Children's Books discussion

I recently bought some use books via ebay and they arrived today and totally reeked of cigarette smoke. They're intended for my 3 month old but I can't give them to him. Should I toss them or is there away to get the smoke smell out. Its 16 books and about $40 dollars .... ugh...

Sarah wrote: "I recently bought some use books via ebay and they arrived today and totally reeked of cigarette smoke. They're intended for my 3 month old but I can't give them to him. Should I toss them or is th..."

Try putting them in your freezer for a few days or a week. That sometimes helps. Otherwise, you can also try putting them in a large plastic freezer bag with one of these smoke absorbers you can purchase at drugstores and the like (be sure to seal the bags well and leave them in there for at least a month or so, then check wether the smoke absorbing sponges have made a difference, you might have to try again). That being said, if the smoke smell is really strong, you might have to consider tossing them (and even if you get most of the smell out, usually some will remain). But try these remedies (I've used them on books I needed academically and it sometimes worked and it sometimes did not work, but you also have to be somewhat patient). Frankly, I also think you should leave negative feedback on Ebay because if used books smell of cigarette smoke, pipe smoke etc., that should really be mentioned in the product description.

I don't have any advice, but that's horrible. I agree that you should leave a negative comment...

Raevyn wrote: "I don't have any advice, but that's horrible. I agree that you should leave a negative comment..."

You get that a lot, especially with used books and for me, it has happened most often with older books from Europe. I've actually gone into used bookstores in Germany, England and Switzerland hand been forced to leave because the owner was smoking (so it is not just that books come from households where individuals smoked, sometimes smoke comes from the fact that people smoke in stores, especially in Europe and other areas where smoking is still considered both acceptable and even applaudable).

Fabric softener dryer sheets sometimes help absorb & neutralize odors, too. As do Febreze products; they're not just a cover-up. Obviously you can't spray the books, but maybe, if Gundula's more affordable & likely suggestions don't work, you could spray Febreze on a rag and seal it in the vacuum bag with the books.

I, too, am appalled that this would have happened to books meant for infants. Books for adult scholars is a different matter, or even cheap adult paperbacks - but I would definitely register a complaint on eBay.

I opened a case against her. The lady is crazy!! She did finally offer to refund as long as I send the books back. I am okay with the used book smell but these books reeked so bad i left them in our garage and even my smoker husband asked if I had been smoking in the garage. (I don't smoke and no smoking is aloud by the house). For him to be able to smell it to me says how badly they smell.

I left them outside in the sun to hoping that would help. Its disappointing because I've bought 1000's of used books and this is the first time I've encountered this problem. I'm especially disappointed since these books are geared for infants so you would think they wouldn't smell like smoke. Makes me wonder if this lady exposes her children to 2nd hand smoke. Just terrible anyways thanks for all of the suggestions. Now to return the books and get my money back.

This is what she said:

Please return with tracking number and I will refund as soon as I receive them. Your anger over a late shipment (postal issue, not mine) has caused me great grief. I knew at that point you would not be satisfied with the books. Please do not contact me again, personally or I will have to report you to eBay for harrassment. Use the resolution tool where you have once again reported me.
Asmatics really should not be buying used items. Books and fabrics and many other things will take on odors. I noticed no cigarette smoke smell and I am a none smoker in a non smoking home. Your sensitivity to odors should keep you from buying second-hand products. Next time go to the books store and pay full price. You obviously need new merchandise.

That woman sounds like an awful snob...I'm not experienced with eBay, but if there's an option to "block" someone, then I'd do it. And it sounds like you reported her, which was good. :)

Sarah wrote: "This is what she said:

Please return with tracking number and I will refund as soon as I receive them. Your anger over a late shipment (postal issue, not mine) has caused me great grief. I knew a..."

If the books smelled that bad, she is not a non smoker. I would though not reply to her personally but perhaps (if this keeps on) send a copy of this to Ebay management (if that even exists). She is obviously having her own set of issues which is why you don't want to make the situation even worse and possibly dangerous (she is more than a snob, she seems unstable).

:bad word: I agree with Gundula & Raevyn. Good luck, and my sympathies.