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MattieMay · Mar 9th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Hey guys, I"ve just purchased an older Kooba Helena off ebay and I was pretty happy with the purchase. I've always liked the look of the Helena and it was just the right size for me. Unfortunately now that I've got the bag it just plain smells... of SMOKE! The seller did not mention being a smoker and she had 100% positive feedback. Unfortunately I did not read her feedback carefully (new to ebay so I guess I"m just dumb, I will learn from now on) and several people left positive feedback yet said "item smelled like smoke" and she replied playing dumb! To one person she actually said "I'm not responsible for what happens to the item on its way to you, post office workers often smoke" I believe that this is a lie because my bag was in box and then also wrapped up and it still smells like smoke.

Not sure if I should try and send it back or what because I'm very unhappy. I don't even want to carry it now because I don't want people to think that I smoke (I'm a medical student and that would just not be good professionally) What do you guys think I should do? Is there any chance of a smokey smell wearing off?

coach4me · Mar 9th, 2009, 03:38 PM

There's several good threads in various subforums about getting the smoke smell out of bags. Do search and they will come up but...

Try airing it out.
fill wiith Kitty litter for a few days, then vacum the interior
spray interior with febreeze, then put those silica get packs (they usually come in shoes) to help absorb the smell

good luck, hth!

KoobaBagLover · Mar 9th, 2009, 03:44 PM

I think this might be an issue of how much you like the purse. The Helena is a vintage bag but you shouldn't have to deal with a smokey smelling bag either. You could try to contact the seller, let her know it smells and see if she would do a partial refund or file a item not as described with paypal. Hope everything works out for you!

jlp · Mar 9th, 2009, 05:00 PM

I know my postman is a chain smoker, at least he must be because my packages he delivers are just saturated with cigarette smoke. The inside article has yet to smell like smoke, thank goodness.

Teresa1127 · Mar 9th, 2009, 10:15 PM

If you love the bag, I think with patience the smell will dissipate. Although I would try to get a discount from the seller because of it. If you put those dryer sheets inside the bag and then put the bag in a plastic bag. I did this with a shearling coat once and it worked.

MattieMay · Mar 9th, 2009, 10:59 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will definitely keep the bag, I am amassing quite a collection of these vintage koobas and I love them including this one. I think you all are right and the smell will go away with time. I cleaned and conditioned the leather today and then pulled the lining inside out, if that makes sense, and sprayed it really thoroughly with febreeze. I'll see how it does in the morning.

I didn't really get mad about this until I saw the feedback from people saying their items smelled of smoke and her vehement denials. There is just no way a bag like this one could get so saturated with smoke despite being packed in a box, and then in a plastic bag, AND she sent it with a bounce sheet inside the bag. I just really don't like the dishonesty but I guess that's ebay for you.

coach4me · Mar 10th, 2009, 10:15 AM

^^^ yep, buyer beware.

I hope you can get the smell out! Good luck!

jlp · Mar 10th, 2009, 06:29 PM

lovinmybags sells what they call candies, you put them in your bags to get rid of odors.

ladysalesrep195 · Mar 12th, 2009, 08:53 PM

Contact Lovin My Bags here:
http://www.lovinmybags.com/

I have used them twice to rid smoke from an Ebay bag. They charge somewhere around $60, put your bag in an ozone box for 3 days, and poof, the smoke smell is completely gone.

Nothing else even touched the smell, not kitty litter, not dryer sheets, not airing out the bag.

Good luck to you

MattieMay · Mar 13th, 2009, 12:46 AM

Thanks so much guys! Looks like Lovinmybags has the answer for me

pilatesworks · Mar 15th, 2009, 02:08 AM

I have used the bag candies from LMB and they REALLy work!

