He's not just creating his own list of what's for sale on Craigslist, he's buying it and then reselling it. He reports making $1,200 to $1,500 a week doing this in profit. The other thing I was shocked about is the power seller role on eBay. More than half of all sales on eBay flows through what are called power sellers.
Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like a wedding planner, especially if you have time to take care of the planning yourself? Marina Krakovsky, author of The Middleman Economy talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about middlemen in the modern economy. Despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, Krakovsky argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed. Krakovsky looks at the different roles middlemen play today and how their value added can justify their existence.