due to FOXING. Well, that was a new one for me. The book came from Barnes & Nobles. Foxing meant it had mold in it and smelled. I had them return it, and had two librarians look for the foxing. They didn't find it, and thus was punished by eBay for sending the book as new. Of course, they ask if I wanted to relist.

You weren't "punished by Ebay" because you sold the item as new. The ding on your Service metrics was due to the return request filed.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

lex-talon · ‎11-13-2019

I don't mind the musty odor of old books, TBH. What I can't stand is cigarette/cigar smoke odor.

e-cheddar · ‎11-14-2019

i would have had them return the items for a refund.

I NEVER give partial refunds either.

If it's THAT bad, return it. Period.

buyselljack2016 · ‎11-14-2019

@keziak wrote:
I was humiliated today to hear from an ebayer that the books I sent were very musty. I had no idea or I would have put that in the listing or, if that bad, disposed of them. These aren't books stored in my house; I got them at a recent booksale. She did imply that it could have been the box or packing materials but that doesn't make much sense either. I issued an immediate refund. Have any of you run into a problem with a smell that you never detected yourself?

A while back in one of my yard sales I had someone smell the cardboard sleeve of a vintage LP that I was selling. They commented that it smelled musty. (or maybe they said moldy. memory fades)

Suggested to them that the record would probably play just fine. Also don't remember, but I think they bought the LP.

They aren't here long enough to get musty, but as she is a smoker, when my wife's books are sold on eBay, there is a "smoke sensitivity" disclaimer in the listings.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎11-14-2019

I guess your buyer wouldn't appreciate one of these:

71o3EvjA7JL._SL1500_

aged paper and dusty shelves...

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell