Trawling page after page on eBay can be overwhelming, and the thrill of the hunt often fizzles after logging countless eye-numbing hours. Personally, I never tire; I'm the sort of person who likes to rummage through the $1 bin and reach into jacket pockets in thrift shops, hoping to unearth some sort of treasure. (I once found a ball of lint that resembled Elvis.) But for those of you who wouldn't mind a little direction, check out Refinery29's eBay blog. Every day they post a great eBay score -- anything from vintage clothing and books to folk art and bicycles -- that can be yours if the bidding is right. I recently chatted with the site's editorial director, Christene Barberich, for whom the blog is a pet project (and something of an obsession).
Q: What compelled you to start an eBay blog?
A: It was a collective idea, since I share the thrifting affliction with our style director, Piera Gelardi. It just seemed like a fun concept that no one had explored yet.
Scandinavian print fabric
Q: Does the 'one for the blog, two for me' principle of shopping come into play while you scour the site?
A: Unfortunately, yes. I make a very concerted effort not to bid on everything that wows me, but occasionally I do give in. My latest splurges (all rather conservative, since they cost well under $75) have been an extremely eccentric pair of oversized black Cerruti eyeglass frames and an enormous oil painting of a couple that I believe is some sort of amateur homage to Alex Katz.
Dansk pot
Q: Any search tips that you're willing to share?
A: I have a few secrets, but no, I'm not willing to share...sorry! I will say this: Be willing to dig -- in whatever sense that's possible on the Internet.
Q: What do you look for in objects that you blog about?
A: I have a particular soft spot for the descriptions sellers attach to them. Some of my favorite picks have included extremely hilarious background info. I tend not to go for the super-obvious bidder searches, especially when it comes to vintage clothes, but I guess I just know something is special when I see it. When I discovered a complete set of hand-painted block people (which included "a circus guy," according to the seller) I couldn't believe my luck.
Beloved block people
Q: What's your favorite eBay score?
A: That's so hard. Probably something simple, like my used copy of the Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion or these black knee-high Aquascutum boots I just won. I only hope they're just as amazing as they looked in the pics.
What a great blog! (This one and the ebay blog.) It's like a "best of" show for ebay stuff. Thanks for the recommendation, Blueprint!
Posted by: Mischa | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 09:58 PM
will we see the picture now displayed in the Ford Presidential Library --- the picture of Hillary as a patronage page for the Wisconsin senator back in the days she was a republican senator intern no I think we have to go to grand rapids for that one! for viewing that is
will Martha give the other presidential wives equal time on her show??
Posted by: kathleen | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 03:30 AM