Mar 9th, 2009, 03:11 PM	#1
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28	Smelly Ebay Bag Hey guys, I"ve just purchased an older Kooba Helena off ebay and I was pretty happy with the purchase. I've always liked the look of the Helena and it was just the right size for me. Unfortunately now that I've got the bag it just plain smells... of SMOKE! The seller did not mention being a smoker and she had 100% positive feedback. Unfortunately I did not read her feedback carefully (new to ebay so I guess I"m just dumb, I will learn from now on) and several people left positive feedback yet said "item smelled like smoke" and she replied playing dumb! To one person she actually said "I'm not responsible for what happens to the item on its way to you, post office workers often smoke" I believe that this is a lie because my bag was in box and then also wrapped up and it still smells like smoke. Not sure if I should try and send it back or what because I'm very unhappy. I don't even want to carry it now because I don't want people to think that I smoke (I'm a medical student and that would just not be good professionally) What do you guys think I should do? Is there any chance of a smokey smell wearing off?
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28

Mar 9th, 2009, 03:38 PM	#2
coach4me Princess!! Joined: Jan 2007 Location: due to the economic downturn, shopping for make-up, not bags Posts: 1,619	There's several good threads in various subforums about getting the smoke smell out of bags. Do search and they will come up but... Try airing it out. fill wiith Kitty litter for a few days, then vacum the interior spray interior with febreeze, then put those silica get packs (they usually come in shoes) to help absorb the smell good luck, hth!
	__________________ come meet me! visit my blog at www.messagesfromtheedgeofsanity.com currently content but always open to something new.....

Mar 9th, 2009, 05:00 PM	#4
jlp Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 861	I know my postman is a chain smoker, at least he must be because my packages he delivers are just saturated with cigarette smoke. The inside article has yet to smell like smoke, thank goodness.
jlp Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 861	__________________

Mar 9th, 2009, 10:15 PM	#5
Teresa1127 Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 152	If you love the bag, I think with patience the smell will dissipate. Although I would try to get a discount from the seller because of it. If you put those dryer sheets inside the bag and then put the bag in a plastic bag. I did this with a shearling coat once and it worked.
Teresa1127 Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 152

Mar 9th, 2009, 10:59 PM	#6
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28	Thank you all for your suggestions. I will definitely keep the bag, I am amassing quite a collection of these vintage koobas and I love them including this one. I think you all are right and the smell will go away with time. I cleaned and conditioned the leather today and then pulled the lining inside out, if that makes sense, and sprayed it really thoroughly with febreeze. I'll see how it does in the morning. I didn't really get mad about this until I saw the feedback from people saying their items smelled of smoke and her vehement denials. There is just no way a bag like this one could get so saturated with smoke despite being packed in a box, and then in a plastic bag, AND she sent it with a bounce sheet inside the bag. I just really don't like the dishonesty but I guess that's ebay for you.
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28

Mar 9th, 2009, 03:44 PM	#3
KoobaBagLover Member Joined: Mar 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 357	I think this might be an issue of how much you like the purse. The Helena is a vintage bag but you shouldn't have to deal with a smokey smelling bag either. You could try to contact the seller, let her know it smells and see if she would do a partial refund or file a item not as described with paypal. Hope everything works out for you!

Mar 10th, 2009, 10:15 AM	#7
coach4me Princess!! Joined: Jan 2007 Location: due to the economic downturn, shopping for make-up, not bags Posts: 1,619	^^^ yep, buyer beware. I hope you can get the smell out! Good luck!
	__________________ come meet me! visit my blog at www.messagesfromtheedgeofsanity.com currently content but always open to something new.....

Mar 10th, 2009, 06:29 PM	#8
jlp Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 861	lovinmybags sells what they call candies, you put them in your bags to get rid of odors.
jlp Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 861	__________________

Mar 12th, 2009, 08:53 PM	#9
ladysalesrep195 Member Joined: Feb 2007 Location: near Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,490	Contact Lovin My Bags here: http://www.lovinmybags.com/ I have used them twice to rid smoke from an Ebay bag. They charge somewhere around $60, put your bag in an ozone box for 3 days, and poof, the smoke smell is completely gone. Nothing else even touched the smell, not kitty litter, not dryer sheets, not airing out the bag. Good luck to you

Mar 13th, 2009, 12:46 AM	#10
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28	Thanks so much guys! Looks like Lovinmybags has the answer for me
MattieMay OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 28

Mar 15th, 2009, 02:08 AM	#11
pilatesworks aka : Leslie Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Austin , Tx Posts: 4,673	I have used the bag candies from LMB and they REALLy work!

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