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I sort of chuckle when I read about stamps for sale that are from a "smoke free, pet free" home. For heavens sake, if you buy a stamp from a chain smoker or a pet collector, do you get a stamp that coughs or spits up fur balls??
Please enlighten me--is wood and rubber that sensitive?????
I never buy anything stamps or otherwise from a smoker's home. Wood, rubber, and even the plastic cases have that smoker's aroma that I just can't stand.
__________________ mel mom to carson, cooper, cole, and cammie
I can imagine it retaining the smells of smoke, most things do. However, I'm kind of unsure about the whole pet thing.
Unless your allergies are really severe, is it really going to have an effect on the stamps?? I have 3 cats at my house, but for the most part, none of them go near my stamping stuff, they like the paper, not the rubber!
I borrow my mother's stamps and she smokes. The stamps smell like smoke, but she's my mother. I know I wouldn't buy them from some else. It's a disgusting habit, I wish she would stop.
The wood and rubber will absorb the smell of the smoke. I'm a smoker and don't even like the smell of stale smoke on something. I only smoke in one room of the house and it's on the opposite end from my craft room so my things don't have the stale smoke smell. Pet-free home? That I just don't understand. My cat practically lives in the craft room.
__________________ The only thing better than a good friend is a good friend with a bag of M&Ms.
The OP just cracks me up. I'm envisioning my stamps coughing up fur balls
But seriously, I can totally see the appeal of buying stamps from a smoke-free home. Maybe it's because I'm a pet owner, I don't get the appeal of the pet-free home - at least not for stamps. Can anyone enlighten us???
Okay, I can see that some people are sensitive to the smell, but they must have one heck of an olefactory sense. Personally, I don't get that up close and personal with my stamps that I would even notice. When you consider we stampers are whiffing mineral spirits, hot embossing powders, Staz-on ink and stamp cleaners, I'm surprised that second hand smoke would even move the scale. Sounds more like a personal preference than anything to do with the stamps. Maybe smokers should give discounts to sell their "stinky stamps" LOL!!!
I must say there are certainly more things to worry about in the world than whether or not my stamps smell like smoke or not. Although, I am not a smoker. I do however agree that the smell of stale smoke is not pleasant but I would totally not be upset if a smoker sold me stamps without my knowledge of their habit.
judlb~I have often saw this statement and really wanted to comment but opted to leave it alone. Kudos to those nonsmokers (like me)!
So, now that I have overstated my opinions...Should those that smoke specify that their stamps are from a smoking home?
Pet free home~my kids would be very unhappy if we were to be "pet free"!
BTW, my pet has allergies and is on a special diet. The vet told me that he is most likely allergic to our environment! How funny is that to hear? I have to treat him for allergies just like I do my kids.
Ok, I am so done now. I must apologize in advance but these are purely my own personnal opinions and not meant to offend anyone. Just had to share my thoughts.
One thing comes to mind when I hear from a "pet free home". . . . My husband used to have a guy that would transport cutting tools for him. He was kind of a dirty old recluse that had lots of cats, but was a good worker. The tools weren't a problem cause they were in big tubs and were in the back of his truck, but the paperwork was either kept in the cab or at his house. Whenever he'd hand in the paperwork to my husband they smelled like cat urine. It was totally disgusting! I wouldn't let my husband bring any paperwork in the house and would make him totally scrub up when he was done with it!
Oh....also, my demo has cats. My friend is highly allergic to the hair or dander and has itchy eyes and throat after using her supplies, even if the party is held at my house.
One thing comes to mind when I hear from a "pet free home". . . . My husband used to have a guy that would transport cutting tools for him. He was kind of a dirty old recluse that had lots of cats, but was a good worker. The tools weren't a problem cause they were in big tubs and were in the back of his truck, but the paperwork was either kept in the cab or at his house. Whenever he'd hand in the paperwork to my husband they smelled like cat urine. It was totally disgusting! I wouldn't let my husband bring any paperwork in the house and would make him totally scrub up when he was done with it! OK, now that is just disgusting...That house should have been "pet free"!
Oh....also, my demo has cats. My friend is highly allergic to the hair or dander and has itchy eyes and throat after using her supplies, even if the party is held at my house.
How miserable for her! I am highly allergic too and react about the same way. But I just make sure I keep extra allergy meds with me at all times. I am sure that this does not work for everyone.
To funny I can imagine my stamps coughing up fur balls after today catching my cat laying on top of them on the shelf she knows to stay off of lol
I can deffinatly understand about the allergies and hubby smokes but I think it stinks everything up so he smokes outside and I don't complain to much about it
__________________ Cindy Gibson
Stay at home mommy to Megan Elizabeth 7/27/2001
Wife to JD since 6/12/1998
Will graduate college June 28th 2007 [email protected]
Springfield Missouri
Smoke....No, I don't go around with my nose to the wood but as a non smoker I can pick up the scent even if the wood is just in my hand. And personally I think that is just gross!
