Adoos

About Adoos

The name of this classified advertisements website is Adoos International, and it a website that is both local and global; however, users who are in the United States will have no problem accessing it. The first link reads "Adoos United States, and gives access to Adoosus.com, which is free for users and advertisers".

Its main categories are those one would expect to find on a classified advertisements website, with each broken down into subcategories. Under "For Sale", one can find five separate categories, ranging from miscellaneous to baby stuff.

One interesting subcategory under "Vehicles" is "Other Stuff". One would expect to see "other stuff" relating to vehicles, and there is some, but there are also ads for judgment settlements, driving schools, loans for vehicles, and chances to win-in this instance a Mercedes, at $20 a chance.

Under "community" is a "language swap" subcategory. In this category, native speakers of different languages, such as Italian, offer to teach non-speakers the language. The premise behind this is to seek out those who may be relocating to Italy or other Italian-speaking regions and need to learn to speak the language accurately and fast.

Other offerings under that subcategory include native Spanish speakers, and those who are looking for someone to teach them English. Some of the advertisements stress that the lessons are free, which can be a very attractive offer to someone needing language skills but having little money or time to acquire them.

Under both "Personals" and "Services" is an "erotic services" subcategory. Before one can even access this site, it brings up a page that states that the user must be over 18 with the understanding that the content is sexually explicit and/or offensive, and an exemption clause for Adoos. There is also a very prominent warning about unprotected sex and the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS/HIV. One would only proceed at one's own risk.

On an entirely different note, under "community", there are listings for nonprofit and volunteering services. These include postings for and by those willing to accept foreign students, those who are looking for volunteer services in foreign countries, and those looking for volunteers, as well as one advertisement that tells about an organization that feeds the hungry from the food left over from catered events.

This unique website was launched in 2003, in Madrid, Spain, by Julian Martinez, who is both the founder and owner. It began in his parents’ house, under the original name of Habitamos.com, where Mr. Martinez had only his computer and two servers in his room with which to conduct his business.

Today, approximately twenty people work for Adoos. They are located in either Buenos Aires or Madrid, which is where the two Adoos offices are. As of today, over 60 countries have local online communities, all of which are free, and the site is available in 13 languages. Mr. Martinez is hopeful that particular number will change soon. What is truly remarkable is that all of this has been accomplished with no outside funding.