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WSJ on CraigsList and Zen of Classified Ads

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the less-is-more dept.

prostoalex writes "Wall Street Journal profiles one of the Valley's most mysterious and secretive Web companies. A leader in online classifieds space and by some measures one of Web's top sites, CraigsList is ostensibly anti-ad and anti-self-promotion. From the article: "One industry analyst has estimated that Craigslist could generate 20 times that $25 million just by posting a couple of ads on each of its pages. If the estimate is to be believed, that's half a billion dollars a year being left on the table. What kind of company turns up its nose at $500 million?""

10 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Unheard of... by loteck · · Score: 5, Funny
    What kind of company turns up its nose at $500 million?

    Perhaps, one that has decided that it doesn't need $500 million?

    I know, it hurts my brain too.

  2. Timescope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's like looking back in time, back to the middle ages when only the aristocracy had ad blockers on their computers.

  3. The mind boggles by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 4, Funny

    An analyst claiming that an advertising site could make more money...by advertising. There's some sort of feedback loop here I just can't wrap my mind around.

    --
    I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
  4. Re:Business Ethics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Better yet, she should tell her husband that she's not going to "leave thousands of dollars on the table" so she's going to divorce his sorry ass and take half his stuff.

  5. Re:Not even close by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wouldn't this be a horizontally stimulated market?

    Sorry, couldn't resist.

  6. Re:Business Ethics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hell, never mind his wife, this guy himself is "leaving thousands of dollars on the table" by not becoming a part time male prostitute.

    Oh, nevermind. He is a "journalist". Same thing, different name.

  7. Re:No need for ads, just hire more people... by Yardboy · · Score: 2, Funny
    Man it's times like this I really wish the W3C would get to work on the <srcsm></srcsm> tag.
    --
    drink beer, and let the water run the mill
  8. Re:Business Ethics by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you just reminded me why MAD uses pictures to convey its humor.

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
  9. Re:...Costco? by deathy_epl+ccs · · Score: 2, Funny

    Plus, I can buy a 5 gallon bucket of pickels without feeling guilty, and damnit, that's the way it should be.

    Pregnant much? ;-)

  10. Re:I Had No Idea by pjt33 · · Score: 2, Funny
    In the evenings, in my town, there's an ad a minute posted in "Services, Erotic" for escorts and call-girls -- most of them legitimate (or, as legitimate as a hooker can be). ...great place to find someone giving away a washer and dryer though.
    I don't want to know why people are giving away white goods in "Services, Erotic".