Would you give a negative for something that smells of smoke?

[holygrailvideogames.com]

First off I am not a smoker. I have bought thousands of items on eBay over the years and have received items that smell of smoke. I received an item today that about knocked me over when I opened the box. It has the worst smell of smoke that I have ever experienced from a package. My son was about 20 feet from me and asked what the smell when I opened the box. The smell was so bad that I had to reseal the box. I probably will take it up to Goodwill and donate it. If one person is smoking enough to make these items smell this bad they probably will have lung cancer before too long. The package smelled like it was in a smokey bar or casino for 20 years.

 

Would you consider leaving a negative for something that smells this bad? I emailed the seller and am waiting for her response.

[edman87k5]

It depends. I am a smoker, but do not smoke inside. I know my clothes smell of smoke, but everything else is ok- and my clothes aren't that bad. As a smoker, I cannot usually smell smokey things. I can smell and ashtray or a bar full of smoke, but could not tell if someone smoked by smaell. I say this to let you- a non smoker- know that most smokers cannot smell smoke. My sense of smell is better than most smokers, and I cannot usually smell it.

I would say maybe that item would not be that strong to a smoker.

Get a second opinion from a smoker, then decide.

[DreamTR]

YOu can't control that. It might be up to the buyer to ask if it was from a "smoke-free" home or not. I don't smoke either, but I just got a slew of items from someone that smokes cigars. Now, I have to resell these, and there's not much I can do about them, and they still work and everything, and are in nice shape, I guess they just have to be aired out or something.

[edman87k5]

BTW baking soda will remeove the smell. Don't have to put it on the item, maybe a saucer of it in a large box with the item for a couple days.

[Lemmi]

i was a smoker and if i sell something i make sure to clean it up nicely before shipping it, i didnt smoke to much around my collection tho

75% of my collection is in boxes to keep them unsmoked and the only ones that got smoke near them are the ones im never gonna sell, i lived in a smokers home for 7 years, my grandfather smoked a pipe when he lived with me, and even after i quit people would say you smell like a pipe

my /mom/stepdad also smoked cigarettes but they quit when i did

 

the mean 18 i sold you didnt smell did it? you probably cant remember that far back

 

 

when something arrives from a smoker i can tell

 

smoke is very hard to get rid of totally, even the insides of systems can gather smoke and stay with it for years

im not even gonna tell you what i had to do to my basement walls to get the smoke off them

its the brown tar that sticks and if you dont scrub that off it might smell forever

[holygrailvideogames.com]

the mean 18 i sold you didnt smell did it? you probably cant remember that far back

 

 

I didn't notice a smoke smell with Mean 18. I remember that game because it was the last title that I needed to complete my 7800 collection. I have bought some items from AtariAge members that smelled like smoke but nothing compares to the stuff that I received today.

[Starhopper]

I've gotten systems that smelled of smoke, mildew, even mustard ?!!!

 

Orange Blast and a stiff toothbrush work extremely well on the outer cases. As for the circuit boards, I take to them with alcohol and Q-tips. It takes a while, but it cleans the boards without damaging them. The rubber joystick boots can be run through the dishwasher on the lightest duty setting on the top rack.

 

Now, if these people will stop sending their dead cockroaches as a bonus. . .

[Atarimania75]

I've had things arrive with the smell of smoke but i don't really think there is much you can really do about it with video games. I remember one time i got a box of games and there were a few scented sheets in the box which i thought was pretty cool. So if this was a smoking house i didn't know it because the games only smelled like the scented sheets for a short while. I wouldn't leave negative just because they smell like smoke only if the items are really dirty or damaged. Feel bad enough for these people that they are killing themselves with the stuff!

[Headfamily]

Yeah, maybe try the baking soda thing too first before Goodwill. As far as the negative feedback, if the game works then what can you really complain about unless he said it came from a non smoking home. then it would be false and deserve a negative.

[+remowilliams]

If was advertised as 'smoke free' or was actually damaged by smoke I might wind up leaving a neg, otherwise I'd just find a way to make it not stink

 

Over the years I've only had a few items that reeked of disgusting cigarettes, but in nearly every case was able to air them out. One exception was a complete vintage game that was literally tarred yellow. That one was advertised as 'mint' and I definitely took that up with the seller...

Edited February 3, 2007 by remowilliams

[JacobZu7zu7]

No, I dont care.. I'd clean the item. and say I'm happy.

Edited February 3, 2007 by JacobZu7zu7

[strattsp]

I've definately received some pretty stinky stuff, one box just recently. I let them air out in the garage for a couple of weeks, the smeel goes away pretty fast. I've never tried baking soda, but I'll have to remember tht one.

[oldgames]

I would only consider leaving a negative if the seller had specified that the items came from a smoke free environment. Otherwise, I don't see any misrepresentation.

