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What is Craigslist: Going Down the Web’s Dark Alley

By October 8, 2022Retail

What is Craigslist - AIO BotWhen a person decides to start making money online, they are faced with one predicament: how much money do you want to spend? Because, you see, the reality is that you have to spend money to make money. However, some people are just not willing to do that. And so, they turn to Craigslist. But, what is Craigslist offering that’s too sweet a deal to pass up? Let’s find out!

BUT WAIT…

Before we jump right into what is Craigslist and all the inner workings of this place, be warned! Craigslist is not a place for weak-hearted folks. This is legit like taking a stroll down a dark alley when the sun goes down. So, if that does not seem like your cup of tea, you may wanna pass on Craig.

However, that does not mean that your dreams of becoming a reseller on a budget should go out the window. There are, in fact, other options that you could (and should) try! If you’re serious about making money in the long run, all you need is the right knowledge. Click on the button below to join our FREE hub of retail knowledge. All the different and best ways to make money online in a safe and effective way!

WHAT IS CRAIGSLIST?

So, first, we’re going, to begin with, a simple answer to the question, what is Craigslist? Well, Craigslist is a website for viewing and posting local ads – like a gigantic public bulletin board! You can think of it like the “Classifieds” section in a newspaper.

But, what is Craigslist’s appeal? Well, Craigslist is FREE to use. This means there are absolutely no marketplace fees for posting or selling on it. This is the BIGGEST appeal to it since most marketplaces charge resellers anything from 8% to 25% or more – depending on the product! You can sell almost any type of product or service on Craigslist, including:

The list literally goes on and on!

However, in complete honesty, the deeper you go through our man Craig’s list, the weirder it gets. You see, although the platform does have Terms of Use, people don’t really listen that much. And that’s what gives it the shady aspect of it. Here’s some of the weird shit that people have previously listed for sale on Craigslist:

What is Craiglist’s Strangest Listing?

What is Craigslist- GFX - AIO Bot

  • Belly button lint
    Price: “muscle car, Harley, rifles gold coins work also or make cash offer, also interested in motorcycles”
  • A human soul
    Price: “household items and electronics, car or truck, gas mopeds, etc”
  • Dresser possessed by ex-girlfriend
    Price:  “about $150. That price is not negotiable unlike my ex in any bar on a Saturday Night”
  • Totally AWESOME Kimball Organ
    Price: “best offer or trade for a cute puppy. Come get it before this weekend and I’ll throw in a free high-five! Yeah, dude!”
  • Coffee Table of the Gods
    Price: “$7.83, four cans of Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli, and a framed photo of Betty White”

Also, that’s not even the worst of it. So, what is Craiglist hiding? Not only are there INFINITE humans with listings similar (and worse) than the ones above. But, you have to MEET WITH THEM IN PERSON to get the stuff. We’ll explain. Let’s get a bit more into their history and how the platform works!

Craigslist History

Craigslist Lamp - AIO BotSo, what is Craigslist’s history? Well, it was founded by a man called Craig (obviously!). In 1995, Craig Newmark founded the platform as a San Francisco-specific mailing list for classified ads. It quickie grew until it became the current platform with over 500 cities worldwide! 

The website is super simple – which loosely translates to excessively ugly. It legit looks like the classified section of a newspaper. All you have to do is choose a category or go off the search bar, and find what you want. After that, you check contact information, contact the seller, and come to an agreement.

Then, YOU MEET THE PERSON.

This literally sounds like the recipe for disaster. In this day and age, meeting a random stranger in person isn’t something a lot of people are up to. Especially if the entire thing is a sham, a fake, a phishing scheme, or worse … We use reshipping services for a reason! So, what is Craigslist doing to guarantee safety, security, and authenticity?

Nothing.

To be fair, our boy Craig does include a section on the website for avoiding scams and fraud attempts. But, that’s about as far as it goes. You can definitely report a listing and get it removed. However, we feel like, by the time you figure it out, it may be too late. Craigslist does NOT guarantee anything on its website. So, here’s what we advise:

  • Always bring a friend
  • Always meet in a super public place!
  • Never give out your personal information 
  • If sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Our best advice? Maybe just use an entirely different platform.