Hand working on a computer analyzing the graphic of successful trend of the business.
Site helps people sell everything they can think of.
A phone call at 11 o’clock at night. I reach across the dark and rest the phone between my pillow and ear.
“Katie,” whispers my mother’s voice, with the evening news in the background. “Your aunt and the kids have been looking on Kijiji for puppies and found an ad for one in Moncton. . .she’s adorable.” A pause breaks while the reporter on the broadcast takes over the conversation. She then drops the request.
“Would you go look at the puppies and see if they come from a good home?” The prerequisite list of puppy necessities grows from just a good home to include their play behaviour, shedding routine, clipping, etc . . .as the approaching date of puppy sorting draws near. A few days later I’m chasing down the Kijiji ad, with complete directions and a scattering of preview pictures to go by, we finally end up at the door. After a brief interview with the family and a free play date, the puppies pass the test and I go home to write up my report to the family. They’re thrilled, bite the bait or in this case bone, and thus announces my first and foremost Kijiji experience.
Designed for anyone who wants to buy, sell, trade, promote or simply give away, www.kijiji.ca has pushed its way into local popularity, as a community medium to sell and share your wares. Reminiscent of, but more quaint than the larger than life Ebay universe, searches can look up classifieds in their hometown, where the possibility of making a person-to-person trade adds a homemade feel to cross-country transactions, not to mention the added financial security of a personable deal.
Many people who use Kijiji prefer the simple online format to purchasing an advertisement in the local paper. To top it off, an ad can be placed at anytime and done from any computer.
Although the medium of Kijiji hasn’t taken over completely, it’s free, and the ability to eliminate the middle person makes it the ultimate DIY for those who find themselves strapped for time. The bonus of Kijiji comes where you can throw in pictures (four without charge) and the ad’s expiration date is due whenever the product is sold. Reminiscent of the of the newspapers classifieds section, Kijiji offers up a well-rounded venue (complete with flashing advertisements) for offers such as, cars & vehicles, services, jobs and community. The only thing the site fails to offer is the local obituaries.
For those who still like to place their ad in the paper, fear not, the medium isn’t about to vanish. For many it still holds the romantic notion as an arm-clutching companion for Saturday morning apartment surfers who prefer to circle their pens around their catch and call up landlords on the spot.
Although there’s a lot of junk for sale or to giveaway on Kijiji, (no, I’m not interested in your free McDonald’s Monopoly stickers) it’s still fun to browse through what people have to offer, and is an acceptable, (albeit temporary) replacement for yard sale addicts as a wintertime hobby.
I think Kijiji is here to stay. With the opportunity to take a peek at what you’re calling or e-mailing about, the site offers a visual that newspaper ads can’t for free and the more people socialize through sites such as Facebook, the more Kijiji will keep on pushing with its popularity.
Published Thursday January 22nd, 2009
source: herenb.canadaeast.com