I’m Kayla, and I review local marketplaces and how they feel to use. Let me explain something fast: Backpage got shut down in 2018 by law enforcement. Want the legal scoop? Axios has a solid recap of the federal indictment and seizure here. A lot of folks in Indy used it for all kinds of classified ads—some okay, some not okay, and some flat-out risky. I unpack many of those real-life examples in this detailed plain-talk review if you want to dig deeper. So this isn’t a sign-up guide. It’s a look at what that scene felt like, how it worked for regular stuff back then, and what I use now in Indianapolis that’s safer and legal.
You know what? I still think about how messy, fast, and odd it was.
A quick reality check
- Backpage is gone. It was seized by the feds.
- Adult ads were a big part of it. That was dangerous and often illegal.
- If you’re hunting for normal classifieds in Indy now, there are better places. I’ll share those below.
Curious what navigating the adult listings actually felt like? I once wrote a candid take on a TS escort in Indianapolis that shows the risks in stark detail.
I’m keeping this clean and useful. No shady stuff. Just how it felt, and what actually helps today.
What it felt like to browse in Indy
Backpage moved fast. Listings popped up in bursts. Replies were blunt and short. You’d see a couch, a used car, an odd job, and then something sketchy right under it. Honestly, the feed was noisy. If Craigslist felt like a dusty garage, Backpage felt like a flea market at 10 p.m.—lots of chatter, some gems, and a few stalls you walked past quick.
Did it work? Sometimes, yes. But you had to keep your head on straight.
Real-style examples from the Indy scene
These examples mirror the kind of stuff that played out back then—common, messy, very local. The places and beats will ring a bell if you know the city.
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The wobbly futon in Broad Ripple
I saw a futon listed for cheap. The seller wrote, “Pick up today.” Three people messaged within an hour. One asked to hold it “until Friday” with no deposit. Another sent a long, odd story. The third said, “I can be there at 6.” That was the one that usually worked—short note, clear time, public meet at the Kroger lot on N College Ave. Cash. Quick check for bed bugs, a little laugh, done. -
The leaky faucet in Fountain Square
A handyman post said, “$60 flat, small jobs only.” I asked for pics and references. The person replied with two sink photos and a first name. The fix happened same day, mid-afternoon, and it took 25 minutes. Bring cash, they said. The work was fine, not pretty. Did the faucet drip again a week later? Yep. They came back and tightened it. That was common: fast and cheap, but not fancy. -
The last-minute Pacers ticket near Monument Circle
A single lower-bowl ticket popped up an hour before tipoff. Seller wanted face value. I asked to meet outside Coat Check Coffee by the Artsgarden. We traded in person. I checked the QR code at the door. It scanned, no trouble. Was I nervous? Little bit. Public spot helped a ton. -
The sketchy “too nice” rental on the east side
A 3-bed house was listed way below market. The “owner” claimed to be out of state. They pushed for a deposit by wire, sight unseen. Classic scam. I asked for a live video tour and the exact address to check tax records. The messages stopped. That happened a lot—pressure to pay fast, no keys in hand, no local proof.
What I use now in Indianapolis (and why)
Backpage is gone, but the need is still here—buy a table, find a gig, sell a bike, that kind of thing. These spots have treated me better:
- Facebook Marketplace: Busy, very Indy, easy to check profiles. Great for furniture, kids’ stuff, lawn gear.
- Craigslist (regular sections): Still fine for cars, tools, and odd jobs. Use email relay and meet in public.
- Nextdoor: Handy for hyper-local services—yard work, pet sitting, snow shoveling in winter.
- Reddit r/Indianapolis: Good for community tips, not pure classifieds, but you’ll find ticket swaps and local leads.
- IndyStar classifieds: Old-school, slower, but more filtered. Decent for estate sales and legit services.
- Local buy/sell groups on Facebook: Neighborhood tone helps. Folks care about their block, and it shows.
If you’re one of the many who relied on Backpage mainly for casual, adult-only meet-ups rather than couches or concert tickets, know that mainstream marketplaces won’t scratch that itch. In that case, a more direct, consent-focused hookup site like Meet and Fuck can bridge the gap—there you’ll find verified local profiles, discreet chat tools, and zero furniture listings, so you spend less time scrolling and more time connecting with like-minded adults. Another route people explore is Doublelist, the personals site that tries to revive the old Craigslist vibe; for a step-by-step peek at how a smaller city’s board actually works, skim this hands-on review of Doublelist in Watertown — it walks you through posting rules, photo verification, and red-flag spotting tips you can apply anywhere, Indy included.
None of these are perfect. But the vibe is safer, and the rules are clearer.
Quick safety habits that actually help
- Meet in daylight, in a public place. Many police stations offer safe-trade spots.
- Cash only for small stuff. Count it where folks can see.
- For big items, bring a buddy or share your live location.
- Avoid wires, gift cards, or weird payment apps.
- Ask for a short live video call for rentals or high-price items.
- If a price looks magical, it’s probably a trick.
If you're weighing wellness or massage services after a long day of hauling furniture, skim through what actually helped my back when I tried body rubs in Indianapolis—it’s a quick primer on separating legit relief from sketchy offers.
I also like to keep this printable ALCO online-trade safety checklist handy, because half the battle is just remembering the basics.
I know, this sounds basic. But basic works.
So, how does “Backpage Indianapolis” stack up?
Backpage ran hot. It was fast and loose. You could score deals, get small jobs done, and grab last-minute tickets. But the mix of risky posts and pushy strangers made it tiring—and sometimes scary. The shutdown forced folks to spread out to safer corners of the web. Ironically, some Indy vice officers argued that losing the site actually blinded investigations, as TechCrunch reported back in 2018.
Would I use something like that again? Not really. I prefer places where I can peek at a profile, report a bad actor, and meet in a bright parking lot with cameras. Boring? Maybe. But boring is safe, and safe is good.
If you’re in Indy and you miss the old hustle, I get it. Try Marketplace for quick deals, Craigslist for tools and cars, and keep your common sense turned up. That mix hits the sweet spot—still fast, way less chaos.
And hey, if you snag a solid futon this weekend, send me a photo. I love a happy couch story.