Craigslist takes off in East Tennessee

There are many places to buy and sell things online, but few are as wide-open as a site called Craigslist. It's reminiscent of the old swap-and-shop shows you would hear on the radio.

Craigslist started as a free place for forums and classified ads in San Francisco. It then spread to 450 cities worldwide.

Knoxville got its own Craigslist site about two-and-a-half years ago. You can find some unusual offerings, right here in East Tennessee.

"Under my favorites, guess what number one is? Craigslist Knoxville," said Mary Campbell, as she turned on her computer in Seymour.

Free classified ads are a click away.

"I have very limited computer skills, and even I can do it," said Campbell.

The internet features plenty of shopping sites, including eBay. The advantage of Craigslist? It's local.

"You can go see it, because it's within driving distance. You can actually see what you are buying," explained Campbell. She has bought many items through the site, and she's sold a car, a truck, a bed, and a television set.

Angie Morgan of Dandridge bought a truck, a lawnmower, and a pie shelf. Craigslist offers items for sale, for free, for barter.

"It's a nice place for barter," said Morgan.

Some recent listings show the variety available.

Pretty flowers, willing to trade.

Trade my alto saxophone for your ATV.

Another person will trade a never-been-worn engagement ring for a Wii game.

No kitchen sink available, but you can buy a brand new urinal or get a 20-year-old toilet, for free.

"Part of it is laughing at the stuff that's on there," Angie Morgan said.

Free to a good home: a box of women's shoes the previous home owner left in the garage.

On Craigslist, Angie Morgan found free firewood and a free cat.

"Free Russian blue," she said. "She told me up front it was pregnant."

Other fun finds for sale on the site?

Beer keg with tap: empty.

600 tubes of lipstick, 183 gillette sensor razor blades, and even hand carved walking sticks.

An Amish buggy, milking goats, and a Patrick Swayze-autographed "Ghost" poster.

It can be more efficient than attending yard sales, according to Mary Campbell.

"Using the computer to find what you need and going maybe one trip to get it, compared to driving around for a whole day looking for something? Nah."

A whole section is devoted to giveaways, including a tall cherry tree free to anyone willing to chop it down.

You can even claim horse manure. If you come shovel it, you can have it.

Coming soon to Knoxville Craigslist--another free kitten.

"Anybody who wants a cat, I'm going to have it on Craigslist probably after they get to be about 6 weeks," said Angie Morgan, holding her pregnant cat. "Would ya'll like one? "

In some big cities, Craigslist charges for job ads and apartment listings, but in Knoxville, all the classified listings are currently free.