 

Many items that I buy and sell on eBay come from flea markets and garage sales and may have odors that can't be avoided. I clean all the items that I list and store them with a paper towel that has been misted with Febreeze. That's about all I can do to minimize any offensive smells. If an item is listed as being from a smoke / pet free environment and arrives with offensive odors that would affect the value, I would contact the seller before leaving a negative or neutral rating.

[Atarimania75]

I would only consider leaving a negative if the seller had specified that the items came from a smoke free environment. Otherwise, I don't see any misrepresentation.

 

Many items that I buy and sell on eBay come from flea markets and garage sales and may have odors that can't be avoided. I clean all the items that I list and store them with a paper towel that has been misted with Febreeze. That's about all I can do to minimize any offensive smells. If an item is listed as being from a smoke / pet free environment and arrives with offensive odors that would affect the value, I would contact the seller before leaving a negative or neutral rating.

 

 

Hmmm maybe the package i purchased with the scented sheets was you? Only had that in a package once, and it was a very cool idea!!

[Atari-Jess]

the mean 18 i sold you didnt smell did it? you probably cant remember that far back

 

The club drive you very graciously sent to me did so-many-years ago, of course that smell is way faded these days

and I am not complaining, but I am just trying to answer the question for you.

[Lemmi]

the mean 18 i sold you didnt smell did it? you probably cant remember that far back

 

The club drive you very graciously sent to me did so-many-years ago, of course that smell is way faded these days

and I am not complaining, but I am just trying to answer the question for you.

 

i remember you telling me at the time that it smelled and thats when i cleaned up my act so to speak

[Atari-Jess]

i remember you telling me at the time that it smelled and thats when i cleaned up my act so to speak

 

Well, if it means that telling you about smells results (even if indirectly) in you living longer, then I feel like some kind of hero.

 

*club drives away into the streets of "san francisco"*

[homerwannabee]

No I do not think leaving a negative is warrented. If you just wait a couple of months the cigarette smell will actually no be on it after awhile.

[A.J. Franzman]

Would you give a negative for something that smells of smoke?

Probably not, even if it absolutely reeked, unless the seller stated or implied it was clean (sold as "mint", "brand new", "from tobacco-free home", etc.) A few days of sunshine and fresh air will clear the odor from many items; if the item can be opened up and/or washed the results will be even better. The baking soda idea is a good one too.

[Mendon]

I received a couple systems & games in the long ago past that had one or two Bounce dryer sheets in the box. Thought it was weird but never gave it a 2nd thought. After reading this thread, it could be that they used the Bounce sheets to cover up any smoke or mold smells.

 

 

Mendon

[Room 34]

Normally I would say don't leave a negative, but if the smell is as bad as you say it is, this person really should be putting that in the listing. Then again, they probably don't realize how much their stuff reeks.

 

Maybe you want to look at it this way: they're killing themselves with the cancer sticks, and none of their loved ones have been able to convince them to quit. Your negative feedback might be just the thing they need as a wake-up call.

 

[holygrailvideogames.com]

The seller sent me an email apologizing. I am not going to leave her a negative. She said to put the stuff outside but it has been about 2-10 degrees here all week so that isn't happening. I will try the baking soda idea and see if it helps. I feel bad for anyone who smokes this much.

[holygrailvideogames.com]

The seller sent me an email apologizing. I am not going to leave her a negative. She said to put the stuff outside but it has been about 2-10 degrees here all week so that isn't happening. I will try the baking soda idea and see if it helps. I feel bad for anyone who smokes this much.

[Paranoid]

I bought a lot of stuff from a guy that was a smoker, and my G4 was in it. It made the house reek whenever you turned it on, even after I cleaned it out, for days. But it went away. I'm a smoker, I don't smoke inside, and I can understand if you don't like the smell...

 

But, this is vintage stuff, who knows where it has been. I think non smokers are too damn sensitive about this stuff. If it is a house or an RV I can see people being picky... but if you buy an old piece of electronics and it smells of smoke, deal with it. I agree... buyer beware. If it borthers you, you need to ask first. I'd suggest that if the item said "mint" and smelled like smoke, you still wouldn't have a good reason to neg unless the item itself was physically NOT in mint condition. Mint generally doesn't mean, "when you open it, you're going to get the Christmas Morning 1982 new-electronics smell" out of the box. The only time I could see a neg being appropriate over this is if it was advertised clearly as being from a "non-smoking" environment.

[jboypacman]

I think if you are a smoker and you are selling items on Ebay you should note it in your listing.Letting the buyer know what he/she might be getting along with there won item.I have seen people list a item as"being from a smoke free home"so why not the do the same as"being from a smokers home".The smoke smell does go away but its just a pain in the butt waiting for it to.