Craigslist and Designing for Resale
Andy Hamilton / Green Technology / Industrial Design
I love Craigslist. With a regional filter, it provides a window into the lives of the single, the unemployed, and the junk ridden people you never knew lived all around you. For me it is a constant source of entertainment. But more than entertainment, it has changed the way I think about buying the things I need, and how I think about product lifetimes.
The free section of Craigslist has become my go-to first attempt at finding anything I’m thinking about buying. And I can say from experience that if you look often enough, you can find anything! I’ve seen boats, photo booths, TVs and plenty of free dirt and firewood. Granted there is a reason these things are free. Sometimes it’s because they need a little work, but many times it’s just situational and their owner just needs them gone, pronto. But, these days I have a hard time thinking that I will ever actually buy a couch when I passively turn down free ones every day.
The way Craigslist connects the needs of people in a specific area is really what impresses me about it. The way it promotes sustainable consumption is the cherry on top. It is a stark contrast to the business models of IKEA and the clothing manufacturers at Forever 21 who produce cheap disposable goods by taking advantage of the environment and 3rd world labor markets. Craigslist makes responsible consumption look easy by leveraging people’s social nature and their love for discount goods.
I remember learning about how much thought and effort went into designing the Aeron chair by Herman Miller. It was designed for disassembly with 94% of its materials being recyclable. That’s pretty impressive. But what percentage of Aeron owners will take the time and energy to disassemble and recycle (if they even know they can) when the chair has reached the end of its lifetime?
I think something more impressive that Herman Miller has accomplished is a chair designed for resale. Right now I can find the Aeron chair for sale by 3 different posters on Craigslist. And I would guess it’s easier to post an add and have someone come to pick it up than it is to disassemble and recycle. Not to mention that that person pays you for the chair, rather than throwing their money back into the system.
Craigslist not only provides potential buyers with a diverse local discount market, but it is also creates a responsible way to dispose of products that are no longer useful to their current owners. Sustainably keeping money in my pocket and discouraging the production of crappy products makes me love Craigslist. That, and the missed connections.
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