smell

[emtdickson]

I bought an item of clothing which smells.  The seller will not respond to my message and eBay say the seller doesn't accept returns.

Should I pay £50 for something which smells?  Surely a seller cannot refuse a return in these circumstances?  I cannot say it is a faulty item, although to me that is, because there is a demand for a photo and you cannot photograph a smell.

It is not suitable for purpose if you cannot wear it.

[**peaseblossom**]

No returns only applies to "change of mind" returns.    So you can still open a return on here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/returns-refunds/return-item-refund?id=4041
select "Doesn't match description" and if necessary escalate it to eBay after 3 complete working days.     If you need to include a photo just use one of the item.

[style_wise]

I would only expect to purchase an item of clothing with an odour if it were listed as either 'New with Defects' or 'Pre-Owned Fair' condition and the smell was accurately described in the description. If that was not the case I would open a NAD return case as @**peaseblossom**  advises.

[emtdickson]

I have tried but ebay want a photo if that is the reason and I cannot take a photo of a smell.

Is there another way please?

[emtdickson]

It wasn't listed as such.  Condition was described as good.  Nor is it particularly inexpensive for a used garment.  I wouldn't mind paying the return, but I don't have an address.

I have taken the advice as you suggest, but ebay want a photo, which is impossible.  It has completely put me off ever buying used clothes on eBay.  I wish I had noticed that the seller refuses returns.  That should have given me a hint not to buy from them.

In future I shall never buy from anyone who refuses returns.

[emtdickson]

I have tried again.  It still wants a photo.  I went further to ask for help and had a chat conversation which asked if I wanted a call back and I agreed.  I waited and waited but the phone didn't ring.  It is a guardian phone because I am disabled and gives a message starting 'calls to this phone are monitored' giving instructions, but it still has to ring first.

I now have an email saying they tried to phone and couldn't.  I know it is early hours, but this really worries me and I thought it would be quieter.

The seller went to the trouble of saying the item as 'All garments are cleaned as per the instructions on the  label'.  It does not feel and smell as though it is.    It also says the seller is responsible for the listing.

I almost always buy clothes from this manufacturer, so ordered with confidence because their clothes are really well made.  I am disappointed with this particular used garment.  I cannot take photos - which ebay insists on - of a smell.

[sml192]

---

@emtdickson wrote:

I have tried but ebay want a photo if that is the reason and I cannot take a photo of a smell.

Is there another way please?

---

Any photo will do as eBay's system is entirely automated at this stage.  It is highly unlikely that anyone will actually look at it anyway.  It is mainly intended to help the seller but obviously, as you say, it is impossible to take a photo of a smell. 

[tressygirl]

Just to add to all the advice given,  was the item received in a black lined plastic bag?  Some of these do give off an obnoxious smell akin to an acrid smoke smell,  which clings to items.

@emtdickson 

[ed_58611]

Don't take the information / request too literally... just photograph the item and upload it and that will be enough to process your return request, remembering to cite Item Not As Described.

It used to be that only damaged items required photos, but now it seems to be any claim for any reason.

I can well remember scratching my head over how to provide a photograph for a missing component for quite some time, before reading on these boards that it was an automated system whose requirements can be met by attaching any image whatsover. 

[kyanyama]

It still amazes me how often I used to receive dirty things (I don't buy much now cos sales are so low).  If you don't want to keep it as the others have advised I think eBay just wants some sort of proof of the item received (that it matches the item listed).  Of course you can't provide proof of a bad smell.  Is is BO?  Sometimes packaging causes a plasticky smell which is usually resolved by putting it outside in the fresh air or laundering.   Of course some garments require dry cleaning.  Just return it if it doesn't follow eBay's guidance on receiving clean garments.

