Corkin is a new web service that combines classifieds listings with a set of social tools that the company says differentiates it from juggernauts such as Craigslist and eBay’s Kijiji. Like corkboards you’d find outside of local supermarkets, libraries and on college campuses, Corkin wants to be the website everyone uses to post free classified ads about anything.
Every aspect of Corkin has a social element to it; users can comment on listings, comment on photos, reply to comments, send direct messages, etc. and the company founders believe this makes them a better service than Craigslist, eBay / Kijiji and the countless other classifieds sites you can find on the net. The site sports the same spartan look Craigslist does (but including annoying in-your-face ads), and the founders of Corkin realize that they’re going to have to fight an uphill battle trying to beat them.
They’re going to take a crack at it by adding a couple of features they say users are currently missing on Craigslist, like search within a mile radius, upload as many features as they like, etc. and they’re also boasting about the fact that they’ll be able to counter spam more efficiently than Craigslist and yield more qualitative responses to ads for their registered members.
I’m not convinced that’s going to be enough of a reason for people to switch from the leading classifieds websites, who’ve been around for years and get visited by tens of millions of people every month, but can’t blame them for trying. You never know how much of an advantage the founders’ previous experience will be: Paul Kats and Keith Boster were original team members of MySpace, Keith being one of two individuals who wrote the first version of MySpace.com code and Paul having served as the startup’s first performance and scaling engineer.
Here’s an interview LuckyStartups did with Kats:
See all
Post
I only have one comment to the site owners: please remove the ads. I’m seeing 3 different ads on one page. It’s annoying.
Still like http://www.Workstir.com here.
Who is really going to business with someone that has a screenname “Realtytron”?
The web is about REAL people, combined with ratings and reviews of experiences.
I certainly like the idea of knowing who I’m interacting with when I buy something off craigslist.
If I can’t find the person selling the item on Facebook or LinkedIn, I get more concerned that they are trying to scam me.
It’s Realtyron, not tron…
Wow that site is terrible…
lmao that is the biggest joke of a website I have ever seen.. its like myspace 2004 terrible design and coding.. enough ads
Step 1: Create site
Step 2: Put too many ads on it
Step 3: Get slashdotted
Step 4: Collect ad money
Step 5: Magnanimously respond to user complaints
Step 6: Site redesign
Step 7: Announce launch of redesign
Step 8: Get slashdotted
Step 9: Profit!!
That’s one way of doing it.
And, er, if that’s what they are doing it and it works, what’s wrong with that?
I don’t see anything that differentiates this (ugly) site from many other free classifieds portals.
As a matter of fact, it looks like some of those $50 script you can easily buy.
Btw, source code. Look at it.
I don’t think they ever heard of a css file
Paul Kats and Keith Boster were original team members of MySpace, Keith being one of two individuals who wrote the first version of MySpace.com code and Paul having served as the startup’s first performance and scaling engineer.
oh that explains it.. deadpool potential =]
actually, key myspace devs and architects would argue would that claim - my understanding is that they were staffers…the real architecture is mentally made by felipo, manu runs the whole of dev and others were responsible for the first build…
also, this corkin site is awful. it reminds me of how ugly and slow myspace was several years ago…
this reminds of how 11 people claim to have invented websphere…whenever something works, people claim to have made it work, but if these two could backup their claims about scaling and creating myspace, great, give me a ring and i’ll vouch for you (gladly)…but somehow i suspect that they were just staff dev and bullshitted techcrunch into covering a nothingness site of no consequence…
You couldnt be more wrong.. Talk to someone who knows.
Just seems like Craigslist has that space locked up, plus a lot of heavy hitters also going after that pie. Good luck but be ready to work. Its nice to see people are still trucking on after the American dream
I think you can buy this same script for around $100…how the heck does this make TechCrunch?
They’re former MySpacers, it’s called “networking.” The buddy system is alive and well in the business and PR worlds, after all.
You think techcrunch is quality. The number of websites it shows seems to be garbage.
The last time I used Craigslist I was able to sell my car in a few hours. It’s still the best.
MySpace has a very well established classifieds site powered by Oodle - http://www.classifieds.myspace.com/
Offers all of this functionality and lots more with the exception of commenting on listings (which is rolling out soon)
Stupid made-up word for a name — check.
The word “social” in the description — check.
Guaranteed to generate a few million in capital at least.
But it will not last.
Buying stock in EBAY is a better investment.
I can’t imagine VC money seeding this.
Are you kidding? They only have to tell the story that their competition is $dominant_company and the dollars start flowing in. You want a piece of that Google/Craigslist/Blogspot pie, don’t you?
This is one of those startups not to startup. Classifieds are done — Craigslist is the name. Facebook is the only other potential competitor — and Oodle is carrying that task out for them. Facebook has mass and local people connections.
Otherwise, how would any site get a mass of people to it? Look at LiveDeal — that was an ex-eBay’er, and that site never went anywhere. You can’t crack this.
Maybe these guys still have an “in” at MySpace and are hoping to sell the site to MySpace as their Classifieds site.
“Classifieds are done”?
Are you suggesting that classified sites cannot be improved?
Long live Lycos and HotBot!
Is being the first version coder on myspace something someone brags about now ?
I don’t think anyone has done this before, - integrate Social Media and Classified Ads - or if they have, I didn’t notice or know about it.
I’m going to take a closer look at Corkin.
http://www.workstir.com
RedeParede.com has been online with a social classifieds site for Latin America since May 2007
I don’t think you follow this space very closely with that statement, Sponder (or you’re friends with this team), Don’t forget iList just launched, and FB just partnered with Oodle (as stated above).
