Katie, I'm sorry I'm laughing about this but, people can be such jerks...
Isn't it just so pathetic that you have to laugh?

Funniest thing I read this week! Poor cat.
Man, I got some brilliant toys for a steal just last week and when they arrived it smelled like the guy had rolled them in tobacco and smoked them himself. They were plastic and a type that if you wash them it takes ages for the water to drain out so I've just shelved them. We couldn't beleive that smell though, I also got a full body BLINKY costume and it smelled like the guy smoked inside it all night for a month like it was a tent (it's fully enclosed just like a tent.)

I would except that right after this, someone went to my flickr (which has the same username as ebay) and did a search for DVD and the town where I used to live. Just creepy, creepy stalkerlike behavior.

purchased my first cigarette stinker on mandarake.
the toy looks mint except for the faint smell of cigarettes, i messaged mandarake stating that this should be mentioned in the item description.
mandarake replied with an apology and explanation but
i'm not sure i'll be buying loose toys from that particular store anymore.
i'll at least inquire about smells before sending payment as a safeguard.

Last time I was in Japan, everybody smoked. Giant cigarette vending machines on every corner.

One night at Club Milk, this guy turns to me and says

"I smoke but only 2 packs a day."

They do smoke a lot, but in my experience, it is actually decreasing a lot from what it was a few years ago. Used to be cigs were everywhere, and cost only 120 yen a pack. Now they are closer to 500 I think, and to get any you need to have a special government issue ID (for the vending machines).

I have never had this problem with toys from Mandarake though, and from what I have seen and experienced, they only will buy quality stuff. I think this may have just been a one-off bad luck situation, and I wouldn't boycott a store becuase of it (but then, there are more toys for me! )

ye! i was surprised.
i've purchased over 23 toys from various mandarake locations in the past year and so far i'd been more than satisfied with the state of the items i'd purchased, often expecting a used toy and receiving what most would consider a mint item.
i have my favorite shops but i'd noticed and avoided one or two locations that had less of an item description than a standard warning attempting to cover against any possible attempt at a return. This seems lazy and even with a pic and warning (i understand the necessity of protecting ones business from certain types of customers) you should give a basic item description.

I'm just taking note of a bad shopping experience that could have been prevented with more paranoia on my end.
when a seller's most immediate concern is potential returns and every interaction comes with a reminder that your a potential problem to them it tends to take a lot of fun out of the shopping experience. i'd put them in the same category as the shoppers they were trying to avoid in the first place.
this was one store one purchase out of many and i still love and will keep shopping at mandarake.

stinkydove

I just got a figure off of eBay that stinks. I tried the vinegar trick last night, but no luck. I'll get some baking soda after work and see what happens.

The concern I have is how to address it in ebay. The item is in great shape, aside from the smell, and it was packed very nicely. In fact, it had signature confirmation delivery! Fancy!

The description was very basic, borderline non-existent, but the photos spoke for themselves, so there was no indication of the smell or that is was from a smoker's home. (It was unpainted vinyl, so there wasn't a paint scuff concern.)

I want to let the seller know so he can update the other listings he has because it is a big deal and other people may not be as nice. I'm torn. Negative feedback is harsh, but positive isn't 100% correct either.

I'll contact him first as a courtesy heads up. Thoughts?