posted on November 11, 2000 10:21:53 PM new
I liked that other thread too and I doubt I will every forget it
ShellyHerr:
Im a smoker too and the key to quitting isnt in the pacthes or pills you take at all I believe smoking is addictive no doubt but.
Its not in the nature of people to turn against something that has been there comfort for years like a child with a teddy bear, blanket or the like.
most of us started smoking because it was cool are friends were and so on. today though things are different.
All the cool guys are outside smoking ask me I know my work place last month oct 1 started a smoke free work place policy had to be outside to smoke I been home now for a week with Pneumonia not to sure the cigarette was worth it. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 12, 2000 06:03:22 AM new
Cassie, Your medical nightmare stories do not one bit of good as far as getting a smoker to quit. Do you really think we aren't aware of these things? Both my mother and father died of lung cancer, but I puff away! But I do appreciate your feelings and can understand the reason you voice them.
I personally find this type of remark from a non-smoker offensive. As long as I am not asking them to buy them for me, its my business.
I am not as stupid person, I just do very stupid things.
posted on November 12, 2000 06:57:59 AM new
I AM a smoker - I do realize it is not good for me and is offensive to some people - many perfumes and colognes are extremely offensive to me - we all have to live with odors we dislike.
INTERESTING how many sellers smoke - BUT....
We use to attend a local auction. They didn't allow smoking at the auction. My husband and I are smokers, and would have to go outside every time we wanted a cigarette. We noticed that MOST of the big buyers, including ourselves were smokers.
Before we complained to the auction owners, we started seriously watching the big buyers - and 99 out of 100 top buyers were also smokers - we presented this with our complaint to the auction house.
We discussed this with the auction firm, and they realized that they were seriously hurting their business, and created a section in the back of the auction hall, with a big outtake fan for smokers - it worked.
We own a large antique shop, and we allow customers to smoke at our long, sit down counter - we have found most of our big buyers are smokers - quite often they want to sit down, smoke a cigarette and consider their purchases - that is fine with us, and they are happy about being able to relax and smoke in our shop......keeps them inside to buy more. We also provide Coke and other soft drink refreshments.
As a store owner I'd MUCH rather see 10 people come in puffing cigarettes than 2 come in with uncontrollable, screaming Rug Rats.
posted on November 12, 2000 07:40:52 AM new
This is getting to be such an interesting thread. Thank you all for sharing...I probably will write a very gentle "just thought you might like to know" type note to the seller....but, um, AFTER she leaves me feedback. (Yes I am a coward). All the talking about smoking and quitting smoking brought back memories. I agree that most dealers seem to be smokers! When I did flea markets, everyone was puffing away (including me). I would also agree that most smokers know exactly what the risks are and don't need to be told again, as it only intensifies the stress and sets up a vicious cycle, since often the reaction to stress is *more smoking*. I know when I smoked, I was first and foremost a stress smoker. I remember going through my finals in my senior year of college chainsmoking menthols for about two months straight. Although, I also smoked when I was happy & enjoying a night out with friends, at home alone, etc. I was a heavy smoker, period and tried to quit many times but the pleasure of smoking (stress release, mental comfort, etc.) was too strong for me. I do not know why it affected me this way when other people I knew could just have one or two cigs but it did. I was finally able to quit for good with a book called "Rational Recovery" by Jack Trimpey. It's a book that focuses on attacking addictions (any kind) and using self-talk to combat them on a daily basis. Hmmm I guess it has been a couple of years now since I smoked. I can't remember. I don't count days or weeks or whatever. I'm better off now---definitely---but I still miss the pleasure (not the bad parts ) of smoking. I think where most smoking nazis lose most current smokers is when they refuse to admit to the pleasurable parts of smoking (which most smokers know exists but it isn't readily explainable to a nonsmoker).
posted on November 12, 2000 11:33:28 AM new
Hi jwpc,
Wish I could find your auction house and store. You are finally someone I can relate to and I have a burning question that I have always wondered about.
I just buy but I see so many auctions saying NON SMOKING household bla bla bla.
I've started this 3 times trying to make sure this is said politely.
