eBay buying crap

[MagickMan]

As a former smoker, I can safely attest to the fact that smokers do not know their stuff smells like smoke. The smoke is so pervasive that it gets into everything and after a while it becomes the smell of "normal". So I don't think the seller was trying to hide anything or rip you off by not disclosing the smell, it's just that he doesn't even notice it.

This. Not a scammer, just a bad sense of smell.

Also, leaving a neg FB over that is petty as hell, neutral would have been much more fitting.

 

[smackababy]

Don't forget that even if you insure it through USPS, you then have to get the scammer to cooperate and sign a document to collect. They need a better system than this, such as outsourcing ebay reps to post offices to verify the contents of the package before it's sent. But that will never happen, too time consuming and ebay reps aren't SME's. For example, from your example - an ebay rep probably wouldn't know how to spot fake Jordans unless they were properly trained. Maybe AI will be good enough one day to accomplish product verification at the PO.

I never use USPS and I make sure everything has signature required. They can claim they didn't receive it all they want, UPS / FedEx is going to have a signed proof of delivery. Although, eBay would probably still side with the buyer, they always do.

This. Not a scammer, just a bad sense of smell.

Also, leaving a neg FB over that is petty as hell, neutral would have been much more fitting.

Honestly, neutral isn't even warranted. The seller was willing to have the item returned and offer a full refund because the OP was unhappy with the smell. What more could he have done?

 

[CZroe]

Ordered used book in used condition.

Received used book in used condition.

What's next? Complaining about fingerprints on a used cellphone?!

FWIW, I don't smoke and I wouldn't care. My first eBay purchase was an imported Japanese Super Famicom and it smelled horrible because a previous owner was obviously a chain smoker. You could even feel it coating everything. I was not disappointed or upset. I was ecstatic that I finally had a Super Famicom and a sealed new in box BSX Satellaview (did not smell).

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

assuming you want to keep the books, i wouldn't do anything if i was in your situation because their feedback was positive. negatives are read much more frequently.

You are obviously new to eBay's RETARDED new policies.

Sellers can NO LONGER leave negative feedback. Therefore, the only thing they can do is leave a positive feedback and try and describe why the buyer is a piece of shit under a positive feedback.

It's fucking stupid. How do you leave feedback when the only feedback you can give is already defined for you?

 

[Ichinisan]

This. Not a scammer, just a bad sense of smell.

Also, leaving a neg FB over that is petty as hell, neutral would have been much more fitting.

Even if you could smell it: Having a cigarette smell doesn't mean you can't sell a used book.

Maybe I missed something. I don't think the book was listed as "NEW, unused!"

 

[skull]

Funny I just bought some Ford service manuals off ebay. They reeked of smoke made my whole office stink. It made me laugh and I couldn't be happier with the manuals.

No body likes complainers OP. Change your review as long as the books are in good condition the smell will go away and you have nothing to complain about.

 

[Kushina]

Used does not mean I can shit on a book and sell it as in good used condition.

Seller has no common courtesy or maybe just made a mistake (unlikely considering the state of smokers today - they know they are smokers, they know it's not welcome by the majority of people, they know it is harmful to the human body/second hand smoke). But to label the guy as a scammer? That's a bit much.

If you have a shit covered book common sense dictates that you should notify the buyer if they can not physically view the product. It is a hazard. Not a harmless oil stain on a page. It's tobacco. The **** is wrong with half of you guys on this forum =|.

*Edit*
Seller is claiming that no one in the house smokes...interesting, you sure it's not the good book smell? Seller still seems over sensitive calling you a scammer.

 

[CZroe]

A long time ago, Blockbuster Video used to sell used NES, SNES, and Genesis cartridges. In my experience they were always sold as a loose cart which had been shrink-wrapped with a price tag slapped on. That would seal in any smoke smell. Heck, that's how used books were sold at my campus book store too.

Now, "used" is obviously descriptive enough to assume that it might have a smell, especially because there was no additional description beyond "used" (printed right on the price tag). Now, if you bought a used video game or book at one of those places, found that it smelled like smoke and complained, and they offered you a refund because they had no other copies, would you feel like they did anything wrong? Would you file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau? What were you expecting them to do? Write detailed descriptions for every used item they receive, right down to the smell?! I hope not because that would be ridiculous. Now: Why are you holding eBay sellers to a different standard? If an escalated complaint would not be valid in the brick and mortar stores then negative feedback would be inappropriate for an eBay seller in a similar situation.

