In an attempt to maintain readership of its classified advertising in the face of competition from growing Web sites, The San Diego Union-Tribune will begin offering free classified ads to individuals.

Beginning tomorrow, the newspaper will offer three free lines of advertising for seven days on its classified pages and Web site to any individuals wanting to sell a car or other merchandise worth $5,000 or less. The offer does not apply to commercial advertisers.

Other observers, including some newspaper advertising executives, said the Union-Tribune is on the leading edge of a trend.

"I think every newspaper will have to seriously consider that move," said Pete Casillas, the classified advertising manager for The Miami Herald, which this year began offering free ads for merchandise valued at $500 or less. "I would not be surprised to see other newspapers follow suit very quickly."

Analysts said that if this becomes the norm, newspapers may be able to "one-up" Craigslist.

"I can't imagine that it is a mistake. There just too many pluses to it," said George Whalin, president of Retail Management Consultants in San Marcos. "Auto Trader and small newspapers can't do it – it's their livelihood. It gives (the newspaper) a competitive advantage."  (SignonSanDiego)

What an odd world we live in. Competitive advantage means giving away what some of the competition can not afford to.

Perhaps this frees San Diego to fully pursue the employment market.

From here, it looks like the decision of a rich man.

If I were a rich man,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy-biddy rich,
Daidle deedle daidle daidle man.

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen
Right in the middle of the town,
A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
There would be one long staircase just going up
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.

I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese
And ducks for the town to see and hear,
Squawking just as noisily as they can,
And each loud "pa-pa-geeee! pa-pa-gaack! pa-pa-geeee! pa-pa-gaack!"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man."
Oy!

If I were a rich man,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy-biddy rich,
Daidle deedle daidle daidle man.

I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife,
With a proper double chin,
Supervising meals to her heart's delight.
I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock,
Oy! What a happy mood she's in,
Screaming at the servants day and night.

From Fiddler on the Roof lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

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