Posted by ScottBlogs | Posted in general | Posted on 28-04-2009
Tags: advertising, business, polls
My wife and I just recently bought a house and lately have been buying and selling quite a bit using Craigslist. I have to say, that I am very surprised at how quickly you can sell stuff there, we have had a great response from our posts, and are selling stuff rather quickly. Gotta love Craigslist!
One of the categories we check out frequently is the “housewares” category. Recently someone posted an ad essentially complaining about a particular retail store posting listings for new commercial products, and I thought I would use this as some inspiration for something to write about. First, this is the location/category in question: http://comoxvalley.en.craigslist.ca/hsh/
First, My opinion:
I have to agree with a few of the posters that commercial advertisments are a bit anoying here, and they should not be permitted. My reasons for this opinion is simple. I agree with the first poster, and believe that if commercial retailers start using Craigslist excessively, as this one particular business has been doing, then before long all commercial businesses will be doing the same thing, and this will drown out all of those who are trying to sell their used products.
I happened to notice the particular business posting quite a few items, but as I was looking only for used appliances, I simply ignored them.
As of my writing of this post, 4 people in total had responded to this issue. Here are their comments in the order they were posted.
Is anyone else sick of Central Builders in Courtenay SPAMMING Craigslist with their inventory? This should not be permitted, at this rate all commercial retail outlets will eventually be posting here for Free advertising, littering the place with crap.
I went to Central Builders as I was looking for a fridge/stove, and their deals aren’t nearly as good as their Craigslist ad states, and there selection is terrible.
I am boy-cotting them until these posts stop.
Not sure what the problem was. I recently went to the business in question and found their selection quite good. And the prices that attracted me were quite clearly listed in the ads. Make your own decision.
A VERY satisfied customer.
I agree that there Craigslist ads are SPAM. This is not a place for commercial retail advertisement. Their selection & price is irrelevant, they should not be spamming here, its not the place. This is a place for individuals to buy and sell their used products, not brand new retail. I chalk their ads in craigslist up there with the mass spam email I get for Nigerian money scams and penis products.
I think you should check some of the other categories, like materials for instance. You will find plenty of commercial resellers there. If you had a bad experience, it probably should not be posted here.
So have your say with this new poll:
Loading ...Update:
Here is a Fifth Post:
How can the commercial resellers be listed as spam? It’s not sent to your e-mail and you are not forced to look at it. You sound disgruntled and need an outlet for your words I guess.
I agree, that it could be classified as SPAM. Technically SPAM does not have to be limited to email, but can also be any “internet clutter”. Just like some websites who create dozens of “doorway” pages with near identical content to promote their website. According to abuse.net, Spam is:
“Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising.<continue reading their definition>.”
Here is the Craigs list definition of spam on it’s site. Regardless of the net defintion mentioned in the last comment, this would seem to be the one that counts.
“Email communication, though integral to the functioning of craigslist, leaves us open to spammers, scammers, and worms.
We devote a LOT of time and energy to combatting these evils, but it’s a never-ending battle.
If you’re seeing a new outbreak, please let us know at spam@craigslist.org. If you have ideas on how we can do a better job, please drop by our feedback forum.
Here are some recent examples:
Nigerian Financial Scam (6/19): someone harvested email addresses from craigslist postings, and sent a poorly written financial con/scam to them. We’re now working with the people at the email reply-to address to identify the scammers. (This may or may not bear fruit.)
Klez worm (ongoing since early 2002): Microsoft Outlook worm/virus that confusingly spoofs the “from” address. We’ve set up our email servers to prevent virus/worm email relaying. As always, be wary of unknown attachments, and if you are a Windows user, keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.
Professional email harvesters and spammers (ongoing): These creeps make a living harvesting and selling email addresses off the internet, including craigslist. We contact them and ask them to stop, then send cease-and-desist letters (may start publishing these on the site), and may end up taking them to court if they persist.
Commercial website spammers (intermittent): generally they take email addresses from craigslist postings, then send “we’re better than craigslist, why don’t you use us instead” messages. Craig generally calls these people and shames them into stopping. We’ve tuned our email relay system to block spammers who attempt to broadcast a message to lots of our anonymized posting addresses.”
I don’t mind them posting, just not so damn many
Personally, I hate the Central Builders posts. Yes, I can bypass them, but I find them extremely annoying and don’t think it’s the right place for them. DON’T THESE STORES HAVE FLYERS!? Ahh well, I guess they’re not nicknamed Central Bandits for nothing!
Craigslist and news again. Kind of amazing just what people do and see on Craigslist that makes posts like these. Never thought one site could be so popular.
Personally, you people must have extremely boring lives if all you want to do is scour these sites that you’re not even being forced to look at (it’s not coming to your e-mail) just to whine about someone posting a commercial product. Hate to tell you this, but the retailers that show up on the list often offer better deals new than you do used. I have personally gone to retailers from the list and have found what otherwise I would not.
Austin, Think about this.
If all commercial businesses started posting ads for their merchandise on Craigslist, it would not be long before the entire site would be one giant commercial warehouse.
Sure, some of the new items posted may be better deals than some of the used, but that doesn’t make it right, it just makes those over-charging for their old stuff wrong, and unlikely to sell. At least those over-charging for their used stuff are being ethical.
