Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers - Consumerist Comments

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

coraspartan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:08:37 EDT

I ♥ craigslist!

It has seriously changed my life. I can go to CL and find pretty much anything I want--a job, a house, a car, people to talk to--and it's all FREE!!! What a concept.

coraspartan

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Gann — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:38:27 EDT

@pc-vip: So I guess what they've been doing since their inception is not 'growing' in your opinion? Spoken like a true bureaucrat. Craig's list has been extremely successful for the same reason the google has been. It provides a simple service, provides it well and that's it. No, you cannot talk face to face with someone at CL, but they do actually respond to their user's needs, which is a step above and "customer service" system I have ever dealt with. I'm glad they don't have "customer service" so my problem can get lost in a maze of paperwork and frustration. That's just my opinion, but I'm no VIP so I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

Gann

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

RandomHookup — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:16:59 EDT

@Ninjastorm66: Interesting info. I'm not surprised, but how was Craig paying for things when it took off in SF? I know he started charging for jobs, I'm just wondering what he would have done if they said "NO".

RandomHookup

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

sgodun — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:28:02 EDT

"Craigslist" and "pleasing customers"? Sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little.

If Craigslist is at all interested in pleasing customers, they'd PROACTIVELY get rid of all the fuckin' spammers, scammers, drug dealers, prostitutes, and thieves that populate CL by the thousands each and every day.

sgodun

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

The Count of Monte Fisto — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:51:36 EDT

@pc-vip: Hey Yablon, how about Yablow me?

Craigslist does have a major advantage over a lot of companies in that it has very little overhead as far as inventory, etc.

The Count of Monte Fisto

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

pc-vip — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:15:47 EDT

Here's the thing: What Jim is saying makes PERFECT sense. Ever try to reach anyone at CL when you have a problem, though? Not possible. E-mail only, and they don't respond, period.

So yes, customer service IS what makes a business grow. AND Craigslist doesn't do it.

Jeff Yablon
President& CEO
Virtual VIP

pc-vip

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

bjarmson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:01:19 EDT

@econobiker: Yeah, but it only makes them want to start a legal suit.

bjarmson

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

econobiker — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:38:12 EDT

Ebay, is anyone there or Pierre listening?

econobiker

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

typetive — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:41:41 EDT

Hmm, "be excellent to each other."

[www.imdb.com]

typetive

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

spinachdip — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:45:53 EDT

@Ninjastorm66: That turned out to be a win-win for everyone. Charging a small fee tends to be a decent bozo filter, while legit placement firms and apartment brokers don't mind since their commissions more than pay for the ads.

spinachdip

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

LikeYourFace — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:34:05 EDT

@TechnoDestructo: Google fanboy. Stop drinking the kool-aid.

LikeYourFace

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

TechnoDestructo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:17:20 EDT

I wouldn't mind seeing ads on Craigslist...or anywhere...if the alleged targeted ad revolution had ever actually happened. If I saw ads for things I might ever conceivably want. The technology may exist to match me with appropriate ads, but I don't think the ads exist.

TechnoDestructo

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Ninjastorm66 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:32:42 EDT

@RandomHookup: Actually, yes, they did.

They asked for it because in the big cities the job postings were becoming flooded with hiring agencies and whatnot, instead of actual employers. It was becoming impossible to find a job posting that directed you to the actual company that was hiring. There was also lots of scamming (On Craigslist... Imagine that)

So the users butted the scamming/spamming agencies out by making them pay for ads.

Granted it was probably Craiglist's idea, but they made a forum devoted to it and decided after months of debate to charge a fee. (This is the Chicago experience at least)

Ninjastorm66

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

mbprice — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:32:02 EDT

@Trai_Dep: You know, you laugh, but unicorns and buttercup-frolicking puppies are a freaking goldmine right now.

mbprice

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Trai_Dep — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:17:46 EDT

@RickinStHelen: Unicorns and puppies frolicking in fields of buttercups.
And they charge for real estate ads and for posting Help Wanted ads in the larger cities.

Trai_Dep

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Pylon83 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:13:11 EDT

@RickinStHelen:
They charge for certain ads, such as employment in certain cities, apartment listing in certain cites.

Pylon83

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

RandomHookup — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:10:10 EDT

So, the readers asked Craigslist to start charging my company for job posts? I demand a recount!

RandomHookup

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Trai_Dep — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:08:21 EDT

Shh.
Laserjob's a bit sensitive on the subject because Craig rejects him. Repeatedly, publicly, and as of late, with an accompanying restraining order, in the M4M forums.

I like Craig's because it's the antithesis of flash and Web 2.0-edness, simply delivering a valued product in a cunningly subsidized fashion. And listening to customers.

Trai_Dep

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

RickinStHelen — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:59:56 EDT

I may be naive, but how do they make money?

RickinStHelen

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

GenXCub — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:59:51 EDT

I remember when moving to Vegas in 2001, after San Francisco and really missing craigslist. I offered to create the Las Vegas site for them, I wanted one so bad. Thankfully they said they'd make one for Vegas at that point.

GenXCub

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

Munsoned — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:59:37 EDT

I heard this on the radio last night. The CEO said they're up to 10 billion page hits a month (I think), yet only have 25 employees.

Munsoned

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

SkokieGuy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:51:28 EDT

@laserjobs: Spend a lot of time there reading the posts?

SkokieGuy

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

b612markt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:48:17 EDT

@laserjobs: How classy. Thank you for your adding your eloquent insights to these comments.

b612markt

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

b612markt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:46:05 EDT

@laserjobs: How classy. Thanks for bringing your eloquent insights to the comments.

b612markt

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

laserjobs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:42:26 EDT

Now lets hear what Craig Newmark has to say. Actually don't bother, you can read all Craigs posts under various aliases in the Man to Man forum.

laserjobs

Craigslist CEO: Be Successful In Business By Pleasing Customers

BlazerUnit — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:41:57 EDT

Paying close attention to actual users instead of consultants? Who does Craigslist think it is?

BlazerUnit