I had a couple of items where the smell of smoke was really in the fibers, especially with leather items, it is so difficult (next to impossible) to get out, not talking about the whiff of nicotine but that terrible old ashtray smell that hits you like a sledge hammer. I tried to delicately (I thought I was polite) asking with "I hope you don't mind me asking, but I had a few items that really smelled very strongly of cold smoke and I couldn't get the smell out. I am not fanatic who hates smokers, but I have asthma, and if it smells strongly of smoke, I rather pass. Sorry for the intrusion, just thought I ask in advance. Have a nice day and good sales!"
Most of the replies were "How dare you?" ranging from how can I suggest they smoke (I wasn't) to "How dare you question my personal habits, they are none of your business" - is there any way I can put it even more politely? I don't want to offend, I don't want a ton of returns, I also don't want to be stuck with a stinking item that is useless. As an ex smoker, things don't stink to high heaven if you don't chain smoke and air, personally while I was still smoking, I only smoked in one room of the house and always with the window open as I hated the cold smoke. Have I breached (unknowingly) some code or something?
Most of the replies were "How dare you?" ranging from how can I suggest they smoke (I wasn't) to "How dare you question my personal habits, they are none of your business" - is there any way I can put it even more politely? I don't want to offend, I don't want a ton of returns, I also don't want to be stuck with a stinking item that is useless. As an ex smoker, things don't stink to high heaven if you don't chain smoke and air, personally while I was still smoking, I only smoked in one room of the house and always with the window open as I hated the cold smoke. Have I breached (unknowingly) some code or something?