Hi, I'm reasonably new to the site, but have completed a dozen or so transactions.  For the first time I've received a request with a condition.  The condition is that the requester doesn't want books that "have been in a smoking environment."

I'm a non-smoker with smoke triggered asthma myself.  The book does not have any odor to me, nor to my daughter with a real sensitive sniffer.  On the other hand, I don't know where this book has been.  I didn't buy it new so I have no idea if it has ever been in a smoking environment. 

Is there a way to respond with these details and see what they want to do or do you only have the option of refusing the transaction?  What is your advice?  

Thanks,

Sara

If neither you or your daughter can detect any smoke smell, that books is fine.  I the the requestor conditions are too vague but I think your and your daughter's noses have confirmed the book is OK to send :   )  You could also PM the requestor and let her know that you both detect no smell but can't guarantee its history and ask if it is OK to send.  You shouldn't "have" to do this, but sometimes going the extra mile helps.

ETA:  Oh yeah, I just remembered that you can't PM until you accept the order.   I would go ahead and accept and then PM them to say that you detect now smoke and if thats good enough.

I agree with Lita.  It is possible that the person will respond to your PM along the lines of "I am horribly allergic and can't take the chance so no thanks," but that is pretty unlikely, especially if you let her know that you also are allergic and have had no problems with the book.  I've found that most people who say that they don't want books from a smoking environment mean a "current smoking environment," and so I'm usually willing to take the risk that the person will reject after the PM.  So far (knock wood) I've never had anyone respond to the PM that they didn't want the book just because I couldn't vouch for its earlier life.

As someone who has such a condition, I agree - if you can't smell it, and you have a smoke-trigger (me too), then it should be ok to send.