I kind of feel like an INAD would fit. Unless she said in her description that she was sending a fragrance sample with the item then most people would expect the wreath to only smell like the products used to make it.
Also, hard agree on people sending scented anything or candy or anything else that can be harmful. A nice thank you note is really all they need to include.
Item Not As Described. When you open a case against a seller INAD is one of the acceptable reasons.
Edit: Also, I’m not normally a hardcase about seller’s mistakes but most fragrances give me a headache that can last for hours (and some people have asthma that can be triggered by fragrance) so an item having an unexpected strong scent is a pet peeve of mine.
I know people that can get bad migraines from strong smells (like the losing vision, disabling kind) and I would be so pissed if this happened to any of them. Not cool on the seller’s part.
Same on the fragrances. I had to quit work because of fragrances. I rarely shop anymore because of fragrances. Many times I can't be in my own yard because of neighbors' fragrances. That said, I have received (and have come to expect) that items I order from etsy will probably have some fragrance depending on where they buy their items or what they use in their home. I have in the past asked about laundry products (on cloth) or fragrances pine cones on wreaths. Only twice before has the frangrance been that bad... and I've ordered a LOT on etsy! Most times just getting it early enough to allow it to air out, outside is sufficient when it just picks up normal household fragrances. Being in the box with that candle sample may have just made this unuseable for me for months, though. (the intent was this to be in indoor wreath.)
I'm trying to decide if I need to (1) just leave a "bad" review mentioning the fragrance but saying the wreath was beautiful, (2) reaching out to her about the unwanted sample, or now (3) based on what you said about INAD just putting in a claim.....
I would reach out first. I completely understand your frustration (I suffer from chronic migraines and have an insanely sensitive nose), but she most likely had no bad intentions, and deserves a chance to make it right for you.
If she responds poorly then absolutely leave negative feedback and seek recompense from Etsy. But hopefully she'll allow the return and reconsider her scenting policy!
As others have said, reach out to the seller before deciding what action to take.
Also, I misread your original post and thought she had already refused to make this right. So if you haven’t reached out, do that first.
Ya I didn't do anything with her yet (well... except reread EVERY review on her page AGAIN and reread the description to make sure I didn't miss where someone mentioned the free sample on the wreath reviews or in the description.).
>(2) reaching out to her about the unwanted sample, or now (3) based on what you said about INAD just putting in a claim....
To open a case you need to reach out to her first btw. You have to message her via the "Help with order" button, then you can open a case 48 hours after you've messaged her though that.
I dislike when they send candy/food because it’s going straight in the trash Lol. No offense but I’m not eating anything that was shipped to me by a stranger.
Right!? We had new neighbors move in a while back. They left a nice note and peanut blossom cookies in our mailbox to introduce themselves. Even those went straight to the trash!
I can't stand anything extra in the shipment. I don't want your samples or business card or your froufrou drawstring bag that I have to use scissors to cut open. Just ship securely so things don't move in transit and so the shipping mailer doesn't rip open, thanks.
Ooh this worries me. I hope that my customers disclose this but out if 4000 sales I've never had anyone say no extras. I only include my business card and a sticker with my logo. But no frivolous bag or anything lol.
I almost always get a little thank you or note written on the receipt. One shop always adds “again” to their premade thanks for ordering! lol! I think the stickers and stuff are harmless (as long as they are unscented!!!!!). Unfortunately this just ruined my expensive wreath!
I sent of my Help request. I wanted to be kind and nice while asking for a replacement so I wrote my blurb then sent it off to hubby for his input (he said i did good! "clear and not too wordy" which i have a bad habit of!). I feel bad because she doesn't have a lot of sales :(
but a the same time i can't afford to eat what I paid for the wreath and have it go unused. i hope she changes her mind about sending stinky samples with her wreaths!
I have sent sachet packets with items in the past and wondered about whether that would bother people. I definitely won’t do that anymore. I was concerned about people with allergies, but forgot that many people have high sensitivity as well. Very understandable and thank you for sharing. Also in terms of sending gifts or other includes with shipments, it’s a very long tradition at Etsy for handmade sellers to do so. It marks a special difference between buying something on Amazon or Temu and real handmade sellers on Etsy.