I am wondering if most sellers don't buy at auctions , flea markets , yard sales etc. and that avid non smoker, non smoking household,who uses safe storage vaults telling me that a that this item they are selling has never come in contact with smoke? How do they know where it has been even if they happen to purchase from like-minded people. They can't swear that the item didn't sit 10 years in a "heaven forbid" smokers house can they so what good is a non smoking household unless you are selling something that has never been out of your house and then how do you know..well I think you are getting my drift.
I do not know how to verify that an antique has never had smoke blown in its' direction and I'll bet you that if you buy an antique over 25 yrs or older that at one time or other that precious antique that each seller hopes to make a profit on has been in smoke.
posted on November 12, 2000 11:47:17 AM new
I recently saw a button that said: "Yes, I realize smoking will kill me, but not as fast as I'll kill you for bugging me about it!" (or something to that effect).
I have been smoking since I was 13. I have quit numerous times, for a week, a month, here and there, using every method available (patch, acupuncture, hypnosis, gum, etc). The only thing I have never tried is the newer pills. I quit cold turkey, for over 3 years, when I got pregnant with my second child (unfortunately I didn't quit with my first pregnancy; I cut down drastically, but didn't quit, and yes I STILL feel guilty about that)... I quit to have a healthy pregnancy and non-nicotine-laced breast milk for him. I started up again when he was 2. Stooopid, yes, I know that. Quitting cold turkey was, ironically, the easiest method for me. I bought the nicotine gum to have on hand "just in case", and then quit cold turkey and it worked.. but I still had very strong smoking urges even 3 years later.
I've had a very stressful past 2 years and I don't know, it just seemed like I couldn't live through it without cigarettes. The stressful circumstancs are far from resolved. Quitting the way I did before, though, at least gives me confidence that I CAN quit again, since I've done it once, but I know it will not be easy. The "good" thing is, this time around I switched brands and types, I switched "smoking patterns" (only outside, never in front of my kids) and as a result I smoke about 2 or 3 packs a WEEK vs. the pack & a half a day I used to smoke. <shrug> It's something.
Anyway, my mom smokes and has smoked since she was a teen, and I wish we were both smoke free and hope we will both be smoke free sometime in the future, but getting nagged about it only makes me smoke more. Childish rebellion or something.
posted on November 12, 2000 11:56:56 AM new
shar9, I advertise items I buy at yard sales as "non smoking" because I can smell smoke. As a matter of fact, I can smell the shadow of smoke, and so intensely that I have learned to just leave a sale held by heavy smokers.
I used to bring home this and that in the hopes of cleaning it up but I have found I end up having to just throw the stuff out. Even worse, on occasion I have had the odor remain in my garage long after the item is gone, as in the case of the last thing I bought on ebay, where I opened the box and jumped back. Nice seller. Reeeeeally nice seller, but I put the whole package on the side of the house until trash day.
Having been an ultra heavy smoker, I agree that non smokers have no clue the challenge in quitting, but in turn - smokers have no clue just how badly things smell.
posted on November 12, 2000 12:14:56 PM new
as far as auction that state the Item comes from a non smoking house I think this is braging rights, if its not the seller personal item its false advertizing as many sellers get item from other place and know not its pervious owners habbits most collectables and antques bought and sold on ebay have more then likely been bought and sold at flea markets and garage sales many time before they made it to the nonsmoking house.
posted on November 12, 2000 12:15:16 PM new
Hi VeryModern,
Okay, you bypass the auctions and I respect that but do you think everyone that advertises can guarantee that the item hasn't been 'smoked on' and maybe the yard sales you buy from are from non smokers only but maybe they are selling from their mother who smokes like a chimney.
Yes, I can respect a persons right not to have smoke as long as they will respect mine but that really is not my question and I am not trying to be argumentive but just one of "enquiring minds want to know" questions as to where people will throw things away. Maybe for personal use but if a seller found a for instance $1.00 widget that they knew was worth $5000.00 and the person standing over it was smoking would they turn it down and then if they further put in their ads "NON smoking househole". Well, that would be true but wouldn't you/they want to be completely honest and explain further?
If you go to an auction and bid how do you know where it has been?
I guess what I am asking is: How honest is an avid non smoker (and I won't say Nazi) going to be?