You are making eBay even more hostile to sellers than it already is.

 

[CZroe]

Used does not mean I can shit on a book and sell it as in good used condition.

Seller has no common courtesy or maybe just made a mistake (unlikely considering the state of smokers today - they know they are smokers, they know it's not welcome by the majority of people, they know it is harmful to the human body/second hand smoke). But to label the guy as a scammer? That's a bit much.

If you have a shit covered book common sense dictates that you should notify the buyer if they can not physically view the product. It is a hazard. Not a harmless oil stain on a page. It's tobacco. The **** is wrong with half of you guys on this forum =|.

*Edit*
Seller is claiming that no one in the house smokes...interesting, you sure it's not the good book smell? Seller still seems over sensitive calling you a scammer.

You make an awful lot of assumptions. Just like my first eBay experience over 14 years ago with one used item which smelled strongly like smoke and one new in box item which did not, the seller could be a dealer and have no idea that it smells. I've known plenty of non-smokers with no or little sense of smell (and have some hilarious stories about it). In fact, so many used items on eBay are from dealers and not private sales that chances are very high that the seller was a dealer.

 

[nickbits]

Guess I'm in the minority but I agree with the op. Stuff that smells like smoke isn't used, it's garbage. I would have returned them. Negative feedback seems about right to me unless they paid your return shipping.

 

[Kushina]

You make an awful lot of assumptions. Just like my first eBay experience over 14 years ago with one used item which smelled strongly like smoke and one new in box item which did not, the seller could be a dealer and have no idea that it smells. I've known plenty of non-smokers with no or little sense of smell (and have some hilarious stories about it). In fact, so many used items on eBay are from dealers and not private sales that chances are very high that the seller was a dealer.

Let me go sell kids toys with the possibilities of father's gun being hidden inside a container.

=| Really? Being a dealer doesn't excuse you from being honest or responsible.

I sell chocolate from various suppliers and I made poison laced chocolate, and accidentally sold it for Christmas. Whopps motherfucker your dead. I'm sorry.

 

[CZroe]

Let me go sell kids toys with the possibilities of father's gun being hidden inside a container.

=| Really? Being a dealer doesn't excuse you from being honest or responsible.

I sell chocolate from various suppliers and I made poison laced chocolate, and accidentally sold it for Christmas. Whopps motherfucker your dead. I'm sorry.

I don't smoke but I think it's laughable that you bought in to all the propaganda about how harmful smoke RESIDUE is. The primary harm of cigarette smoke is the same for any inhaled particulate matter. It isn't "ZOMG TOBACCO=DEATH!!!" as you seem to think. CALIFORNIA has those stupid plaques up because people bought into fear-lingering second-hand smoke studies and voted "why not?" Just like their lead warnings on all products containing lead even though kids didn't lick their electronic circuit boards.

There's a dust storm outside! Quick! Who do we sue for all the deadly toxins interning my lungs and coating my stuff?!

Relating a smelly used product to being a deadly weapon is ludicrous and laughable. You deserve ridicule for that.

 

[Ichinisan]

If I buy a USED book, I understand that it might smell like cigarette smoke. That's just one of the trade-offs I live with for choosing to buy a USED book instead of buying a NEW book. Seriously, people.

If you care enough to ask for a refund (wimp!), consider yourself lucky the seller was willing to refund at all.

A typical thrift store or yard sale won't give you a refund.

Country of whiners...

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

I'm seriously never using ebay again after reading this thread. Craigslist was written off long ago but ebay still had a chance until now. Complaining about the smell of a used book. I'm just gonna eat the cost and throw all my old shit away. Thats the american way.

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

Deserved negative feedback. I would have made them pay for return shipping. File not as described with ebay and get your money back.

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

Even if you could smell it: Having a cigarette smell doesn't mean you can't sell a used book.

Maybe I missed something. I don't think the book was listed as "NEW, unused!"

It does mean you should disclose that it smells like crap and is essentially worthless though.

 

[mikeford]

If some specific element of condition is important to you ASK before bidding unless its disclosed.

OTOH smoke is generally offensive, so I would have returned the book and left a neutral feedback if I paid for the shipping. Optionally I would just put the book back on ebay and sell it as smoke stink.

 

[CZroe]

It does mean you should disclose that it smells like crap and is essentially worthless though.

