Craigslist Similar to Wal-Mart?
In January 2006, Craigslist was compared to Wal-Mart, a huge corporation that some feel crush the market of local “Mom and Pop” stores. The argument was that Craigslist hurts companies that make revenue based on ads such as small local newspapers. Can this really be argued? Does Craigslist really have this type of impact? I personally do not believe so.
How often can you walk into a small breakfast joint early in the morning and you find the same individuals that likely sit in the exact same spot reading their newspaper? These are the people that keep newspapers in business. There are so many people around the nation that make reading the newspaper a hobby. Some may not even be familiar with the internet.
I think what the internet is good for is the ability to look up things outside of your local area. This is what Craigslist does. Many of the jobs posted on Craigslist are recruiting people out of their state to come work. Many of the jobs are online one-time gig projects such as website development.
One thing you can not argue is that Craigslist does drive prices down similar to Wal-mart. Where you may only find one or two bids locally for a website that you need for your new company, you can actually get hundreds of bids online from savvy entrepreneurs that grace Craigslist on a daily basis. Overall, Craigslist serves its purpose by providing those looking for help on a project or in need of a job a place to visit to find something that fits their needs.
