Craigslist was one of the first websites to offer free classified ads as well as social forums on a range of topics, including personals, homes, jobs and gigs. Craigslist was founded in 1995 by Craig Newmark. There is no charge to post listings in most sections of Craigslist.
Craigslist competes directly with other classified employment websites such as Monster.com and Jobs.com. It also competes with eBay, as a variety of used and new items are sold on both of these sites.
Craigslist Controversies
Craiglist has had its share of controversy since it's inception in 1995. For one the web site has been accused of helping landlords participates in discriminatory selection of tenets.San Francisco Chronicle: Craigslist sued over some ads (February 8, 2006) Several criminal charges have placed because of users activities on Craigslist, mostly related to prostitution activities. The service has also been used by identity thieves to steal the personal information of unsuspecting users.STL Today: Craigslist has its fans; critics warn of scams (April 30, 2008)
The CEO of Craigslist denied advertising sex on the website in an e-mail to The Boston Globe. Jim Buckmaster stated that "[he] would not describe any section of [the] site as 'sex related." Although the site does have an erotic service section, Buckmaster stated that any offer in exchange for money is quickly taken down.NYPost: DEFENDS SITE, SAYS IT OFFERS 'NO SEX' (April 23, 2009)
Lawsuit
Craigslist has been sued several times. In March 2009, a sheriff in Illinois sued the Web site, claiming that it allows ads that openly advertise prostitution and that the owners of the site know that the Web site is used for illegal purposes but don't attempt to stop it.KESQ: Cook County sheriff suing Craigslist for sex ads (March 5, 2009) The sheriff's office have made several arrests of people accused of using Craigslist to advertise prostitution. Chicago Breaking News: Sheriff's lawsuit says Craigslist 'largest source' of prostitution (March 5, 2009)
Features of Craigslist
Craigslist features classified ads and community forums for all 50 states in the U.S., and has sections for major cities such as New York and Los Angeles, as well as some moderately-sized cities such as Yuma, Arizona and Bakersfield, California. The site is also used internationally, with sections for over 5 countries from Portugal to India.http://losangeles.craigslist.org/
Ads posted on Craigslist include large and small items for sale, personal ads, services such as labor and various lessons, jobs, gigs, housing (swaps, rental and real estate sales) and more. The community section has lost and found, volunteer opportunities, event postings and more. Craigslist also features a "missed connection" section, where users can try to find that special someone who brushed up against them in the produce section and then disappeared forever.http://losangeles.craigslist.org/
Man Avoids Craigslist Scam
This video clip features a news segment about a man in Pittsburgh who narrowly avoided becoming the victim of a Craigslist scam. He was selling a boat online, and was happy to receive a bid after only 2 days. He was mailed a check for 2,000 dollars over the cost of the boat, and was instructed to send the remaining amount to the "shipper." Luckily, his brother recognized this as a scam -- the check was a fake.
Craiglist Competitors
References
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There are 500 Craigslist sites such as sites for cities, countries and statesOfficial Site: Craigslist
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Over 50 Craigslist sites in different countriesOfficial Site: Craigslist
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eBay owns about 25% of CraigslistOfficial Site: Craigslist
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Craigslist expects record revenue: $100 million