Pets....My DH has allergies that are so severe that even pet dander on 1 item that comes into our home can bother him. I love my stamps but I love DH breathing more
I'm guessing that the smoke smell is the reason for noting smoke-free. As a non-smoker this is a yucky and very obvious smell. I have pets; so do not notice that odor at all; however I suspect non pet owners would pick up on it right away. Since most of us don't really go around smelling our stamps, this is probably not a big deal if someone really likes the stamp anyway!!!! JMO!
__________________ Donna Love my puppies! Thor 5 years; Maddee 5 years
Just chiming in on the pet part. I'm terribly allergic to cat and dog dander and the hair. With the plastic boxes that some of the stamps come in, and static electricity, you know how the hair sticks to the plastic. I'd hate to get some in a sale and have the hair stuck to the cases. I think also, we have to remember, there are people who are very clean with animals in the house....and then there are those others.....(if you know what I mean<G>)
Smoke....No, I don't go around with my nose to the wood but as a non smoker I can pick up the scent even if the wood is just in my hand. And personally I think that is just gross!
Pets....My DH has allergies that are so severe that even pet dander on 1 item that comes into our home can bother him. I love my stamps but I love DH breathing more
OK... when I have listed things on ebay, I have actually had people (on more than one occasion) ask me if my stamps come from a pet free home. I guess they're afraid of finding a cat hair on the rubber? I just add that *disclosure* to my description, as pathetic as it sounds.
BTW, my pet has allergies and is on a special diet. The vet told me that he is most likely allergic to our environment! How funny is that to hear? I have to treat him for allergies just like I do my kids
HEHEHE.....I saw a great pillow at a pet lovers store....Said, my dog was allergic so I had to get rid of the kids......HAHAHAHAHA.....
I guess I'll jump in with my 2 cents worth too. I am a non-smoker, but grew up in a family where both parents were extremely heavy chain-smokers. It literally took me about 7 years after I moved out of my parents house at age 18 to get my lungs healthy. I would get at least 2 bouts of pneumonia, 8 bouts of bronchitis and about 16 sinus infections a year -- both when I was living at home with them -- and for those 7 years after I moved out and I am firmly convinced that it was due to second-hand smoke. I can sit in my back yard and smell my neighbors smoke when they sit in their back yard, and it makes me go back inside. My point is, that if my lungs are still so sensitive to smoke some 25 years later just from smelling my neighbors cigarette smoke from their back yard, then yes, the rubber, the wood, and a lot of other things are going to be saturated from the smoke. I am allergic to cats and dogs, yet I have 2 cats of my own because I've built up my immune system to them. I think "smoke-free, pet-free" has a lot of logic associated with it and I appreciate the sellers notifying potential buyers of this.
Please enlighten me--is wood and rubber that sensitive?????
No, but I am! The smoke thing for me is just that the smell bothers me, but the pet thing is a very big deal for me. I can't even borrow a book from someone who has a cat bc my the conjuctiva of my eyes swells to a nasty degree and I am itchy, wheezy and all around miserable. Once time I played backgammon with a friend whose cat had died 4 years earlier, but had liked to sit on the backgammon board. I had the worst reaction that took 4 days to clear up.
So, yes, people like to know these things bc minimally smoke and pets can be stinky (and why would I buy a stinky stamp, or anything else, when I could buy one that doesn't), but it can also big a big deal health-wise to the purchaser.
__________________ Amy, mom of 2 not so sweet, but amazingly lively and fun little girls
Smoke will yellow and discolor anything that is exposed to it long enough... I would consider to not purchase fabric, Yarn, furniture or possibly even card stock from a hardcore smoker.
As for pets.. some people have no clue that thier belongings or clothes smell like thier favorite pet. I have purchased items that my cats will not leave alone because it has the scent of the previous pet on it.... especially baskets ... no cat can resist parking thier booties in wooden baskets...
Okay, I can see that some people are sensitive to the smell, but they must have one heck of an olefactory sense. Personally, I don't get that up close and personal with my stamps that I would even notice. When you consider we stampers are whiffing mineral spirits, hot embossing powders, Staz-on ink and stamp cleaners, I'm surprised that second hand smoke would even move the scale. Sounds more like a personal preference than anything to do with the stamps. Maybe smokers should give discounts to sell their "stinky stamps" LOL!!!
You don't have to get that close to smell that stale smell, and it is nasty. Sometimes, I get a book from the library that has that smell, and I can't even read it. I end up returning it and trying to find another copy.
__________________ mel mom to carson, cooper, cole, and cammie
Actually, yes. Wood, rubber and especially plastic all absorb odors. If you are someone who is allergic to cigarette smoke, that can make a BIG difference in whether you will buy an item or not. I had a friend who was much more allergic to it than I am, that has ended up having such a hard time breathing (from exposure to smoke) that she had to be hospitalized.
