Removing cigarette odour from a bag

nandbytes

nandbytes

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I bought a bag on ebay which was described to me as used only once and nearly as good as new. I very much doubt that is case but the bag still looks to be in great condition.
but one of the pockets has a heavy cigarette odour which I do not like (probably the place previous owner kept his tobacco or cigarettes).

I got a fairly nice deal and I was wondering if there was any way to remove it from the camera bag or if any one has dealt with such an issue. Should I open a case with ebay and fight it on there?
 
Try a bag of bicarb or similar.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Use febreeze.
Could also stick a couple of tumble drier sheets in the pockets.
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Nod said:
Try a bag of bicarb or similar.
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thanks these did turn up on google as solutions but seems like it takes a little while to work if at all.
I rather not start spraying it with things febreeze in case seller will claim I have done something to the bag.

Think i will just return it! I can't even have it washed because of the anti-water coating/material on the bag might get ruined.
 
Before you start putting chemicals on it decide whether you're keeping it or not. If you're going to send it back/battle with eBay, don't try and fix it.

If you have a complaint - take it up with the seller, but you need to be clear what you want. They're not going to be able to remove the smell, so either you want money off or a return/refund. Technically, it's not "as described" so the seller must pay the return postage. If you want a discount, I would suggest you make a proposal, or tell them you want a discount and wait for them to respond.

Raising a case with eBay should be a last resort. Communicate with the seller first. I'd say about 70% of the complaints I've had with stuff have been met with apology and an attempt to compensate. If the user was a smoker, then the chances are they haven't noticed the smell. As an ex-smoker, it was one of the first things I regained when I gave up.
 
Return it.

I've tried everything to remove the stink of fags in the past and have decided it's impossible unless it can be soaked and shampooed. Even then, there is still a trace of it left.

I bought a pair of very large binoculars and a stand/tripod a couple of years ago. I couldn't believe how badly they stunk - it made me fell physically sick. I washed them all down with soap and water, then I tried specialist 'tobacco smell remover' and both failed miserably. As they were waterproof, I left them outdoors in the garden for a month - in rain and sunlight. They still stunk, so I sold them on again as I just couldn't have them in the house. :mad:
 
Harlequin565 said:
Before you start putting chemicals on it decide whether you're keeping it or not. If you're going to send it back/battle with eBay, don't try and fix it.

If you have a complaint - take it up with the seller, but you need to be clear what you want. They're not going to be able to remove the smell, so either you want money off or a return/refund. Technically, it's not "as described" so the seller must pay the return postage. If you want a discount, I would suggest you make a proposal, or tell them you want a discount and wait for them to respond.

Raising a case with eBay should be a last resort. Communicate with the seller first. I'd say about 70% of the complaints I've had with stuff have been met with apology and an attempt to compensate. If the user was a smoker, then the chances are they haven't noticed the smell. As an ex-smoker, it was one of the first things I regained when I gave up.
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I don't think compensation will help unless its like bargain basement price I wouldn't want it. I wouldn't put my camera gear in it because of the smell. so if he willing to sell his £200 bag for £20 then i'd be willing to take a punt, i paid £100 for it. Even if refunds back £50 i am not really interested unless i know for sure i can remove the odour.

I don't feel like asking for £50 or more refund and cigarette smell from reading online seems to be one of the hardest if not THE hardest to get rid off especially without use of any chemicals and such.
 
Ah, in that case, a return sounds like the best plan.
 
It will be interesting to see how you get on with this one....I think in a large part it will depend how reasonable the seller is..If he refuses to cooperate I am not sure what stance eBay will take as the bag is functional and the seller could even say he does not smoke....
 
Pete E said:
It will be interesting to see how you get on with this one....I think in a large part it will depend how reasonable the seller is..If he refuses to cooperate I am not sure what stance eBay will take as the bag is functional and the seller could even say he does not smoke....
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that's exactly what they are saying that they do not smoke.
he/she is refusing to pay the return postage (its from France so I am guessing he/she doesn't want to lose out on it twice).

But the seller described the bag as "In perfect condition, no signs of wear, no stains" and there are stains in the bag and also on the divider. minor i agree and at the price i got it for i might have even lived with them but not along with the cigarette smell
 
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nandbytes said:
that's exactly what they are saying that they do not smoke.
he refusing to pay the return postage (its from France so I am guessing he doesn't want to lose out on it twice).