Lots of startups trying to improve online classifieds, and there are obvious shortcomings in the dominant player(s), but I don’t think any of these new classifieds sites has a USP that is compelling enough. Eventually, one of these will figure it out and start giving CL a run for its money or at least force CL to add more features (even if they’re optional).
H
O
R
R
I
B
L
E
We have the same idea. http://www.youauction.com. Maybe they will have better luck with the myspace history. We have launched 3 months before corkin. They are about to find out it is a tough market! Good luck to them!
Craigslist with a twist of Myspace.. I like it..
Thanks Ron. If you have the opportunity you should sign in and check out the community and some of our features like intermail.
This website is great for those who want to bypass all of the other websites. It’s an all in one website. If you need something, someone or just looking to surf the web, go to Corkin.com
I looked at it, even signed in and played around a bit. The site does have potential if marketed correctly but they need to work out some issues with their code. Try doing a search for anything and use a distance variable (IE search for something within 25 miles of you)
The site does not work yet but it does hold potential. If it were all about looks, Craigslist would never have gone anywhere
They are looking to break into a tough market but they already have decent traffic. It will be interesting to see how they play out in the coming months.
I emailed Paul and talked with him. It appears he has already fixed the bug I pointed out in the search and from a few quick messages back and forth - I think they have things going in the right direction.
The feel of the site is a little clunky but let’s be realistic - that can be changed in a day or so at best. They are a new startup, will have some hurdles, but from what I can tell - they are listening to the users and going about it in the right ways.
I still think it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months but really think they will at least carve out a piece of the market for themselves.
Thanks for including our interview on your writeup TechCrunch. Here is a direct link to Luckystartups and the interview that was done with Corkin.com. There is potential - give it a chance!
http://www.luckystartups.com/2.....slist-was/
I like the site, its a fresh idea .. a far better alternative to Craigslist .. I wish these guys nothing but the best … for the haters on here, go chase your own dream - at least these guys are making something happen
Um, has anybody checked the traffic? They’re doing pretty good
maybe they are taking a page out of the myspace book here. Anyone remember how myspace traffic got ramped up so fast?
Ummm yes and I wouldn’t really call 1000 visitors a day “Pretty good”…
http://www.quantcast.com/corkin.com ..,. and yeah pretty good … its an unknown site thats a month old … id take that as a good start
interesting stuff!!
im going to check this site out when i get off work
Thanks TC!
Search works for me. I really like it. I dont have to choose 3 different cities like I do on C-List. I hope these guys blow C-List away..
Good Luck!
Why doesn’t twitter get into this space?
It wouldn’t hard to implement a @put_classified directive, or @want_classifed . They already have a ‘location’ property cell in their database tuples, so it’d be easy to query localized classified listings, and have a city or category, or both twitter page.
If you don’t do it, someone else will.
You’re looking at something at its beginnings - don’t hate just because it hasn’t been loaded with VC bells and whistles.
In this economy taking advantage of simple straightfoward ideas and engineering to get it going makes complete sense. These guys are making a run for it. Good luck!
I agree, horrible site.. it couldnt even refine electronics into 25 miles within my zip code. Just kept popping up with nation wide electronics. Horrible.
Get your own idea!
I just signed up.. Alot of you people are very rude. I really like it.
Search works fine for me. Good job guys!
wow, written in Coldfusion? I new CF about 4 years ago. CF really had some issues back then. But i guess it can scale fine now, since myspace uses it.
ms uses asp.net
Brad N.: http://www.ilist.com already did it for Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. and its UI (to me) is far superior.
It doesn’t have the social network and I think that’s a good thing.
Twitter can barely handle their current load. I dont think they need any more.
Corkin looks like it solves a problem in the current classifieds market place. I just placed a couple listings, the site seems fast and easy to use.
w00t, go The Boz!!!!!
LOL, this reminds me of a site I build to try and teach myself PHP in college 2 years ago….
http://www.tradeurban.com
The site looks to have potential. I have always thought craigslist was too anonymous..
i once saw a demo a while back that had the most awesome social ecommerce feature
http://www.demo.com/watchliste.....1199157746
Site looks like it is a a script or outsourced. Its needs a makeover.
Mmmm lovely title tags. Spam-a-licious!
I like the site .. creative stuff .. being able to interface w/ the person that posted the listing is a great idea
I prefer Tradeurban.com
I can post all my ads in one place, and my company info:
http://www.tradeurban.com/?act.....roDogPotty
Nice to see a ColdFusion site for once.
The site looks great, and is very user friendly. I look forward to working with it!
It is combination of social networking script and classifieds.. Nice concept …. I will register and go through it.
I like Corkin. It will be big as My Space, I have a feeling
Interesting site, looks like a DOLPHIN script.
This site, just launched, has the name and seems to be simplistic to use like Craigslist for autos and such.
Speaking for myself, when I want to post an ad for my car for sale…I want the ad to be placed and get all the phone calls I can. What is happening at Craigslist is a bunch of “rabid flaggers” getting competitive ads removed for no reason.
Kijiji is a bit of a pain as is Oodle to post to and search.
Oh, I forgot to leave the name of the site that I was referring to: Curbstoners.com
Corkin is really helping me with my travel business. I am able to find potential customers and business partners on Corkin. No where else have I been able to do this.
I’ve been on Corkin for about 2 days now and have already received about 6 leads another member added my link to her website and 2 others promising to refer me clients. I am very excited. I have high hopes and I hope corkin.com hits millions!!!
I’ve been on sites not quite like this but, similar for months and have received NONE!!! I’ve been posting on craigslist for over a year and only got 1 lead. I’ve been raving about Corkin to everyone I know!!!
Keep up the good work!!!!
You might wanna check Swinyx, its a startup that has more features than Corkin, but with a better look
just google : Swinyx
mmm.Good portal