US retailer Wal-Mart is looking to expand its online kingdom and its next step is to launch a test of a free classified ads service. Should Craigslist start worrying?
The retailer is keeping mum on the deal, unwilling to disclose the financial terms of the deal or even how long this test will last. Chances are that, the better it runs, the longer it will stay available. Basically, this falls on Oodle's shoulders, as the company stands to gain a lot if the deal proves sucessful.
Wal-Mart's service is powered by Oodle.com, a classified site founded by former Excite and eBay executives. The site was launched back in 2005 and currently claims to have an avaerage of 4 million unique visitors per month. The site is also backing similar services currently offered by Lycos, Cox Interactive, and The Washington Post.
At present time, Wal-Mart's pilot service features 30 million listings, covering about all product categories. All that users have to do is enter the product they're looking for in one text box and their location of choice in the other. The reusults of the search will include the most nearby listings.
In addition, the service also includes a graph featuring both the average prices and the number of products tagged with a specific price.
Craigslist must be keeping a close eye on this new project. Wal-Mart is could turn into a strong presence on any market and thus, lure visitors away from the other players.
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