P U ...What should I do?

[Miss_Nellie_OMalley]

Wow, Maybe we need a sticky with Doll Surgery 101. It does sound soo scary, but I'd go with the Arm and Hammer in a box or bag first.

As for the feedback... I wouldn't leave neutral because there was nothing wrong with not mentioning that they were a smoker. If you want you can address things in the positive feedback so as to warn other potential buyers in a nice way
Such as... "Great Buy! A little smokey, but SUPER! Lightning Fast Shipping!" etc.

[robin0850]

Pause for a moment, and take a deep cleansing breath. Now, relax. Yes, it IS a bit disconcerting to take a doll's head off, but it's only tied on with a simple drawstring--her head will go right back on very easily; pull string tight, tie a triple knot, and you're golden. (That's why AG would rather do head replacements than wig replacements!)

I like using the original (deodorized) stuffing for 2 reasons--it's just the right amount, so you know your doll won't be over-stuffed or under-stuffed; and it seems to be a better grade than what you buy at craft stores, and doesn't "lump" up where you don't want it to.
You might want to take a look at the re-stringing section of the www.justmagicdolls.com website--there are pictures of doll disassemblage and reassemblage, to show you it all turns out fine. [img]smile.gif[/img]

That's where I found all the info I needed to re-string my own dolls (and anyone else's who wants me to)--I like the hint about being sure to put some stuffing at the tops of the shoulders so they'll look natural, before putting the head back on.
Just lay her down before you start--then she'll be asleep, and won't feel a thing! [img]smile.gif[/img]

P.S. Of course, no one has to take their doll apart if they don't want to--and it's kind of scary the first time--hope I didn't come across as too pushy. But, after a childhood plagued with asthmatic bronchitis, I REALLY hate the smell of cigarette smoke; so I'm pretty aggressive about eliminating it completely from those poor helpless AG dolls! So this advice is what works for me--you may want to start a little slower, as other board members have suggested.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 15, 2005 07:06 PM: Message edited by: AsianAG ]</font>

[heidiabigail]

My Kit doll smelled really bad when I got her from ebay-especially her hair. I actually shut her in a drawer with a candle that smelled nice, and when I took her out she smelled great. Then I put her on the shelf, and let her air out. Now she smells neutral.

[Ds9jullian]

It all has to do with where you buy your polyfil. You get what you pay for. If you want low loft batting these days, buy high loft because that was low loft ten years ago. If you want high loft by really high loft and double layer it.

We have to remember that these dolls are a little less delicate than we make them out to be. Water will not harm them, except for their eyes. Hermione got a soft scrub bath when she arrived to take off a very think layer of grim and she looks a whole lot better for it.

Ashley

[robin0850]

I haven't heard of the product Soft Scrub being used on dolls--I think whoever used the term probably meant a gentle scrub with baking soda, though I could be wrong.
Baking soda is what is recommended to clean the vinyl(even the "doll cleansing powder" that AG sells is nothing but baking soda!), and if it were me, that's what I'd use.
The ebay seller is probably not being quite straight with you(though I hate to say something negative about someone I don't know)--they can honestly say THEIR home is smoke-free, but not mention that the doll is from a smoking home, and they're just re-selling her. With my smoke-reeking doll, I forgot to ask about smoke, so I figured I deserved what I got, and left positive feedback--aside from the smoke, the seller deserved it. However, when reading that seller's feedback, a previous customer mentioned that their item was "pretty smokey, but as described". Uh-oh, I thought. My doll had already shipped by then, though, so I wasn't surprised by the smell. Interestingly enough, the doll had been packed with a fabric-softener sheet on her chest inside the bubble wrap, apparently in a vain attempt to deodorize her en route! Didn't work at all, but at least the seller was apparently aware this doll had smoke issues she hadn't mentioned. So, lesson learned--ALWAYS ask about odors! Specifically on the doll, not just whether the home is smoke-free, or who smokes and who doesn't, etc. Sorry to babble on so, but I hope others will benefit from my experience.
Good luck with Kailey! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[SweetSam]

I did sent the seller a polite e-mail thanking her for the fast shipping and great communication but that I was a bit disappointed that she smelled so smokey, being as it was something a child would be around I thought it should have been mentioned but that I know I should have asked as well so I would not be leaving negative feedback. She e-mailed back that has know idea why the doll would smell since she doesn't smoke and that I could return her. (I have to say that I once bought something from someone after asking if it came from a smoking home and the person said I don't smoke, when I got the item it reeked and I e-mailed the lady and she said "I said I didn't smoke, not that no one in my household didn't smoke"~~). Anyways, thanks to everyone and I do think it would make a great sticky to have what to do in various situations. It certainly been helpful to me!![/QB]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree that the seller should have thought to list the doll as coming from a smoker's home because it's an item that's presumably for kids.

I'm sorry you had to deal with that other seller as well. She sounds very deceitful--she must have known that if one person smokes, the whole house (and everything inside) is going to smell like smoke as well. How can a person want to sell something so badly that they'll basically lie to buyers? Bad karma to her for being such a trickster. [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 16, 2005 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Sweet Sam ]</font>

[Skittl1321]

I can't offer any advice, but I have to disagree with those who are saying it is not misleading to say forget to mention the doll smells like smoke.

If a doll is advertised as "mint condition" or any other sort of good condition, I would believe the doll ready to be handed to a child. If it reeked of smoke, then I would never consider it to be good condition. I would feel I was mislead and the condition of a doll mistated. If a doll smells so badly of smoke that I have to consider taking it apart to clean her the only condition I would describe her in is poor.

I have no idea about this particular Kailey, but those are my feelings on the smoke issue.

[kikibooboo]

So, first I want to say THANKS to everyone for your advise. It's so nice to have some options to choose from. The more I think about it the more I'm almost a little excited about the whole experience. She will only mean that much more to me (despite the fact she is for my daughter) if I'm the one helping to bring her back so to speak. I want to make sure I read correctly that I should use "Soft Scrub" to clean her body? The kind of stuff used in a bathroom? I will definitely check out the website as well. Since my daughter is now officially off school I will try the candle thing while I am waiting for my opportunity to do anything more major.

I did sent the seller a polite e-mail thanking her for the fast shipping and great communication but that I was a bit disappointed that she smelled so smokey, being as it was something a child would be around I thought it should have been mentioned but that I know I should have asked as well so I would not be leaving negative feedback. She e-mailed back that has know idea why the doll would smell since she doesn't smoke and that I could return her. (I have to say that I once bought something from someone after asking if it came from a smoking home and the person said I don't smoke, when I got the item it reeked and I e-mailed the lady and she said "I said I didn't smoke, not that no one in my household didn't smoke"~~). Anyways, thanks to everyone and I do think it would make a great sticky to have what to do in various situations. It certainly been helpful to me!!