No. It is not worthless. It is worth precisely the amount that a used book in that condition is worth. Smell is obviously part of the condition, but not as significant a part as people here are acting.
"My used dog bed smells like dog!"
"My used lawnmower smells a little like gasoline!"
"My used grill smells a little like food and charcoal!"
"My used car has lost its new car smell!"
It's used. We get it. It might have a smell. As long as it is sanitary it usually isn't even worth mentioning when you already said "used."

There are certain used things where you are expected to additionally describe a cigarette smell and it is generally limited to those items you wear or occupy (car, clothes, apartment, etc). For most inconsequential things, "used" is enough of a description.

 

[Ichinisan]

It does mean you should disclose that it smells like crap and is essentially worthless though.

Most transactions are power sellers that sell thousands of items every day. Should they hire staff to smell each item and log the smell and write custom descriptions of the smell? Seriously?

Also, did you consider that some people can't even detect that particular smell? Did you know that people suffer illnesses that impair their ability to smell? Should item-smellers employed by ebay sellers be evaluated at the start of every shift? Are smokers eligible for the position?

Also: "Worthless?" I don't smoke and I don't like musty cigarette smell, but I don't keep my face buried in the book forever. I would read it and put it away somewhere. Big fucking deal.

I don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. A used item might smell like musty cigarette smoke.

BIG.

FUCKING.

DEAL.

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

No. It is not worthless. It is worth precisely the amount that a used book in that condition is worth. Smell is obviously part of the condition, but not as significant a part as people here are acting.
"My used dog bed smells like dog!"
"My used lawnmower smells a little like gasoline!"
"My used grill smells a little like food and charcoal!"
"My used car has lost its new car smell!"
It's used. We get it. It might have a smell. As long as it is sanitary it usually isn't even worth mentioning when you already said "used."

There are certain used things where you are expected to additionally describe a cigarette smell and it is generally limited to those items you wear or occupy (car, clothes, apartment, etc). For most inconsequential things, "used" is enough of a description.

If you are selling anything that smells of smoke, it should be disclosed so that buyers know to stay away.

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

Most transactions are power sellers that sell thousands of items every day. Should they hire staff to smell each item and log the smell and write custom descriptions of the smell? Seriously?

Also, did you consider that some people can't even detect that particular smell? Did you know that people suffer illnesses that impair their ability to smell? Should item-smellers employed by ebay sellers be evaluated at the start of every shift? Are smokers eligible for the position?

Also: "Worthless?" I don't smoke and I don't like musty cigarette smell, but I don't keep my face buried in the book forever. I would read it and put it away somewhere. Big fucking deal.

I don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. A used item might smell like musty cigarette smoke.

BIG.

FUCKING.

DEAL.

It doesn't bother you, and that's fine. You are willing to put up with having it in your life. I am not.

Can I sell you my used books that smell like monkey excrement? No big deal.

 

[Ichinisan]

It doesn't bother you, and that's fine. You are willing to put up with having it in your life. I am not.

Can I sell you my used books that smell like monkey excrement? No big deal.

That would be a big deal. Cigarette smell is not.

To anyone wuss that cares that much about it, they should know they take their chances buying used on eBay.

There's a high likelihood a used item on eBay will smell like smoke. That possibility is expected. It's extremely unlikely to have been exposed to monkey excrement.

 

[BUTCH1]

This. Not a scammer, just a bad sense of smell.

Also, leaving a neg FB over that is petty as hell, neutral would have been much more fitting.

Yea, I think a negative should be reserved for items that are clearly non-functional or fake and since the seller did offer a full refund that tips it into a neutral feedback. If the books were reeking of dog or cat urine that would be a different deal altogether or if they arrived with broken bindings.

 

[nickbits]

Yea, I think a negative should be reserved for items that are clearly non-functional or fake and since the seller did offer a full refund that tips it into a neutral feedback. If the books were reeking of dog or cat urine that would be a different deal altogether or if they arrived with broken bindings.

I'd rather smell cat urine than cigarette smoke. Who are you to say one is ok and one is not?

 

[Ichinisan]

I'd rather smell cat urine than cigarette smoke. Who are you to say one is ok and one is not?

We're talking about expectations here.

I expect that it's possible a used book will smell like cigarette smoke. I do not expect that it could smell like cat urine.

I bought a used book and I don't like the smell. Boo hoo. What would I do? Absolutely not a thing.