Could craigslist be seeing it’s demise as a source for business advertising due to cheapskates? One never knows how long a site will stay in business, but more and more scams, spam and other unwanted elements have made their appearance on the popular site. Of course, because it’s free to advertise cheapskates have also seen craigslist as a haven for not only asking for cheap labor but also expecting it.
As a business owner, advertising on craigslist can be a money saver and it does result in calls which is always a good thing, but not when it’s someone expecting free service. It seems advertising on craigslist nowadays is a crap shoot. Sure, you can get some good customers from it who value your product or service but there’s also those who feel that your service is only valuable if it’s cheap.
It’s funny how some potential customers will base everything on price. I’ve gotten a few calls from potential customers that found my computer repair company’s ad on craigslist and the first words they ask is “how much?” Then after describing their problem, ask if the problem they’re having with their computer can be solved within an hour. It makes me wonder if these people, if they needed emergency surgery at the hospital would ask the surgeon to rush through the operation in order to save a dollar.
No doubt this economy has caused some people to be afraid of spending money for fear that they won’t have it later. People have lost their jobs but fail to realize that it isn’t the end. Starting a small business can certainly put an end to that problem of being unemployed. However, what about those who have the money but just don’t want to spend it and expect free service?
Craigslist is becoming more and more that mecca for people to ask that the service they want be free or cheap. The gigs section certainly has no shortage of people offering jobs for dirt cheap prices. Some offer minimum wage (or below) or the promise that if you do a good job then more work will be on the way. There have even been some people advertising that if you do work for them you’ll get a piece of whatever they collect from the customer. This usually could mean that you do the work and never get paid.
Craigslist, does have its good points like free advertising if you have something to sell, need someone for a small a job, or to simply post your junk for sale. However, there seems to be more (and calling it like I see it) tightwads and cheapskates who feel they’re entitled to get someone to do the work for free or at some low price made specifically for them. That can be unnerving to not only the potential employee but to the business they call as well.
If you want quality service from a professional then you need to pay for it. If you want free or cheap service then doing the work yourself is always an option. Just ask yourself if all the stress of not paying someone skilled enough to do the work was really worth it.