I recently purchased a doll for a Christmas present and it was filthy.  It was wrapped in very smelly baby clothes.  I really wonder how hygienic some folks homes are?  Luckily a quick wash in Fairy after the dishes got the doll clean and the clothes are clean and hygienic after laundering.  But really - I would be ashamed to send something in that condition to someone!  It only took about 3 mins to clean the doll and the baby clothes went in with my own things so no extra effort.

[emtdickson]

Thank you so much for your kind words.  I am not sure what the garment smells like.  It isn't a plasticy smell.  It is more like the smell in charity shops, but being disabled and housebound, because the shops here are old and small and no wheelchair access, even if I could summon up courage to cross the main road I still couldn't access the charity shops.  I just remember that from the past.

I have left negative, because I have begged and pleaded and the seller refuses to respond and all I get is eBay saying the seller does not accept refunds.  That is wrong.  I often buy pre-owned but mostly they are clothes from private sellers.  I didn't notice it was a second hand clothes seller.   If she/he has had the garments for a long time after she/he washes them, I suppose they will pick up the stale smell of other garments in the store room.  I really do blame eBay for much of the problem because they should not allow used clothes businesses to say no returns.  Perhaps they should change that?

I will never buy from a used clothes seller again, and I think eBay should not allow used clothes merchants to put that on their listings, as it allows them to get away with selling smelly clothes.  It is one thing for him/her to say that all the clothes are cleaned according to the labels, but how long ago were they, and have they been with other clothes?  I have bought Sjoden clothes for years, otherwise I would never have paid £50 for a used cardi.  When you are just coming up to 85 and been disabled half of that, it is an enormous amount to pay.   When I sell my clothes to get new ones, I make sure they have nothing wrong with them and don't smell.  I would most certainly not refuse returns.

[suelel1968]

Hi, I know that smell. I buy all my clothes second hand too and everything smells the same from Charity shops and go straight in the washing machine! Those new capsules that get rid of damp and musty "boomerang" smells are very good, but pricey.

You have had good advice. Just add a photo of the garment and raise a not as described case. The seller will send you a label and you will get a refund. 

[papso22]

Used clothes businesses cannot say no returns if they are trading correctly on a business account.

And anyway, no returns is just no change of mind returns,  the listing (with a very few exceptions) will still be covered by the ebay money back guarantee if the item has something wrong with it and/or doesn't match the listing.

Your only real risk is buying from a private account with no returns where the item is as described but you just don't like it or it doesn't fit.  Then you are stuck.

[kyanyama]

I have no returns on my listings.  But if my item arrived damaged (it wouldn't smell) except for Fairy non-bio or Fairy fabric softener, I would have to accept a return.

But the difference is whether it is Not as Described (in which case I would have to pay the return postage) or if it was a change of mind or just didn't like it then the buyer would have to return it at their own cost.

From checking the seller it looks like they are selling second hand clothing probably purchased from a charity shop and I also know that smell.  You have to launder anything purchased from a charity shop cos donators don't always launder their garments before donating and steaming does not remove body smell.

If you don't want to keep it, open a Not as Described case, provide the photos requested, eBay will provide a label and you post it back.  If you do want to keep it just launder it (twice if need be) but am sure normal laundering will remove the smell.  There is a product available (Dettol Laundry Sanitiser) that you can add to your laundry if you wanted extra protection but I prefer just using a good quality powder and fabric softener.

[papso22]

I once had a chat with a charity shop lady who told me that all the clothing is steam cleaned rather than washed.  She believed all charity shops did the same, which is why they all tend to smell the same. 

[kyanyama]

Yes, you can see them in the back steaming clothes.  Steaming helps but it doesn't make them clean.  Anything I purchase from a charity shop goes from the shopping bag straight into washing machine - I just remove the labels first.  And I wash the shopping bag after the dishes cos I can't use it for anything clean.

I once purchased a small Musto bag from an eBay seller.  It arrived smelling of horses and dogs.  It also had a melted wrapped sweet in one of the pockets, some hair (yeuch) and a couple of small things.  I don't even think they checked the bag before they listed / posted it.