12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Craigs List Rant :) and Question....

by Mark Riddle
10 replies
Hey Warriors,

I seldom use craigslist and never really considered posting there for anything other than what I thought would be getting rid of junk.

Never needed to do that, but now I am looking to try to hire someone to do some face to face sales for me.

So I posted an ad, within 3 hours I was flagged.

So I went to the flagged forum and asked why, got several replies some good comments, but the basic message was hey its craigslist some people just want flag for the fun of it especially if you are going to be completion for them.

I waited 4 days (even though the TOS says with a deleted ad I could post again immediately) and I tried posting again different text and more descriptive of what I am looking for and what I am providing for the job.

I think nothing of it, posted last night, went to look for the ad today under sales help wanted, and its not there, and of course its shows up in my account panel.

So its been ghosted.

I think back to all the postings here of how to scam the craigslist system and thinking to myself.

Craigslist may have lost its usefulness for people who want to use it for what it was created for.

I notice several comments in the "flag forum" where there is no real reason the ads were flagged, or no real reason why the ads were ghosted.

And only a few posts where the items or the ad was in fact against posting policy.

This situation wont stop me from finding a sales person, there are too many other avenues to find them.

It would have been nice to be able to hire someone with craigslist, but it appears not worth the effort.

[/ rant ]

I'll consider the local metro newspaper and maybe some others as well.

When you are looking to hire part time sales people where do you find the best results ?

Mark Riddle
#craigs #list #question #rant
  • Profile picture of the author edlewis
    Mark,

    The system over there right now is a little "bass-ackwards". The Craigslist "pro's" know that they can eliminate competition by flagging LEGIT ads. They're almost all blackhat marketers, so they don't think twice about flagging a real ad just to help themselves.

    Those who post real ads are usually professionals and wouldn't think about going around flagging other SPAM ads or real ads, and don't have the time either. They just want their ads to bring them the real help they need.

    As it is right now Craigslist is basically throwing the baby out with the bathwater. While they seem to THINK it's successful because it's cutting down on SPAM, I feel it's actually only hurting Craigslist because they are killing real ads in the process and making it so DIFFICULT to post there that the only people who really have the time or energy to post there are those making money posting "professionally"....or if you prefer, spamming.

    If it continues to be so difficult for real people to post real ads, and real seekers keep getting bombarded with advertising messages, spam, and scams...well, people are eventually going to stop wasting their time and go elsewhere.

    (Just one man's opinion.)
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665244].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cougarstylie
    The problem with CL is you have people out there with software that will maliciously bring down your ads to clear a section they want to spam in.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665292].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author webpromotions
    Originally Posted by netmalls View Post

    Hey Warriors,

    I think back to all the postings here of how to scam the craigslist system and thinking to myself.

    Craigslist may have lost its usefulness for people who want to use it for what it was created for.

    Mark Riddle
    Amen. I wish more people would realize this.

    I tried to complain about all the 'help me game CL' threads but apparently never got enough support to do anything about them.

    Not sure whats worse...the fact that those threads don't get deleted, or the amount of people who actually reply and try to 'help'.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665495].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ehicks727
    Maybe the Tampa Craig's List market is just different from Kansas City, but I have posted job ads, and I have friends that is currently posting several tech positions, and having no problems at all.

    What category are you posting the position in? If your post sounds "network markety" I would imagine you're getting flagged. Otherwise, if it's just a standard job posting for a sales person, I don't know why you'd be getting flagged. Again, maybe it's just your market. I don't think all of CL is like that.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665878].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Craig Fenton
    Hi Mark:

    Sorry you have had trouble with Craig's List. There is another complaint that I have had way before people used marketing terms such as Black Hat.

    If you have an ice cream stand in Denver, I could see why Craig's List may not want you to post an advertisement in all 50 states but if you are selling a product that cuts through city lines such as a book, CD, or Internet course, what would be so terrible if they let you post the ad in sections from Atlanta to Youngstown?

    There should be nothing terrible about getting nationwide exposure for a legit service or product that offers a money back guarantee.

    Thanks and have a great weekend.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665884].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
      There isn't anything wrong with posting a legit service or product for nationwide exposure, that why USA Today and The Wall Street Journal and similar national and international publications and media channels are so effective.

      It doesn't make sense to me to choose a niche of dog grooming and sending the list messages about cat toys.

      Equally there is nothing wrong with posting affiliate links in a sig file, as long as it conforms with the media that you are choosing to use.

      However you do that here, not only does it show a disrespect of owners and the stake holders in the warrior forum, It also shows desperation.

      It also reinforces the belief that they system is against them, and the lack of belief in their skills and abilities to build a successful business.

      When you are well prepared and understand your subject, there is no need to cheat on the test.

      An essential truth to marketing is for your message to match the media you are using.

      For the media channel to be effective, the media channel creator must establish and focus on what they want to accomplish.

      I see nothing wrong with with matching my marketing to the media channel.

      Mark Riddle
      Signature
      Today isn't Yesterday, - Products are everywhere if your eyes are Tuned!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[666099].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mmurtha
    Hey Mark,

    It's funny that you should mention this.

    I know I posted an ad for an almost new MacBook Pro I have to sell in my area. The ad simply stated it's up for sale for $1500 and is loaded with the latest OX Leopard, Windows XP Pro, Parallels, and MS Office 2007 Pro - all with original varified licenses . It didn't take an hour before it was flagged, and deleted.

    I tried them about 3-4 years ago too where I got the same results, so this isn't anything that just came about. People over there are trigger happy.

    Was I a threat to them? No. Was someone worried about me competeing against them? Lol I can't figure out how.

    I'm like you, I might as well put it in the newspaper. I know one thing, I won't be posting on there again. It's sad to say, but it's not worth the time and energy for me.

    Btw, good luck with finding someone.


    Mary
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665927].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
      I could probably identify why your ad was flagged or ghosted.

      If you pay $50 to post to a major metro area like LA or NY
      the flagging losers can't do that stuff to you.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665965].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author tmursch
        I sold my truck a Craigslist a while back, but only after 6 days of constant flagging and having my listing deleted. Nothing inside the content of my post was worthy of being flagged and this was even concluded after pages of discussion about it on the "flag forum".

        I've also had similar experiences selling other stuff of mine or selling items for my parents. All it takes is a few scumbug craigslist trolls to click the flag button.

        So sadly, my humble opinion of CL is "F' Craigslist".


        If you want a more humorous take on Craigslist check out last week's SuperNews video: The Craigslist Genie // Current
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[666006].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Money on the Side
    The worst part is that some of the CL posting software will also automatically flag stuff for the owner, easily erasing competitor's stuff. I know two people who are making in excess of $150,000 a year advertising solely on craigslist and using their posting software to eliminate their competition.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665997].message }}

Trending Topics