The Inside Source: As an über eBay shopper and the writer of Sentimental Value, a blog featuring captivating seller stories culled from the eBay marketplace, you have a unique view of the eBay community. I’m thrilled to have to have the chance to pepper you with questions on behalf of The Inside Source! First, tell me a bit about your history with eBay. When did you start using the site? Why were you init ially drawn to it as a shopper?
Emily Spivack: I got into eBay around 2000. I liked that it was this new place where I could find the weird, vintage, or off-the-radar stuff I had been hunting down at garage sales and thrift stores for many years. [Editors’ note: eBay launched in 1995 and went public in 1998.] My first purchase was a pair of original Yeti boots with the soles lopped off. It’s pretty hilarious to think about now, but at the time, I was into leg warmers and furry boots—these seemed to be the best of both worlds.
TIS: What are some of your favorite items that you've purchased on eBay over the years?
ES: Actually, I happen to be wearing a pair of black leather boots that I bought on eBay a couple years ago. They were probably a couple of decades old when I got them, but I think they may have been deadstock because they were in amazing shape. I’ve already had them re-soled a few times, since I wear them constantly and I’m not willing to part with them.
TIS: What item do you have your eye on right now?
ES: For a while I’ve been on the hunt for a very specific Dansk peppermill (starting bid, $59.95) that my parents received as a wedding gift and I used when I was growing up and I just found it on eBay. The original one broke years ago, and I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic about it, so I’m looking for a replacement.
TIS: How would you describe your personal style?
ES: I’ve always felt that fashion isn’t about spending lots of money or time trying to create a certain look—that it should be a natural, instinctual, and individual process. I look for clothes that have interesting silhouettes, are well-constructed and are original. I have an appreciation for high fashion and am particularly fond of indie designers, but I’ll often pair new items with the vintage pieces that make up the majority of my wardrobe.
TIS: Tell us about Sentimental Value.
ES: Sentimental Value is a website I started in 2007. It’s an ongoing collection of stories about clothing I’ve culled from eBay posts.
When someone sells clothing or other personal items on eBay, she usually provides a basic set of information: a description of the item for sale, the size, the condition, etc. Sometimes, though, the person feels the need to say more—the provenance of the article of clothing, a story about wearing it, or the reason she’s giving it up. Maybe she thinks the story is essential to understanding the piece or makes the item more marketable. Or maybe it stems from boredom or a need for catharsis.
Whatever the reason, these stories offer an unusual window into a stranger’s life and the personalities behind the anonymity of eBay. To me, they seem worthy of pulling together and sharing.
TIS: What makes a story worthy of Sentimental Value? Which kinds of stories from Sentimental Value captivate you the most on a personal level?
ES: I hunt through eBay like anyone else, except that in addition to looking to buy, I look for stories. I notice descriptions that are historical, amusing, melancholy, or just plain weird—stories that offer a glimpse into the complicated relationship people have with their clothing and other personal effects.
TIS: What do you think it is about clothing, which is what the majority of Sentimental Value posts are about, that brings this out of people?
ES: Every item of clothing we wear has a story behind it—perhaps it was passed on to us by someone special, worn during a remarkable event, or is emblematic of a specific time in our life. Because of this, clothing is a powerful vehicle for storytelling.
TIS: Are you working on any other projects that touch on this theme?
I’ve been exploring the way that clothing functions from a variety of cultural, historical, and therapeutic perspectives over the last eight years. In addition to Sentimental Value, I’m currently working on book project about clothing and personal narrative.
Emily Spivack’s Five Favorite Posts from Sentimental Value
(Posts shown exactly as written by the original eBay seller.)
“I hate to let it go because it has great sentimental value; I was once levitated in it in a magic act.”
—posted September 21, 2008
“There is a funny story about this: the owner of the purse was with her husband stationed in Hong Kong, Thailand and other parts of Asia in the 1950s and into the early 1960s. At one time, there was a large python living under their house, and so they had someone come in to remove and dispose of it. They were asked if they wanted to use the snake skin for anything and my client said yes, she wanted some shoes and a handbag made for her. THIS is the bag! And the heels that match it I have listed separately (size 7.5).
“Although she wore the matching pumps a few times, she could never bring herself to ever use this purse, as she would feel bad thinking about that python under the house!”
—posted August 23, 2008
“I put together this costume myself. ^_^ I made it to wear to the 3rd movie opening. It was fun…I had finished putting it together like 3 months before the movie came out. And I wanted to test drive it. So I put it on and strolled the mall. Some ppl liked it. Some…. Not so much. Now remember this costume covers you from Head to toe. No skin showing. So of course ppl thought I might be there to rob places. No. Just for fun. Well Security wanted me to take off the mask to show my face. Being in a Skin tight suit….. Not gonna happen. ^_^’ So like 10 Security guys ended up Escorting me out of the mall. Scary but fun. Have a good bidding. And to the winner. Enjoy it. You will Love it.”
—posted June 14, 2009
“Today, I was out shopping at my local thrift store….I stopped to look at the ties - because they always catch my eye. I was busy looking at the ties and was kneeling down in front of the display, when suddenly I felt someone (or something) touching my back. I truly thought that it was a little child that had snuck up quietly behind me. That was what it felt like - a child reaching out to touch me as they steadied themself against me. I quickly turned around, because I hadn’t realized that there was anyone in the store near me. Guess what….I was alone. It was the strangest feeling. Had I just had an ‘encounter’? My heart was pounding and I was definitely ‘creeped-out.’ Then, I realized that the tie I was holding was this one - ST. MICHAEL. Was this a sign to buy this tie? Is St. Michael the patron saint of thrift stores and bargains?? I quickly grabbed my ties and made for the check-out. I asked the store employee if there had ever been any unusual happenings. She was not aware of anything but said ‘You know, this building has been here for years and years….you never know……’ YIKES!”
—posted October 21, 2009
“On my wedding day one of my wife’s bridesmaids (who decided she needed to work instead of attend her bachorlette party) two nights before and did not attend the rehearsal dinner bailed on us right as they were all getting ready as she had some “emergency” to attend to. (We still have not found of out what that was almost a month later) When she left, she also left us not only with the memory of a friend bailing on us, but also with an unworn bridesmaid dress that has been haning in our closet haunting us, and WE NEED TO GET RID OF IT!”
—posted September 17, 2009
Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director of The Inside Source.
very cool piece.
Great - really stunning subject. I will write about it as well!!