Have you seen eBay lately? Try searching for something, anything. The vast majority of listings are now from users selling from their eBay stores – its just stupid. You used to be able to go find something used from an individual, now its almost all new from mass dealers. Its a joke.
In the future Craigslist will also become a joke if businesses are allowed to keep posting free ads.
Look at yesterday. Central Builders posted an ad for their bamboo flooring. The exact same ad they posted only 2 days prior, and again, a few days before that. That is SPAM at its purest definition.
I don’t know about all the other commenters etc, but for me, I have nothing against Central Builders, but their miss-use of Craigslist does certainly annoy me. If it is allowed to continue it wont be long before home depot, walmart, superstore, canadian tire, sears, zellers, the bay, target, macys, and all the other big-box stores follow suit for some free advertising.
Is that really what you want? Would you keep using Craigslist if it were only ads from commercial stores? I wouldnt.
Maybe I should start up DavesList, and ban commercial ads. Ya – I think I’ll do that.
Wow, Look at the comment action.
I am hesitant to post a comment to my own blog, but wanted to say thanks to those voicing their opinions. While I don’t agree with all of them, I think its great to get the full range of opinions out there. Here are my thoughts thus far:
Mark: Spam is not limited to email, Spam by definition is essentially flooding the internet with multiple copies of the same message, unwanted messages, etc. That said, you are partially right by citing the Craigslist definition. Now, when it comes to filtering out “spam” posts, these commercial ads are likely not considered to be miss-use by Craiglist – hence they remain online. That said, just because Craigslist allows it, it does not make it good for their users, as if users are annoyed, they will stop using the site. Perhaps Craigslist needs to reconsider their rules?
Joel: I for the most part agree with you. If they didn’t post so many ads, nobody would really care. Its the numbers that I think bug most of the people that are bothered by this.
KM: I agree, I also feel this is not the right place for their ads, and yes, they are easy to by-pass. They do have fliers, but I think they could definitely use a website, surprised they don’t have one (and the corporate Home Hardware site kinda sucks) (Interestingly enough, while looking to see if I Could find their site, I found that they are posting ads on another local classified site: http://www.usedcourtenaycomox.com/classified-ad/8695501)
Austin: I am not sure that anyone is really whining – well, perhaps some are, but more discussing this. Yes, some retailers may have better deals, but its apples & oranges. If I am looking for a used anything, then I don’t really want to see ads for something new. It’s almost like if I went to a car dealership and wanted to buy a 2000 Mazda, then the salesman throws a 2009 in my face. It’s just not what I’m there to see. (not the best analogy I know). I think the whole thing comes down to principle. This single miss-use is trivial, who cares really. But if it keeps going on, the miss-use from others will grow, until it becomes common place.
Scott: What YOU should think about is that you and others are trying to dictate the terms of a site that has clearly marked rules that don’t seem to have been compromised. Dave: Perhaps you SHOULD start your own site. After all that is your perogative. What it boils down to is, if you don’t like what you are seeing, then don’t look at it. I firmly believe in a free society where choice (within the bounds of legality)is
a wonderful privilege.
Austin: There is no reason to be snappy. This is a friendly conversation. Nowhere did I, or anyone, say anything about rules being broken. Its not about rules and laws. Its about what is sensible.
Let’s say tomorrow, as Dave said, walmart, canadian tire, and all the retail outlets flooded craigslist with ad posts – would you be happy about this? Would you spend the time to filter them all out? Perhaps you would. Perhaps you would say “this is wonderful, I am so happy to see all these extra advertisments, thank god for free speach”. Out of 25 people so far who have voted in my poll, only 1 person has voted “yes”, that commercial ads should be permitted – I suspect that “yes” came from you.
Dave: I agree with Austin, Start your own site, I’ll come and use it.
Its not a question about what the rules permit, but about what is sensible, and to me, and at least some people who have commented here, posting free ads for new merchandise on a used, non-retail platform, does not seem sensible.
Actually, I voted for the seperate commercial section.
Oh good
Sorry boys, it called evolution. Things grow and change as the market decides. Look at ebay, it used to be a nice simple auction site, now it seems that 50% of its listings are from retailers with “buy it now” pricing with no option to bid on the items. This site will evolve in the same way. If you want changes, perhaps you should talk to the site operators. It must be a good system for Central Builders, lots of people must take advantage of their ads otherwise I am sure they would not waste their time posting them.
Hi Bob (Is that your real name? I only ask, cause when I want to be anonymous, I always call myself “Bob”
)
You are absolutely right, it is totally evolution. I agree 100% re eBay (I think Dave mentioned that too…). The whole “buy it now” thing on eBay is so frustrating, I definitely prefer the way eBay used to be.
I do not doubt that it is working for Central Builders, I agree with you there. I also agree that things evolve, but often, not for the better.
If Craigslist does evolve to be a commercial advertising platform, then someone will come along and take its place with the free non-commercial ads. Maybe I should follow Dave’s idea and create my own list too. “ScottBlogsList” and see what happens… sounds like a lot of work… maybe I will leave it to Dave.
“Evolution.” worrrrd.
i say flag them like they do in the states
Funny. You say “flag them” but the posts dissing them are also breaking the rules by “discussing other posts” look it up under flagging. Maybe I should flag those?