Is it rude to ask if item is from a smoking or non smoking house?

thankfunkforthat

Just wondering what everyones thoughts are on this? Is it rude to ask if item is from a smoking or non smoking house?

I recently asked if an item on gumtree was still available and got a near instant reply saying it was. Then asked the above and never heard anything.

So I assume the seller was either offended or was a smoker and thought I wouldn't buy it so never bothered replying.

From my point of view I don't want something that has a smell of smoke on it so would only be wasting my time and the sellers going to view it. It was a camera so wouldn't have been easy to clean and the rubber on it would be difficult to remove the smell.

kalsha

Rude or not, ask if it is important to you. Last year I bought DAB radio and forgot to check if it was non-smoking household. A year on after a lot of airing and cleaning, I am still struggling with the smell so have stopped using it.
All my listings state that my items are from non smoking household. Now when I buy anything, I would check. If it offends the person and does not reply, I think I have saved!

DCFC79

Wouldnt say its rude either. No harm in asking, same if its from a pet free home, any genuine seller would reply with a yes or a no.

firefox1956

You are the buyer...........
Ask anything you like.

Marcon

Of course it isn't rude - many sellers include that info as a matter of course, knowing that it will be important to a number of potential buyers.

in_the_Cotswolds

Anything I sell I always state that it is from a smoke and pet free home. Whether it helps or not I don't know.

mrcol1000

The problem is that some sellers can't be bothered to reply. Others have a bizarre idea that you are obviously a scammer or a waste of time if you dare ask a question. Its not rude to ask and if they can't be bothered to answer then you are probably better off not buying from them anyway.

thankfunkforthat

Thanks for the replies everyone, good to get your thoughts on it.

forgotmyname

Ask anything you like, the seller either answers or ignores.