As for the pets, it's not so much an issue of odors (though there are odors that go with pets...) as it is the pet dander. Again, an allergic reaction that can (and has) sent people to the hospital.
Hope that helps!
__________________ ~Sheri
"I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to."
"When we forgive, we free ourselves from the bitter ties that bind us to the one who hurt us."
I totally agree with the smoke issue - I personally really dislike the smell of smoke. And now I understand the pet-free issue - THANKS.
But I'm still imaging my stamps coughing up furballs. And it makes me LOL! Many of us commented on not being thrilled with SU's pet stamps in this years catty - maybe this could inspire next year's
Okay, I can see that some people are sensitive to the smell, but they must have one heck of an olefactory sense. Personally, I don't get that up close and personal with my stamps that I would even notice.
It isn't a matter of sticking the stamps in your nose. Even being in the same room as stale cigarette smoke makes me gag. (well, in a small room. If it's a big convention hall or supermarket, it's not so bad 'cause I can avoid it!) But seriously, I've always had a very sensitive nose, and even having something sitting in front of me, several feet away, still bothers me if it stinks (and with apologies to smokers, to my nose, cigarette smoke stinks...) I also can't have any kind of indoor pet (esp. cats) for the same reason: I simply can not handle the smell of the litter box (and during the 10 days we had an indoor cat, the litter box was changed twice a day, and the litter itself was changed every other day....and no, we didn't abandon the cat. We gave it to some friends who are almost rabid animal lovers, who we knew would give 'cat' a good home...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by judylb
When you consider we stampers are whiffing mineral spirits, hot embossing powders, Staz-on ink and stamp cleaners, I'm surprised that second hand smoke would even move the scale. Sounds more like a personal preference than anything to do with the stamps.
For some it is a matter of preference. For others it really is a quality of life issue. Not everyone has allergies. For those who do, not everyone is allergic to the same thing. I can't use Stampin' Mist anymore because it makes me sneeze and have a horrid sore throat, even up to a day after I've used it. As for the other things we use, I don't get close enough to get ink particles or embossing powders, etc, in my nose. ;) But even if I did, those are things that I've not shown any allergic reaction to, so it wouldn't matter if I did stick the stamp pad on my nose.
__________________ ~Sheri
"I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to."
"When we forgive, we free ourselves from the bitter ties that bind us to the one who hurt us."
I guess I should consider myself extremely lucky. The only things I'm averse to are bad breath, BO and bodily fluids. They don't make be break out in hives but they sure turn me off. If I buy anything used it gets a thorough scrubbing (you never know where it's been) and I never buy used clothing--just a mental thing with me. I am not allergic to anything that I'm aware of but my DH goes into a sneezing fit at some perfumes/cologne. Maybe I should specify "Estee Lauder free home"!!!!
I now understand how important it is to some folks that their stamps are uncontaminated--just grateful I don't have that problem.
I used to work with a woman who is so allergic to pet hair that when they were looking for a new apartment, she couldn't even tour one that had had pets in it 3 months before. That was before vacuums had HEPA filters and she said it took about 3 months worth of regular vacuuming to get all the hair out of the carpets and drapes. So I can see this in some cases.
I'm very sensetive to cigarette smoke as well. I grew up with a smoking family and I think that made my hyper-sensetive to smoke. Not only does the smell make me gag, it affects my breathing and I lose my voice. From my experience with my family, I don't think smokers realize the stench permeates just about everything. Yuck!!!
__________________ Debra ---artist * teacher * designer Say yes. Be generous. Speak up. Love more. Trust yourself. Slow down. ---Patti Digh
Well.. for myself... if I were to buy used stamps, pets wouldn't bother me. But smoking is disgusting, and you don't have to 'stick your nose' up to the stamps to smell the smoke. They would just reek of cigarette smoke. Yuck!!! I would NOT be happy if I bought used stamps from someone that smoked and didn't tell me. You can't get that smoke smell out of things...
As a quitter, I can definitely tell you that even after a year, some things still smell like cigarette smoke in my house and I didn't even really smoke in my house!! I've never noticed a smell on any of my stamps or scrap supplies, though, since I never smoked around them.
I once bought fibers from a lady on ebay (when I was a smoker) and when I opened the plastic bag that they were in I thought I would have passed out. Not only was the stale cigarette smoke nasty, but she had put in some kind of cheap perfumey stuff to try to get the smell out! I wish that I had looked at the comments section first because there were many about the smell--I just looked at the good rating!!
I have a very good friend that bought a stamp set years ago on Ebay (pre-demo days) and when she received it one of the corners of the plastic case had a hole in it and obvious pet chewing markings.....I think that is why sellers note "pet free."
I sell things on Ebay to have SU mad money and I always say (honestly) my items come from a smoke and pet free home. It matters to buyers....especially the smoke part.
I just have to ask??????
Pet allergies.....