But the seller described the bag as "In perfect condition, no signs of wear, no stains" and there are stains in the bag and also on the divider. minor i agree and at the price i got it for i might have even lived with them but not along with the cigarette smoke.
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Does he sell much on eBay? If he doesn't, he probably won't care about negative feed back either..At least if there is minor damage to it you've got something to show eBay...

Personally, if the bag was a real bargain, I would live with it and sort the smell out. I say that because I once bought a 4x4 from a pipe smoker...It took me a while and a fair bit of work to get rid of the smell, but it was worth it, for me anyway....
 
Pete E said:
Does he sell much on eBay? If he doesn't, he probably won't care about negative feed back either..At least if there is minor damage to it you've got something to show eBay...

Personally, if the bag was a real bargain, I would live with it and sort the smell out. I say that because I once bought a 4x4 from a pipe smoker...It took me a while and a fair bit of work to get rid of the smell, but it was worth it, for me anyway....
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I wouldn't call it a real bargain but a fairly nice deal. I have listed the prices above and I have seen similar bags go cheaper and for bit more.

he/she has 29 feedback and 1 other low price item on sale. He/she has been a little rude in our conversations but I just made that out to be more cultural differences between countries than anything else.
 
nandbytes said:
I wouldn't call it a real bargain but a fairly nice deal. I have listed the prices above and I have seen similar bags go cheaper and for bit more.

he/she has 29 feedback and 1 other low price item on sale. He/she has been a little rude in our conversations but I just made that out to be more cultural differences between countries than anything else.
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Just start a return case up with ebay. If the seller is still not willing to accept it back and pay the return postage then you can escalate it to a claim (after 10 days) and let ebay decide. In my experience the buyer will win 100% of the time and the seller will have no choice but to pay the return postage, it is automatically taken from his paypal account and a prepay label will be made available to you.
 
I hate this, and also the fusty smell some things have, never been able to get rid of either.
 
Worst thing for me is the fabric conditioner that so many people use excessive amounts of.
Given up buying used bags because of it, had too many that stink.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Worst thing for me is the fabric conditioner that so many people use excessive amounts of.
Given up buying used bags because of it, had too many that stink.
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I think if people were honest it wouldn't be such an issue.

This is the first time I've been burnt by buying used bags. Though I have bought most of them from this forum and they've all been great.

Think I'll stick to buying used bags on this forum.

I have another bag on order from eBay yet to arrive. I hope it doesn't turn out to be another stinker. Was also sold as "used only once, in perfect condition" lol
 
In the past I used vinegar in an open bowl within a wooden cabinet to remove cigarette smells from a lens pouch. Worked a treat and the pouch did not smell of vinegar after the treatment.
 
The other and possibly easier option is to re.sell it yourself on e.bay on one of the £1 selling weekends , list it as a buy it now at a bit more than you paid and be totally honest in the description ..

I had similar selling a bag on here years ago the buyer claimed it was reeking of tobacco smells , which is strange as I don’t smoke ,but I refunded him and sold it on e.bay for twice the amount ,Sod’s law
 
the black fox said:
The other and possibly easier option is to re.sell it yourself on e.bay on one of the £1 selling weekends , list it as a buy it now at a bit more than you paid and be totally honest in the description ..

I had similar selling a bag on here years ago the buyer claimed it was reeking of tobacco smells , which is strange as I don’t smoke ,but I refunded him and sold it on e.bay for twice the amount ,Sod’s law
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With the smell I don't think anyone will buy it at that price and I'll end up making a loss.

As I said he/she hasn't been entirely honest about the condition either so I am not really trusting their credibility when they claim they don't smoke.
 
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I bought a holster/case for a torch (woven nylon type fabric) a few years ago and when it arrived it absolutely stunk of stale cigarette smoke. For the price I paid and the fact I'd bought it for a spare torch, it wasn't even worth my time complaining, let alone sending it back. So I left it propped open for several weeks in an airy room and the smell subsided to much less noticable (had to sniff at it to get the smell) levels. A couple of years on, there's not a trace of cigs about it.

