Craigs List question

[Rick Potter]

How does CL make their money? I don't see any ads.

Maybe by selling my looking habits to some list?

[Rich Harkrader]

They charge employers for posting job listings. They may charge others, but I know they charge for job listings.

[Myk Rian]

Also funded by Ebay. 25% owner.

[Matt Day]

Ads for cars and trucks for sale cost $5 to post as well.

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

Ads for cars and trucks for sale cost $5 to post as well.

This may be for dealerships, but by-owner vehicle sales & vehicle part sales are free.

[Matt Day]

Thanks for the clarification Mike. I've never sold a car on CL but I noticed the fee note when posting an ad one day.

[Brian Elfert]

Craigslist charges $75 for job postings in San Francisco, $25 for job postings in six other markets, and $10 for a broker to post an apartment in New York City. I see they are now charging for $5 for dealers to post car ads and for dealers to post tickets for sale.

The company has supposedly never made a profit and just breaks even. They must be doing okay as they currently have a number of job openings in San Francisco. They offer a list of benefits that rivals what Google offers.

[Rick Potter]

Thanks guys,

Very interesting.

[Steve Peterson]

Didn't they also start charging fees for personal adds? This would make sense, since supposedly most of them involve some type of money exchange.

If Ebay is a partial owner, then why has it not been completely commercialized?

I do remember the original "Craig's List" back in the early 90s. It was just an email listing of concerts in the SF bay area.

Steve

[Brian Elfert]

I don't see any charges for personal ads. They did starting charging for "adult services" ads in 2010, but not long afterward they stopped doing "adult services" ads altogether.

[Wade Lippman]

I have twice gotten invoices for $0 after listing something. That suggests they are at least thinking about charging. I hope not!

[Terry Wawro]

It is my understanding (could be right, could be wrong) that the original "Craig" wants it to stay as free a service as possible. Ebay just purchased a part of it so they could make sure it would never become a big competitor.

A "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer" type of thing.