Thank you Tessagin. I know what you mean about that vinyl smell - I can't stand that smell! I couldn't use the standard cutting boards because of it. I had a cutting board in my garage for a year and could still smell it, and then I finally found one made of polypropylene (type 5 in the world of recyclables) that I could use. I'm not sure if this is the same smell or more of a burning smell (but not an electrical/ozone smell, which would make me think it was definitely defective). I think I'll take your advice and call the manufacturer.