Yahoo LifestyleShoppers complain about M&S handbag that ‘smells of fish’
Marks and Spencer has caused a stink by selling handbags that apparently smell of fish.
The £25 shoulder bag has been returned by several customers who could not get rid of the strong odour, while others took to the store's website to complain.
Caroline Smith, from Basingstoke, bought one in red as a 77th birthday present for her mum – but she says her mum is too embarrassed to use it because of its fishy smell. Caroline said: “It’s a really horrible smell as if she’s carrying around some smoked mackerel.
“Mum’s tried everything. She’s filled it with perfumed tissues and hung it out to air, but nothing works.”
Her mum felt uncomfortable about returning the whiffy accessory, so Caroline took it back to the store for her.
[See also: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is M&S best-seller]
Another review read: “I like the bag, but I don't think I can use it any more. When I removed the packaging the interior smelled like fish. I’ve tried air neutralisers and natural fragrances but even today in the office someone commented on the fishy smell in the air and I realised that it was my handbag.”
Others described a “very peculiar smell” and warned “would advise you not to buy if you haven’t the time to air it”.
It seems the double-handle tassel bag isn’t the only offending handbag that features the unusual smell.
[Relevant: This season's new handbag shapes] - On Style it Light
Customers have also complained of others that smell unpleasant inside. A review from one woman called RoopyE, said her Per Una clutch bag had a "fishy smell that won't go away" and a woman from Somerset was happy with her Crocodile skin shopper but complained: “The bag comes stuffed with paper which smells of fish! I have one and you can't smell it unless you put your head in it - thank goodness I don't do that very often!”
An M&S spokesman confirmed that some customers had returned the shoulder bag due to its smell.
But he insisted that it was a popular product with “extremely low rates of return” and that only a small fraction of consumers had asked for a refund.
Follow @YLifestyleUK on Twitter
20 party dresses from the high street £75 and under