That is what I am truly asking and not to flame anyone here but would like to just how far the avid non smoker is willing to go to insure that another avid non smoker gets a completely smoke free item? I don't think it can be done unless you are selling a newly manufactured product.
posted on November 12, 2000 12:39:40 PM new
shar9 - I appreciate what you are saying and can only speak for myself.
I agree with you - a seller advertising "no smoke" oughta be able to guarantee it. If they say "no smoke" and then mail something "no smoke in a year" to someone like me, well I am going to be mightily pissed off (the other item I mentioned, it did not say, I did not ask, my fault).
Not all ex smokers have a sensitive nose, my husband surely doesn't, and I also agree with the perfume thing. On occasion I am unfortunate enough to arrive at the gym same time as someone who thinks this is the place to wear perfume, and boy oh boy once they get to sweating, it puts the smell of cigarettes to shame.
posted on November 12, 2000 01:17:45 PM new
I've been a heavy smoker for 53 years. Joined Smoke Stoppers group and have been smoke free for 9 days. That's a record for me. Easier to do with a group then all alone. Just a suggestion if someone is looking for one.
To Kellyb1. Please tell me how to get that little jumping blue guy. He's so cute!
Thanks, Rae
posted on November 12, 2000 01:45:38 PM new
I Sell Clothes On Ebay & They Are Kept Away From The Rest Of My Household & All Smells & I Have Nearly 1000 Positive Feedbacks. My Only Negative Is A Complaint About Cigarette Smells From My Early Days When I Accepted Returns. That Negative & 1 Neutral Was Enough For Me To REFUSE All Returns! I Get Questioned About Both Regularly... Non Smokers Still Ask If My Clothes Will Smell Like Smoke (Almost 2 Yrs Since That Smoky Negative And I Sell Full Time!), & Those Concerned About The Quality Of My Merchandise Ponder Why No Returns! Seems You Can't Win No Matter How Many Positives You Accumulate Or How Careful You Are About Protecting Your Goods.
For New Sellers I Recommend Keeping All Auction Items Sealed & Boxed Until You Are Going To List Them. If You've Cooked With Garlic Or Your Husband Just Smoked A Cigar Ect- Spray The Room You Will Work In With Lysol Or Air Freshener. Package Your Goods As Soon As Your Done- This Not Only Protects Your Goods, But Also Makes Life Easier. If You Sell New Clothes I Would Think Twice Before Accepting Returns. Even Trying Something On A Buyer Can Get Smells In An Item, Or Get Make-ip On It Ect. Then When You Resell You End Up With An Unhappy Buyer Next Time Around!
For Used Clothing Items I Feebreeze Everything Then Let It Air Out For A Few Days- This Works Really Well... For Non Clothing Items I Include A Fabric Softner Sheet In The Box..
posted on November 12, 2000 02:02:01 PM new
Hi VeryModern,
Thank you for your honesty. I wonder how the rest of you non smoker advertisers go to insure that the product is smokeless you might say if you can answer the same widget question?
VeryModern,
There are certain smells that trigger terrible headaches for me. Perfume, esp some Avon brands and others used to me. Now it is nail polish remover, paint etc.
I actually used to go to church and have to sit by a couple of older sisters who loved Avon perfume. Seems they also thought it covered BO. NOT
posted on November 12, 2000 05:00:03 PM new
shar9- I can only speak for myself here, but I do put "from a smoke-free environment" in most of my auctions. NOT all. I buy lots of toys from various places, and I do end up with some that were obviously "smoky". When that happens I usually put in my description that they were NOT originally smoke-free but that they have all been given a bath & "aired out". It is my normal practice to give a good cleaning to everything that would be sold as an actual toy for a kid, even ones that are smoke-free to start with. Collectible toys I don't mess with cleaning as it sometimes can decrease the value of the toy- but then I don't generally buy smoky smelling collectibles for re-sale; I have found that it is too hard for me to re-sell them. With the merchandise I sell, which is mostly newer & mostly not collectible, the major issue is whether the item smells bad, not whether some minute degree of damage in the murky distant past may have been done by someone smoking a cigarette near it.
