Removing smoke smell

ohansen wrote in post #8779922
Well seems like some folks are more sensitive to certain things than others, which is normal human nature. Pointless arguing about that.

Brings us back to the question I asked, what's the cost of taking it back and is it worth the grief not to do so? Personally I wouldn't spray anything on my lens so I don't see that as a solution, and why should the buyer cover the cost of that in the first place...

Buyer is not covering cost. I'm paypaling the cost of the products and bit on top for the headache. I'm definitely not going to have the buyer come out of pocket for something I didn't list.

The Charcoal works really well..

Another one I've used for less potent aromas is white rice and tea bags. (similar to the coffee grounds trick mentioned earlier,. but less potent )
the Rice is also a super solution to use if your equipment gets damp!!!!

I would imagine that being exposed to campfire smoke for a few hours as compared to cigarette smoke over the course of several months would definitely differ in how easily the smell goes away. Coffee grinds are good to conceal a smell, but I don't know how well they would be to actually pull the smell out. Baking soda might be the better option. Personally though, if the buyer is very insistent on a refund, I would just cut your losses and give it to them, then resell the lens with the disclaimer. There will always be someone else out there that doesn't care or is willing to deal with it.

BronxFireGuy wrote in post #8779973
I would imagine that being exposed to campfire smoke for a few hours as compared to cigarette smoke over the course of several months would definitely differ in how easily the smell goes away. Coffee grinds are good to conceal a smell, but I don't know how well they would be to actually pull the smell out. Baking soda might be the better option. Personally though, if the buyer is very insistent on a refund, I would just cut your losses and give it to them, then resell the lens with the disclaimer. There will always be someone else out there that doesn't care or is willing to deal with it.

I offered compensation and a timeline. If the equipment is still too smoky after a week, then I will offer a full refund. Not only am I still offering a refund, but they are getting compensation as well. I just wanted people to try the remedy, that's all. If it still stinks too much, then I'll take the equipment back and offer a refund.

CosmoKid wrote in post #8779667
did you tell the buyer that it came from a smoking home before the purchase? if not, you are SOL. give him the refund.

people who worry about smoke don't only worry about the smell. smoke can do bad things to the inside of electronics and if it smells like smoke that usually means smoke got inside of the electronics. how much damage is probably minimal but some people are real sticklers.

i would refund it, relist it and ask a mod to delete this thread or sell it on ebay.

Absolutely! Just run your fingers on a window pane in a smoker's home or car. You'll feel the rough crud that builds up on the glass. Tobacco smoke goes everywhere, it would also go inside a lens or any kind of electronic equipment. And nicotine is sticky when it builds up as well so not good for the moving parts either.

I wonder what would happen if you put fish tank charcoal, rice, a dryer sheet and baking soda in a bag with the lens?

Is that like a super stinker taker outer, or would they all just compete with each other, leaving the lens alone?

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #8779780
Also, tell your mom to smoke outside. It's 2009.

And I wonder how all those people that fought for freedoms in two World Wars feel about 2009, as they lay on the wrong side of the grass?

TeamSpeed wrote in post #8780061
I wonder what would happen if you put fish tank charcoal, rice, a dryer sheet and baking soda in a bag with the lens?

Is that like a super stinker taker outer, or would they all just compete with each other, leaving the lens alone?

Haha, good one. I've sent compensation through paypal and a timeline. It's worth a shot to try and see what happens.

Bosscat wrote in post #8780114
And I wonder how all those people that fought for freedoms in two World Wars feel about 2009, as they lay on the wrong side of the grass?

The degrees of wrongness of this post is left for another topic for another day, methinks. Nice attempt at a lure though!

I use to own a commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning company. We use to steam clean and deodorizer hotel rooms and rent a cars. They would hire us to get rid of mildew, mold, cigarette and other stinky things. Retail businesses use to hire us as well to get rid of smoke smell caused by fires. The only way to get rid of the smell is to use a professional commercial air Ionizer. After we were done they smelled brand new again.

I would just give the guy a refund then get rid of the smell and resell it. I'm sure you can find someone in your area that has an ionizer machine that you can take it to.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

weezerfan84 wrote in post #8779789
Why would you not try the remedy? I'm just curious. I feel really bad, because I didn't think about listing it being in a smoke environment. I don't want people to perceive me as trying to cheat them out of money or anything like that. Just really didn't think about it at all.

you're better off just giving a refund. i'm not a smoker (quit more than 18 years ago) and i never ask if a lens comes from a smoking home. i figure if i get a lens that smells like smoke and i didn't ask then it's on me to deal with it.

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #8780279
you're better off just giving a refund. i'm not a smoker (quit more than 18 years ago) and i never ask if a lens comes from a smoking home. i figure if i get a lens that smells like smoke and i didn't ask then it's on me to deal with it.

ed rader

I'll see what happens in the next week. If I have to offer refunds then that will just be the case. I just hate someone to be without a lens. I'm working with them the best I can to keep the lens and compensate. I'm hoping that a weeks dance with baking soda will rid the smell. Equipment was only exposed for 6 months. Some equipment was exposed for 2 months or less, due to when I purchased them.

Perhaps in the future you could store your equipment in sealed bags while in the home? I'm not sure if it would work, but in the meantime, a good joke is to empty a cigarette of it's tobacco, put a very small firecacker in it, and then repack it with tobacco and return it to the carton. Use those tiny lady finger firecrackers. Something small.

It's a blast.

Saint728 wrote in post #8780203
I use to own a commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning company. We use to steam clean and deodorizer hotel rooms and rent a cars. They would hire us to get rid of mildew, mold, cigarette and other stinky things. Retail businesses use to hire us as well to get rid of smoke smell caused by fires. The only way to get rid of the smell is to use a professional commercial air Ionizer. After we were done they smelled brand new again.

I would just give the guy a refund then get rid of the smell and resell it. I'm sure you can find someone in your area that has an ionizer machine that you can take it to.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

I agree strongly. I had a furnace fire which stunk up the house with smoke and insulation smell. Two days with the air Ionizer and it was not detectable.

For some people any amount of cigarette smoke is unbearable.

weezerfan84 wrote in post #8779770
If the smoke is completely unbearable, then I have no issues with issuing a refund. I would be more willing if they would try a remedy first. Sounds like other people have dealt with this same issue as well, so I'm not the only one. Offered compensation for the headache as well.