all the cases smell as far as I've heard. I read here the other day it may stem from the bottom cover where oil has pooled over the years.
I set my case out in the hot sun, lid open, for 4 days I think it was. I followed the sun around the house like a chicken after a grasshopper
I hope you love and use it!
And the value of something is what you were willing to pay for it. So you did just right.