I used Backpage in Indy back before it got shut down in 2018. It was fast, messy, and kind of thrilling. Also, sometimes it felt sketchy. Both can be true, right?
Real Stuff I Did With It
I didn’t use the adult sections. I stuck to normal classifieds. Jobs. Tickets. Used stuff. That kind of thing.
For another plain-talk Backpage recap with a slightly different mix of real-life examples, you can skim this breakdown.
- I bought a used Trek bike from a guy near Fountain Square. He met me by the duckpin bowling alley on a sunny Saturday. The chain was noisy, but he threw in a lock. I rode it up to Garfield Park the same day.
- I sold a gray couch from my Broad Ripple apartment. A grad student and her brother came with a U-Haul. We had to tilt the couch on its side to clear the stairwell. We laughed, then scraped the wall. Oops. She still Venmo’d me on the spot and left happy.
- I picked up Pacers tickets the night of a game. The seller met me outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, near the team store. I checked the seats with him right there. We walked in together to be safe. The seats were fine. We won by a little. Felt like a good call.
- I found a one-day warehouse shift out by Plainfield. It was just a quick load-and-stack gig. Hot. Dusty. Paid cash at the end of the day. I remember the orange Gatorade more than the boxes.
- I hired a “mover” near Speedway. He showed up late, but he did haul my dresser down two flights. He used duct tape as a handle, which sounds dumb, but it worked.
Was it perfect? No. Did it save me money? Most days, yes.
The Weird Bits I Couldn’t Ignore
Backpage was easy to use. The page looked plain, which I liked. But the site also had adult ads mixed in. I didn’t click them, but I saw them, and it made the whole place feel off at times. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when someone follows one of those ads, here’s a candid look at meeting a TS escort here in Indy. It’s like walking into a flea market with a few tables you don’t want near your kids. You keep moving, but you still notice.
The bigger issue? Scammers. A few times I got pushy messages. “Send a deposit.” “Hold this for me till Friday.” “My shipper will come.” That kind of talk. Red flags. One person even mailed me a check way over the price and wanted the extra sent back. I took it to the bank. Fake. I kept the box fan I was selling and learned my lesson. On the flip side, a legit massage can be a lifesaver after hauling couches—my back can vouch for it after I dug through this first-hand review of Indy body rub spots.
I also met one seller at a gas station off Keystone who didn’t bring the item we agreed on. He tried to swap in a cheaper model. I said no. He shrugged. I went home and made a grilled cheese. Sometimes the best deal is not doing the deal.
So, Did Backpage Work in Indy?
For quick, local finds? Yes. It was like a fast lane. You’d post and get pings within an hour, sometimes minutes. It beat waiting around. It worked great for simple stuff: bikes, small furniture, last-minute tickets, day gigs.
But I never felt fully calm using it. Not once. I stayed alert. I checked my gut. I told a friend where I was going. That’s not nothing.
How I Handled Safety (Learned It the Hard Way)
Here’s what actually helped me:
- Meet in public, daylight if you can. Monument Circle, a mall lot, or by the coffee shop inside a big store.
- Bring a friend, or at least text a friend the plan.
- Cash is cleaner. No “I’ll mail a check.” Nope.
- Don’t send deposits to strangers. Ever.
- Look up the phone number. If it’s all spam hits, walk away.
- Trust your gut. If it feels off, it is.
For anyone who wants even more practical tips, you can skim the concise safety checklist posted by ALCO, which breaks down meet-up protocols step by step.
I once finished a meetup at the police substation lot near my area. The seller rolled up, saw the building, and smiled like, “Cool.” We both felt better. Quick trade. Done.
What I Use Now That Backpage Is Gone
Backpage got shut down. Honestly, I’m fine with that. I found other spots that feel safer and still get the job done in Indianapolis.
- Facebook Marketplace: I sold my stroller here in one afternoon. Met outside a Meijer, bright as noon.
- Craigslist: Still solid for deals. I grabbed free fill dirt for my yard from a guy in Lawrence. Messy boots. Happy yard.
- Nextdoor: I found a handyman to fix a wobbly fence gate before a storm blew in. He lived five blocks away. He even liked the Colts flag on my porch.
- OfferUp: Picked up a Nintendo Switch Lite for my nephew. The kid at the counter verified it turned on. Sweet and simple.
- For gigs: I stick to real job boards now. Warehouse, events, catering, that stuff shows up a lot around Lucas Oil, the track, and downtown.
Some folks still poke around the adult-ad boards. I kicked the tires on Skip the Games once, too—here’s my real-world take on Skip the Games in Indy if you’re curious about how it stacks up. If you’re curious where many of the post-Backpage crowd now look specifically for personals, a lot of them browse this dedicated sex-ads board on JustBang, which organizes listings into a clean, adults-only feed so you can see who’s offering what without sifting through unrelated classifieds. For people who travel outside Indiana, it’s also handy to know how Doublelist-style boards operate in other cities—taking Suffolk, Virginia as an example, you can glance at this quick guide to Doublelist in Suffolk to compare posting rules, safety cues, and overall vibe before you ever log in.
On game days or race week, prices jump. That’s Indy for you. Carb Day? Don’t even try to be last-minute. You’ll be chasing shadows.
The Feel of It, If You Want the Truth
Backpage felt like a crowded market on a windy day. Loud. Fast. Good finds flying by. Also, a little dusty in the corners. I liked the speed. I didn’t like the risk. I saved money. I kept my guard up. Both things can live together.
And when the snow hit and slush got deep, I loved that I could still score a used snow shovel near Irvington and be home in time for chili. That’s the kind of small win that sticks with you.
Final Word
Backpage worked for me in Indianapolis for simple, local stuff, but it came with noise and nerves. I got real deals, met real people, and learned to keep my head on straight. Now I use other sites that feel safer and still get me what I need.
If you ever want to ditch the classifieds altogether and just plan something fun, you can peek at my guide to planning a grown-up night out in Indy for ideas that don’t involve haggling over used couches.
Do I miss the rush? Sometimes. Do I miss the stress? Not one bit.