Shop Talk
Retailers, consumers and prices
Check Out Line: Mixed ruling in eBay vs Craigslist case
Check out the latest twist in the eBay – Craigslist saga.
A judge reinstated eBay’s 28.4 percent stake in Craigslist, but allowed the classifieds site to keep eBay off its board.
The mixed ruling meant no clear victory for either of the companies, whose relationship turned from cozy to competitive and ended up in court in 2008.
“More fortunate than Goliath, eBay leaves this field with only a gash across its forehead; less fortunate than David, Craigslist leaves this field with something less than total victory,” wrote Chancellor William Chandler III of Delaware’s Court of Chancery in his opinion.
Craigslist has been keen to protect its decision-making and trade secrets after eBay launched a competing ad site, and the latest ruling will keep eBay out of the classified company’s boardroom.
Dunkin’ Donuts competes with street musicians for money
Talk about guerrilla marketing. A tuneful guitarist named Joe was strumming songs for the Times Square throngs on 42nd Street in New York earlier this week, his case open for donations.
Rather than the usual sign inviting people to leave money if they like what they hear, Joe’s case had a bright white sign in the shape of a guitar suggesting people spend their change on breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts instead.
Craigslist leading rise in online classified ads
At least one thing is going up, not down, in this U.S. downturn, and that’s online visits to classifieds web sites — fueled by the recession itself.
According to Internet tracker Hitwise, traffic to U.S. classifieds sites rose 84 percent in February, driven by — you guessed it — Craigslist.com.
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