Fast Talk

May 15, 2008

Q: Is there anything wrong with one company (eBay) buying a stake in another company (Craig’s List) and then starting a competing company (Kijiji)? | posted by Fast Company staff

10 Total

May 15, 2008 at 5:24pm

Ian Hilliard

Sounds a like a conflict of interest, depends on what they agreed with craigs list I suppose - could be a stategic partnership.

I'm sure they know what they are doing, theve been around for a while. It is an interesting move though.

May 15, 2008 at 9:26pm

Michael Krakovskiy

That's a pretty clear case of backstabbing

May 15, 2008 at 9:30pm

Jeff Eaton

It's a tough line to draw between hedging your bets and working to scuttle a competitor.

May 15, 2008 at 10:09pm

Peter Crittenden

It sounds like pure capitalism to me and I see nothing but good things come whenever you throw a little free market economics at something!

May 16, 2008 at 1:59am

mueen salati

to increase production and decrease labour prise.to increase pateince and decrease anger,to increase emotions and decrease selfishness,to increase honesty and decrease greedyness,to increase love and decrease hate..............

May 16, 2008 at 3:31am

Paul Maiorana

Considering the already strained relationship between these two companies, I don't think it's wrong or surprising.

May 16, 2008 at 9:25am

Joanna Robinson

Well it makes sense for there to be a competing website to evolve the concept to the next level. Kijiji is well designed and has a better interface. eBay is probably banking on the competitive principle that it will inspire Craigslist to be better and therefore eBay it will benefit from the success of both.

May 21, 2008 at 6:57pm

Shakiara Kitchen

There's nothing wrong here unless that stake in Craigslist gave Ebay access to proprietary information. Otherwise, starting Kijiji is fair market competition. And with a name like Kijiji started by Ebay which appears to be on the downside of innovation, does Craigslist really have to worry? No.

May 22, 2008 at 12:16am

Jay Tatum

On a global scale, the nature of all religions is to absorb all other religions into themselves and make it one be happy family. I guess that's one way to limit the competition. Call it what you like, but it would sound better as "Ka Ching!"

May 24, 2008 at 12:14pm

Patrick Hardy

Looks like they are expanding their customer base.

Sell Cadillacs to the luxury buyer, sell Chevrolets to the entry level and second car buyers and GMC trucks to the small business community.

Ebay is established and appeals to the over 30 crowd, Craigslist was started by and for college students and has broader appeal to the 20 somethings than Ebay.

They are targeting two different demographics with the same concept and getting a second shot at the cross-over users; no great mystery hear, just a valid marketing strategy.

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