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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To try to return these sofas to their previous owner?

61 replies

BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:02

I had a thread on here yesterday about these second hand sofas, which we have now decided we don’t want.

In brief, we bought sofas second hand and paid by PayPal. The advert said “from a pet free, smoke free home”. Nearly new and purchased a year ago by the vendor, (we saw the receipt). They arrived at our house yesterday smelling a little bit smoky. Overnight it’s developed into a very strong stale cigarette smell.

We don’t want them at all now tbh and I’ll get rid of them one way or another, but Aibu to ask to return them because they stink of ciggies?

OP posts:
PinkHeart5914 · 22/02/2018 12:05

As they advertised them as from a smoke free home, you can and should absolutely ask the lying sods if you can return them but I wouldn’t hold out much hope of them letting you tbh

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/02/2018 12:06

YANBU. If you contact the seller, and ask to return them for a full refund, and they refuse, I think you can raise a dispute via PayPal, and get the money back that way ('Goods not as described' maybe) - you'd have to get rid of the sofas yourself, but at least you'd have your money back!

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:06

No, I’m not holding out much hope either. Ffs. So annoying.

OP posts:
Monoblock67 · 22/02/2018 12:08

Have you tried cleaning them?

Drivemecrazy1974 · 22/02/2018 12:09

Just a thought - but could they have delivered by somebody who was smoking? I only ask because my mum recently bought something and said that she had seen the delivery driver smoking and that it had caused her item to smell of smoke?

If this isn't the case, then I think you'd be able to claim your money back from PayPal - they nearly always find in the favour of the buyer (sometimes to the detriment of the seller). If you'd paid cash on collection then you'd probably stand no chance.

NatureWalk · 22/02/2018 12:09

You might be able to get the money back via PayPal.

SandyDenny · 22/02/2018 12:10

I didn't see your previous thread, where did you buy them from? If it was a private sale you won't have any comeback, it's caveat emptor

Nicknacky · 22/02/2018 12:10

I'm just nosy, but can you post a photo? I like looking at sofas!

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:11

No, we paid by PayPal. We hired a man & van, who we didn’t see smoking and he didn’t smell of smoke at all. We brought the cushions in our own car as well and they do smelly of smoke.

OP posts:
falsepriest · 22/02/2018 12:13

Caveat Emptor

Isn't that yer man from Game of Thrones?

Trinity66 · 22/02/2018 12:14

Yeah if you have no luck with them Paypal are pretty good for refunding money

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:14

That was my worry @sandy. It was a private sale.

But of an expensive mistake.

Grin @nicknacky. Um, do you mind if I don’t? I’m a bit funny about putting photos on here.

OP posts:
Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:16

*bit

OP posts:
RoyalBelum · 22/02/2018 12:17

You can contact the seller. He could reply that you were happy with their condition when you collected them, or the person who collected on your behalf.
However, he should not have accepted paypal payment, you can prove you paid, he cant' prove the sofas were delivered.

Nicknacky · 22/02/2018 12:19

Oh sorry, I thought there were photos on your other thread.

Did the house smell smokey when you were in it?

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:19

@mono

They have been professionally cleaned already (according to vendor). I believe they have as they look clean. They still smell though and we have young dcs, including a newborn baby, so I’m not keen to keep them.

I’m probably being overly cautious, but I’m a bit freaked out by the idea of third hand smoke, (which is a thing apparently and not good for young children).

OP posts:
Worldsworstcook · 22/02/2018 12:21

About paypal, raise your dispute with them quickly as they need to put a hold on the funds. Lest they be withdrawn by the seller!

WeAreEternal · 22/02/2018 12:22

You are very lucky that you paid by Paypal.

Take a screenshot of the advert first then open a Paypal despute as they are clearly not as described.
You’ll have to pay for another man with a van to return them though.

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:24

Excuse name change fail^^. Have asked mn to fix.

Dh was the one who went to see them and collect them. He said that there was no smoky smell in the house that he noticed, but that the house was being renovated, so it had a bit of a plaster-y smell anyway, so harder to tell. He did see the vendor’s partner smoking outside the house. I initially thought the smell had just transferred from him or maybe it had after in from the garden as it wasn’t strong. Now I’m thinking they have been sitting in a room where people have been smoking, as the smell is quite strong, despite them looking really clean.

It’s difficult, as, it might be that the partner smokes, but only outside, so it technically is a smoke free home? But the smell is really strong now, so I don’t think it’s just transferred from the partner or wafted in tbh. Unless it’s been wafting right at the sofas for quite a while.

OP posts:
Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:26

Yes, I’ve asked dh to contact PayPal and screenshot the ad.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 22/02/2018 12:34

If it was a private sale you won't have any comeback, it's caveat emptor

That is not true. It is often repeated on here but it is a myth. For a private sale the goods must be as described and fit for purpose. The only difference compared to buying from a trader is that the goods do not have to be free of faults.

In this case the sofas were described as coming from a pet free, smoke free home. If that is not true the goods are not as described and the OP is entitled to recover her money from the seller.

QuimReaper · 22/02/2018 12:42

OP if they're having renovations done maybe it's a smoking decorator?

Our decorator is lovely but he is very pungent Hmm

Original poster
BernardBlacksHangover · 22/02/2018 12:47

Could be @quim... There are a few possible explanations really, which makes me doubt we’ll be able to return them unless the vendors are feeling especially charitable. Dh contacted them yesterday when we first noticed the smell, but hadn’t decided to get rid of them, just to mention that they had a smoky smell. He hadn’t heard anything back by this morning. If it was a decorater or something I’d have thought they’d have just responded to say so.

OP posts:
GreenbackBoogy · 22/02/2018 12:47

If you like the sofa then I'd Rug Doctor it.. if that still doesn't work then yes, claim a refund through PayPal.

keepingbees · 22/02/2018 12:48

They are not as described so you should be able to get help from PayPal, that's one of the benefits of using PayPal you have some buyer protection.

If you did want to keep them the smoke smell does usually fade eventually and you could try febreeze/bicarbonate of soda.
They might have literally been a 'smoke free' house if they only smoke outside. I had a friend who only smoked in he garden but you could still smell it quite strongly on things that came from her house.