Craigslist is like a social network site - its users and brand name are its sole asset. The actual design of the site isn't ideal, but it's enough to keep the masses happy, and that's what matters. A single competent competitor could take it down (like facebook did to myspace), but it would require a compelling reason to use it, not just better design.
My main complaint about CL is the lack of user profiles. On ebay, I can (sort of) use the user profile and ratings to gauge risk. This is especially important on something like CL, where you actually meet face-to-face with a person, not just get a product shipped to your address. I have had some sketchy experiences on CL...
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Craigslist is like a social network site - its users and brand name are its sole asset. The actual design of the site isn't ideal, but it's enough to keep the masses happy, and that's what matters. A single competent competitor could take it down (like facebook did to myspace), but it would require a compelling reason to use it, not just better design.
My main complaint about CL is the lack of user profiles. On ebay, I can (sort of) use the user profile and ratings to gauge risk. This is especially important on something like CL, where you actually meet face-to-face with a person, not just get a product shipped to your address. I have had some sketchy experiences on CL...