Why Craigslist Rocks

I hate to contribute to the demise of print journalism, which Craigslist does not help to stop, but, after using Craigslist yet again to do business, I have to think that the notion of relying on a newspaper advertisement to sell or buy things is becoming as outdated as rabbit ears.

Yesterday, I made a post on the western Mass. Craiglist site, hoping that someone would trade their Aug. 29 James Taylor tickets at Tanglewood (a sold-out show) for Aug. 28 tickets (not sold out) , a show in which we would bought six extra lawn tickets. I was hopeful, but not counting on this actually happening. Today, someone responded saying that they would be happy to make the trade.

Here is a list of the things that I can remember selling and buying using Craigslist:

1. Sold my car last summer, asking price

2. Sold an old mtn bike a few summers back, asking price

3. Sold a pullup, dip exercise station last fall, asking price

4. Sold tons of baby stuff that my wife would know more about

5. Sold an old bookcase and couch that we no longer wanted

6. Bought JT tickets at Tanglewood

7. Bought baby stuff that my wife would know more about

I think that, unless newspapers switch to free advertising, many could be done. This is, after all, how many make their money. (Subscriptions are barely a part of their revenue, I once learned.)

Fortunately, newspapers are still a main source for Help Wanted, car, cellphone and furniture store advertisements. But if the recession truly becomes a depression, papers will literally earn no income.