Craigslist

Recently my friend Becca and I were discussing Craigslist.org - which according to wikipedia "is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements – with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, resumes, and discussion forums." Becca brought something up that I never though about, but I can't stop wondering, especially since I've spent the better part of a month combing through it: How does craigslist make money? No ads? You can post listings for free?

Well I go to google it, get to "How does"
and the first thing that popped up on the list was how does craigslist make money. Ok so we weren't alone.

Answer from an interesting Forbes.com article "Newspaper Killer":

By charging $25 for job postings in six of its largest U.S. markets and $75 for job listings in San Francisco and by assessing a $10 fee for brokered apartment listings in New York City, Buckmaster replied.

Period. End of story. All other listings in those markets are free, as are all listings in the more than 100 other markets the company serves in the U.S. and overseas.

Apparently the company isn't about maximizing profit, just providing the service the way the users want it.