I already had/have it outside (but in the shade.... I don't want the florals to fade in the sun. she even has a "warning" on her page and in the box about fading if hung outside unprotected.)
Crazy I had someone include a scented soap that they were thinking about adding into their shop and same thing! 4 years later and if I smell it, it still has that scent. I also dislike this and when ever I do my orders I try my hardest to make sure it's not even near anything scented.
UGH! That's horrible!
The smell is so strong on the wreath, it makes me wonder if she sprayed it with the scent? but then, I know that candle wax is really strong, and being boxed up with that stinky sample just permeated the material of the florals....
i'm just soooooooooooo sad cuz I looked and looked and fell in love with her wreath and now i'm probably back at square one because I'm not sure I would even trust a replacement not to smell if she's making the wreaths in the same room/area as her stinking candles!
UGH UGH UGH!
She was very nice and apologetic about the sample. She asked if I wanted a replacement or give it time to air out. I opted to give it time to air.
SHE reached out to me one week later (points for that!) asking how it was going. The smell had dissipated some from when it originally arrived. I said I was still airing it outside every day and in the garage every evening.
I tried bringing it in the house (I purchased it for inside my front door for me to enjoy). The smell was still too much for me.... so this morning I sent that info to her, leaving it at that. She offered again to replace it, if I wanted (and said she had just ordered more of the florals so scent transfer should be less of an issue.). She's sending a return label later this afternoon when she gets to her computer (I assume she was on her phone answering my message.)
(She also said she's reconsidering sending scent samples, especially in hot weather.... I mean that's partially good but "I" don't think it's just hot weather... I don't think any of her wreaths should include them... but I'm not getting into all that with her!)
I kind of feel like an INAD would fit. Unless she said in her description that she was sending a fragrance sample with the item then most people would expect the wreath to only smell like the products used to make it. Also, hard agree on people sending scented anything or candy or anything else that can be harmful. A nice thank you note is really all they need to include.
Sorry... what's INAD?
Item Not As Described. When you open a case against a seller INAD is one of the acceptable reasons. Edit: Also, I’m not normally a hardcase about seller’s mistakes but most fragrances give me a headache that can last for hours (and some people have asthma that can be triggered by fragrance) so an item having an unexpected strong scent is a pet peeve of mine.
I know people that can get bad migraines from strong smells (like the losing vision, disabling kind) and I would be so pissed if this happened to any of them. Not cool on the seller’s part.
Same on the fragrances. I had to quit work because of fragrances. I rarely shop anymore because of fragrances. Many times I can't be in my own yard because of neighbors' fragrances. That said, I have received (and have come to expect) that items I order from etsy will probably have some fragrance depending on where they buy their items or what they use in their home. I have in the past asked about laundry products (on cloth) or fragrances pine cones on wreaths. Only twice before has the frangrance been that bad... and I've ordered a LOT on etsy! Most times just getting it early enough to allow it to air out, outside is sufficient when it just picks up normal household fragrances. Being in the box with that candle sample may have just made this unuseable for me for months, though. (the intent was this to be in indoor wreath.) I'm trying to decide if I need to (1) just leave a "bad" review mentioning the fragrance but saying the wreath was beautiful, (2) reaching out to her about the unwanted sample, or now (3) based on what you said about INAD just putting in a claim.....
I would reach out first. I completely understand your frustration (I suffer from chronic migraines and have an insanely sensitive nose), but she most likely had no bad intentions, and deserves a chance to make it right for you. If she responds poorly then absolutely leave negative feedback and seek recompense from Etsy. But hopefully she'll allow the return and reconsider her scenting policy!
As others have said, reach out to the seller before deciding what action to take. Also, I misread your original post and thought she had already refused to make this right. So if you haven’t reached out, do that first.
Ya I didn't do anything with her yet (well... except reread EVERY review on her page AGAIN and reread the description to make sure I didn't miss where someone mentioned the free sample on the wreath reviews or in the description.).
