Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#221

Post by AussieWog93 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 10:49 PM UTC

NikolaNovak wrote: post #3

* I far, far, far prefer Craigslist interface to anything else in that space. It's clear and focused Its search engine too - I get things I search for in the area I search for. For me, Kijiji and Facebook marketplace are awful UI, awful distractions, and give me 10,000 "suggested" or "fuzzy searched" things in random order, suppressing things I'm actually looking for. And I've completely given up on eBay over last de…

I really, really like Facebook Marketplace's fuzzy searching.

Random people listing stuff on local classified sites don't always use the correct keywords, and it's in everyone's best interest for these listings to actually get a good amount of views.

I suspect this "fuzzier" algorithm accounts for the far lower amount of spam too. A search for "heat pump dryer" on Gumtree will return 25 listings in a row from the same shop in Oakleigh, whereas Facebook will show different products from different sellers (some businesses, but mostly randos) - not to mention the people selling their heat pump dryer without including those magical two words in the title.

It's uncanny how good this algorithm is at returning what the buyer is actually looking for.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#222

Post by defterGoose » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 10:52 PM UTC

amatecha wrote: post #89

CharlesW wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can you provide a concrete example? Sure. I spent a few weeks looking for an Xbox Series X, and I don't believe that I'm exaggerating when I say that 90%+ of the listings were scams. For about half of those, the scammers just weren't very good, and automated or semi-automated checks should've flagged those listings before anyone saw them. The other half were various scams documented in thousands of articles by a co…

Yeah, for a while I would flag any listing I felt violated the ToS. but I started to notice that THE SAME LISTING would come up shortly (if any action was taken on the initial listing to begin with). I'm not going to bother wasting my energy trying to flag listings when CL isn't doing their part to _learn_ and improve their detection of blatantly-obvious fraud or ToS violations. I mean I'm talking like blatant keywor…

Cars: just filter by only "cars and trucks" and "owner". Bingo bango.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#223

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 10:58 PM UTC

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #27

xahrepap wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A local media company runs a "classifieds" on their online site. It dominates locally. Craigslist has been worthless for ages here because of it. However, Facebook Marketplace seems to be slowly gaining traction. Which I hate for all the reasons you mention. I dread the day it takes over :(

I'm curious where you live. After all, craigslist famously decimated classified advertising in the US, primarily because classified ads in newspapers are hella expensive, and craigslist is usually free.

[deleted]

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#224

Post by jerrybender » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 10:58 PM UTC

ihsoj wrote: post #51

We need more sites like HN and Craigslist. primarily text based but fully functional. And most importantly no ads.

HN has ads

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#225

Post by alanwreath » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 10:59 PM UTC

I used to blame eBay for the lack of updates to Craigslist - but it seems that Craigslist is now back in the hands of the original creator…so the reason is probably that he’s got his and is doing something else while it runs on fumes.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#226

Post by atlasunshrugged » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 11:01 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #177

atlasunshrugged wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was right there too but all the rental apartments are via FB marketplace now to the point I literally could not find a place without getting back on it (DC). Absolutely pain, I miss craigslist

DC doesn't have property management places you can contact directly? The ones around here are happy to help you find units for rent.

Probably but I can't say I love more intermediaries in transactions. I went direct to many apartment complexes but if you want to find a furnished place that's not outrageous you have to go to people leaving and looking for someone to take over a lease and apartment complexes don't seem to care to facilitate that.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#227

Post by jrnichols » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 11:02 PM UTC

acchow wrote: post #151

defterGoose wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CL is still alive and well here in LA. It's possible it's just in the markets I'm looking in (tools, machinery, cars, etc), but I've always preferred it over things like FB, OfferUp etc. I feel like the people I meet from CL are generally much more knowledgeable about what they have and its value. Other platforms often feel like a relative selling grandpa's stuff and have done the bare minimum of research to find a p…

Try to find a used computer or phone or really any other electronic. FB Marketplace has 5x the inventory.

it seems to, but sometimes getting the seller to ever reply is a herculean feat. people regularly fail to remove items they've sold, or they literally just never ever reply.

hard to tell if it really has that much more to choose from.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#228

Post by jrnichols » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 11:05 PM UTC

pavon wrote: post #153

spookthesunset wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dunno why the downvotes when this is something I experience too.

Yeah. All of my posts have some flake that is stringing me on but can't set a time to meet. Nearly a quarter of scheduled meets end in no shows. One was after I drove 30 miles to meet someone halfway. I won't meet more than 5 minutes out of my way after that - you want the item you can come get it.

my last craigslist experiences were similar, they either flaked or they showed up with less cash and said "how about a discount" even after the price was said to be firm.

I've said "nope" and walked away from cash sales that try that nonsense. and the whole experience soured me on Craigslist for quite a while.

also, around here there are a ton of small businesses that basically flood the listings with whatever they can. it's not even a person selling the stuff, it's a storefront.

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#229

Post by thelock85 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 11:09 PM UTC

chiefalchemist wrote: post #191

egberts1 wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just so you know, fourth estate was originally by lawyers, and not printers.

Originally? Good to know. Thanks. But also not relevant in the context of the now. "The term Fourth Estate or fourth power refers to the press and news media both in explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues.[1]" My point is, we have "journalists" whining about "the democracy" and those same "journalists" aren't aware how badly their profession has already failed said institution /…

Can’t believe I’m defending journalist but this analogy is only partially accurate imho.

People consume press and news media on their own volition, and even more less-vetted but newsworthy information through social media. Journalists are gassing what consumers respond to.

I believe what’s happened is that in the past, local news consumers were aware of their own “fire” (crime, civics, politics) and now in a connected world it feels like their standing amongst a great massive fire, but really they just have visibility into all of the little fires (or consternation that their local fire doesn’t seem important to anyone).

Re: Why Craigslist still looks the same after 25 years

#230

Post by O__________O » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 11:17 PM UTC

jstarfish wrote: post #208

O__________O wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically financial identity theft and fraud combined with breaking and entering — there’s no need to makeup new names for simple combinations of crimes. Long list for crimes people commit using Craigslist. Another similar one is for an attacker to post saying your moving of the country, out of town, already removed everything you’re not taking, but asked neighbor to leave the door open and anything in house is free…

Interesting. Haven't seen that one, but it's reminiscent of the "revenge" personals where you solicit randos to randomly drop in on your [ex] to fulfill their supposed rape fantasy. > no need to makeup new names for simple combinations of crimes Fraud schemes are sophisticated and the better ones are not easily understood (by victims, investigators and jurors alike). It may be unnecessary/unconventional but I find it…

If you really believe calling something 419 scam, Nigerian prince scam, or advance-fee scam will help reduce crime, have bag of money with your name on it just waiting for you to tell me where to send it.

Literally had a friend once ask me how to wire money, asked why, they made me promise not to tell anyone, and then showed me scammer email. I told them I would show them how and got lucky and within few clicks tracked scammer down to a cafe in Nigeria. Told scammer I would leave them alone if they told my friend the truth and they did. Friend got mad at me told me I chased they away, and found out a week later they wired the scammer money.

Yes, some scams are complex, but are not. Highly doubt telling people not to get catfished never helped anyone. If the advice of beware of something that sounds to good to be true do not help someone, giving it a fancy name for sure will not.