Done buying on Poshmark - YouLookFab Forum

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Done buying on Poshmark

ANewMindset

A little rant this AM. I have ony purchased a few things on Poshmark, with limited luck. This past week I purchased a beautiful exact replica of a blazer I owned but wore out. It was NWT. It arrived and smelled like Febreeze/laundry detergent... even with tags, so it was obviously sprayed with something. I steamed it, the smell is no better. Was going to keep it and live with it but decided to report the issue. I will be returning it today. I think its time to close my account. I hate dealing with this kind of thing... its why i dont even bother selling my stuff online!!

Shopping

14 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Star

Veteran

Just a thought, maybe it got the smell from sitting in a closet for a long time with other laundered clothes? I don['t know what Febreze is, not being in the US.

cat2

Veteran

I am with you, I gave up online second hand shopping when a NWT bag arrived drenched with Febreze and then when the Febreze wore off, it smelled like a cat had been curled up next to it. I have cat allergies and the purse was advertised as having come from a pet free home.

RobinF

Veteran

I have about a 50% success rate on Poshmark so rarely buy anything expensive. Have you had more than one bad experience? I'm not sure I would give up after just one. It can be frustrating though.

Jen

I buy a lot on Poshmark, mostly because I can’t tolerate higher rises in pants. I’ve had a lot of success there, especially buying things I know fit from having them in other colors/patterns. It took me absurdly long to realize the key was to always ask them to post measurements, and knowing mine.

The Febreze problem is real. What I do is ask up front if the item has a strong detergent smell, and explain I have a sensitivity. Then if they claim it doesn’t and it does, you can grieve it. But in my experience, they usually just don’t answer if they can’t answer No, and that is the giveaway. My only problem is sometimes I forget to ask. But you are right that those smells are nearly impossible to get out. I’d love to know if anyone has any tips for doing so. But I wouldn’t give up on Poshmark just yet.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I buy nearly everything on Poshmark, including a handmade natural fiber crochet hat I'm wearing right now. (Forgive the morning make-up). Funky smells only come up for me once in a while. What makes it easy for me is I'm usually spending between $5 and $15, so it's no great loss if I need to pass it on. Also, I buy a lot of new-with-tags items, so no smell.

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Star

Veteran

Jen Airing really gets rid of smells. The stronger the smell the longer time required on the outside washing line. Example, I had a brand new plastic coated cooking apron that smelled SO odd. I was going to toss it. I left it on my open air but under cover washing/drying line some where between 1 and 2 months, and the smell disappeared. When it comes to other funky odours vodka works. You spray it on. The alcohol neutralises the smell and the item does not smell like alcohol afterwards. I also had plastic slip on shower shoes that smelled really weird, I left them on the balcony when not using them, and the smell did finally disappear. I did have one very bad experience with 2nd hand shopping. An Esprit zippered cardigan had a very peculiar smell (baby's milk regurgitated maybe - eek gross). No amount of washing and airing would fix it so I had to toss it. Usually most smells do come out.

JP

Veteran

I have bought a few items on Poshmark and only had a couple of bad experiences. I think Poshmark has changed a lot since 2015/2016 that I bought my clothes. I wouldn't give up on them though.
Airing as suggested by others is a good way. Depending on the cleaning instructions of an item I always launder, or dry clean before I use anything I buy on these types of shops. Sometimes I use the home dry cleaning sheets and that helps with any smells as well.

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Tess D

Sorry for your bad experience! Secondhand shopping online can be great but you also have to battle the unknowns like this. I think a lot of us have been there too!

Peri

Veteran

I can almost echo your experience and it was a major turnoff for me too. It was the first thrifted thing I have ever bought, and it is very likely to be the last. I should have realized how dicey this would be for me since I have allergic contact dermatitis to an ingredient that is so ubiquitous in laundry detergent it's seriously hard to find one without it. It's also in Febreeze. Outside of that, I just can't stand fragranced things.

The item was not expensive and was a top I really wanted, a different print of one I already owned, so I decided to try and get the smell out. I should have taken your route and returned it because that was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I did multiple washes, soaks in baking soda, soaks in vinegar. That thing was soaking in something for at least 5 days and was washed by itself probably 8 times.

Guess what...still haven't worn it. The smell finally stopped but by then I was afraid of it and turned off by it. I did contact the seller and she said she used fragrance free laundry detergent. Yeah, right. If I believe her, maybe it was Febreeze...didn't think to ask about that. Or maybe she wears such strong perfume it's in all of her clothes and she no longer notices.

Anyway, you were smart to return. I'm done with thrifting I think. I admire people who can do it and have success but obviously I have too many issues to be one of them!

I also have a complaint about Poshmark specifically, the way it will only accept positive reviews. Sellers can look so good but that is only because the site hides the negative ones. Seriously dishonest and misleading. Done with it!

Ginger

Veteran

I buy a lot on Poshmark, and sell a bit as well. One good thing about Poshmark is that the return process is straightforward for things like undisclosed/unacceptable smells. Just don't hit "Accept" the item until you're sure it will be okay in that respect. I also second all of Star's advice for treating smells.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have bought a few pieces on Poshmark. I try to look for measurements and NWT if possible. Smells would put me off. I have never returned anything, but I would if strong, unacceptable odours existed. I have allergies to perfumes.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Yes l feel your pain but from the other side l sell the occasional item not on posh mark but using other platforms.l have already left one due to issues with dishonest buyers and am currently involved in another issue that looks like it’s going to potentially involve fraud by the courier.All for items under £20.l am not sure that it’s worth the hassle any more.

nuancedream

Veteran

For the most part, I've had pretty good luck with Poshmark. I just received a beautiful NWT dress yesterday. However, when I opened the package, I was almost knocked over by the overpowering scent of perfume. A stink bomb! I know the only way to remove it is by washing the dress. I also gave the seller less than stellar feedback

Greyscale

Veteran

I've mostly given up buying on poshmark because of my fragrance sensitivities. I sell a lot on poshmark, though, and I always mention that I never use scented laundry products or perfume. Maybe that's been helpful for a few buyers...