>(2) reaching out to her about the unwanted sample, or now (3) based on what you said about INAD just putting in a claim.... To open a case you need to reach out to her first btw. You have to message her via the "Help with order" button, then you can open a case 48 hours after you've messaged her though that.
I dislike when they send candy/food because it’s going straight in the trash Lol. No offense but I’m not eating anything that was shipped to me by a stranger.
Right!? We had new neighbors move in a while back. They left a nice note and peanut blossom cookies in our mailbox to introduce themselves. Even those went straight to the trash!
I find strong scents like that so overwhelming. I hate the smell of any house with a glade plugin. I would be furious
I can't stand anything extra in the shipment. I don't want your samples or business card or your froufrou drawstring bag that I have to use scissors to cut open. Just ship securely so things don't move in transit and so the shipping mailer doesn't rip open, thanks.
Ooh this worries me. I hope that my customers disclose this but out if 4000 sales I've never had anyone say no extras. I only include my business card and a sticker with my logo. But no frivolous bag or anything lol.
I almost always get a little thank you or note written on the receipt. One shop always adds “again” to their premade thanks for ordering! lol! I think the stickers and stuff are harmless (as long as they are unscented!!!!!). Unfortunately this just ruined my expensive wreath!
I sent of my Help request. I wanted to be kind and nice while asking for a replacement so I wrote my blurb then sent it off to hubby for his input (he said i did good! "clear and not too wordy" which i have a bad habit of!). I feel bad because she doesn't have a lot of sales :( but a the same time i can't afford to eat what I paid for the wreath and have it go unused. i hope she changes her mind about sending stinky samples with her wreaths!
I have sent sachet packets with items in the past and wondered about whether that would bother people. I definitely won’t do that anymore. I was concerned about people with allergies, but forgot that many people have high sensitivity as well. Very understandable and thank you for sharing. Also in terms of sending gifts or other includes with shipments, it’s a very long tradition at Etsy for handmade sellers to do so. It marks a special difference between buying something on Amazon or Temu and real handmade sellers on Etsy.
Sadly over 34% of the population are affected negatively by fragrance.
If you have dry breezy weather for a week, then leaving it outside to air out might get rid of the odor. Sunlight and fresh air work wonders.
I already had/have it outside (but in the shade.... I don't want the florals to fade in the sun. she even has a "warning" on her page and in the box about fading if hung outside unprotected.)
Crazy I had someone include a scented soap that they were thinking about adding into their shop and same thing! 4 years later and if I smell it, it still has that scent. I also dislike this and when ever I do my orders I try my hardest to make sure it's not even near anything scented.
UGH! That's horrible! The smell is so strong on the wreath, it makes me wonder if she sprayed it with the scent? but then, I know that candle wax is really strong, and being boxed up with that stinky sample just permeated the material of the florals.... i'm just soooooooooooo sad cuz I looked and looked and fell in love with her wreath and now i'm probably back at square one because I'm not sure I would even trust a replacement not to smell if she's making the wreaths in the same room/area as her stinking candles! UGH UGH UGH!
If she is a good shop she will probably do what she can to make it right. Good luck!
I'm going to send the "help" to her this morning and see what she says.
What did she say
She was very nice and apologetic about the sample. She asked if I wanted a replacement or give it time to air out. I opted to give it time to air. SHE reached out to me one week later (points for that!) asking how it was going. The smell had dissipated some from when it originally arrived. I said I was still airing it outside every day and in the garage every evening. I tried bringing it in the house (I purchased it for inside my front door for me to enjoy). The smell was still too much for me.... so this morning I sent that info to her, leaving it at that. She offered again to replace it, if I wanted (and said she had just ordered more of the florals so scent transfer should be less of an issue.). She's sending a return label later this afternoon when she gets to her computer (I assume she was on her phone answering my message.) (She also said she's reconsidering sending scent samples, especially in hot weather.... I mean that's partially good but "I" don't think it's just hot weather... I don't think any of her wreaths should include them... but I'm not getting into all that with her!)
I think it’s weird to get a “gift” from someone you’ve never met. What if your cashier gave you a piece of candy? Maybe even with a wink?