So, if a refund request doesn't work and/or you want to keep the item, then try giving it a good hoovering out to get rid of any bits of ash or tobacco and leave it propped open somewhere light, dry and airy and see how it goes. Looking on the bright side, at least it's not mildew or other such fungus based contamination, which raises (rightly or wrongly) worries about lens fungus. Besides, according to my dear old granny (a smoker), when she dropped cigarette ash on the carpet and rubbed it in with her shoe in the hope no one would notice... it gets rid of moths! :rolleyes:
 
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Try cleaning it with alcohol solution (ethanol or isopropanol). It really can't make it any worse at least and they quite strong solvents to remove it. Washing I guess is not a great idea.

I absolutely hate the smoke smell (any sort, not just tobacco) but you are at least lucky it's not been marked by cats!
 
Fill the pocket(s) with coffee beans (?)
 
So basically the seller has said I should accept their "offer" of sending back the bag at my cost because they find my returns case unacceptable and if I don't agree seller has warned me I'll have to have a long standing battle with eBay.
The seller has now just ignored my last message i.e. not replied back.
 
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nandbytes said:
So basically the seller has said I should accept their "offer" of sending back the bag at my cost because they find my returns case unacceptable and if I don't agree seller has warned me I'll have to have a long standing battle with eBay.
He's now just ignored my last message i.e. not replied back.
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Pretty much how I thought it would go...I am not sure it will be a "long standing battle" as usually both eBay and PayPal tend to side with the Buyer from what I have seen. They might have a battle getting their money back from the seller, but that's their problem. It will now hinge on how credible your case appears to eBay.....
 
Ebay will generally side with the buyer in the claim procedure. Its a fairly easy process.

Stand your ground and explain the facts, with supporting photos. Sadly smell-o-vision doesn't exisit but if there are stains not mentioned that would support your case.
 
Markk said:
Be sure to check the wipes on some place of the bag just in case they 'bleach' or damage something.
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Good advice. (y)

I thought I'd ruined a new sweatshirt last week; I got alcoholic gel all down the front from 'over-effective' dispenser. I thought, 'Oh that won't hurt, just leave it'. A couple of hours later it had a horrible white stain on it. Luckily it washed out, but you wouldn't be able to do that with your bag.
 
I buy a fair few secondhand records, a lot of which have some kind of odour on the sleeves - usually ‘storage’ smells but also tobacco. I spray the sleeves with white vinegar and leave to dry out in the sunshine (if possible :p). Does a decent job of shifting any niff. Scrunched up newspaper helps to dry things out as well. As mentioned, try on a small bit of the item first.
 
I guess the issue is some folks online believe the cigarette smell/odour can be removed and some folks believe its impossible. I imagine they are both kinda right and with enough time the smell will disappear but I am not waiting 2 years to be able to use a bag lol.

The other thing is it is very subjective. one person's no smell could be another person's "stinking", in this case my missus is very sensitive to this smell and she immediately picked it up as soon as i open the box. I on the other hand didn't notice/smell anything odd till I unzipped the front pocket and took a whiff. So while I could probably get it to a point where it doesn’t stink to me, I am not sure it’ll get there for my missus.

The bottom line is if it was listed honestly I’d have never bought it. there was a similar bag on MPB for just £10 more last week but they said in their description it had a cigarette smell. so I didn’t buy it. same applies here.
 
Just lodge an eBay dispute. On the odd occasion I've had to it was painless despite any push back from the seller.

These days eBay just seems to automatically side with the buyer regardless, which must make life hell for sellers as it opens them up to false claims.

Life's too short to fret over things that are often very easy to resolve.
 
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the case is already opened as of yesterday. I need to wait till Wednesday before ebay will step in and do their thing.
the bag is already packed (my missus won't let me keep it open anyway as she is sensitive) so cleaning at this point is not an option anyway. should for whatever reason returns fail i will try some of the ideas above.
 
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Once eBay step in it’s very quick. I had a case as a seller and once I asked eBay to resolve they did so within hours.
Use the chat to ask where you stand, they’ll then email that to you as a chat log. There’s something to support your case.
 
nandbytes said:
the case is already opened as of yesterday. I need to wait till Wednesday before ebay will step in and do their thing.
the bag is already packed (my missus won't let me keep it open anyway as she is sensitive) so cleaning at this point is not an option anyway. should for whatever reason returns fail i will try some of the ideas above.
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Given that this smell is such an issue for you and your wife, maybe it's worth asking potential sellers the specific question before bidding? At least then if there is an issue when an item arrives, it will strengthen your position in any future dispute....
 
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