Classic car price on request. What could I ask?
Discussion
4rephill said:
I think in some cases "POA" is used because of how fast the classic car market moves at times - Both upwards and downwards.
With some cars, prices can shift on a weekly basis, and the price wanted can become outdated, requiring the advert to be redone.
By putting "POA" instead, any market fluctuations are negated instantly.
In other cases, "POA" puts a lot of possible prospective classic car buyers off, but if they are put off, how serious were they really interested in buying the car?
Let's say for example that you want a genuine MK1 Escort Mexico, you see one for sale that looks perfect, but the advert states "POA", and you can't be ar$ed to simply contact them to find out the price - How serious were you really about buying one?
Surely if you were really serious, you would at least find out the price, and if you didn't like it, you'd simply say it's not for you.
In some cases "POA" is used because sellers think it makes their car sound like a higher end example of the car, a case of: If you have to ask, you can't afford it! , and they feel they can ask any amount they feel like, because there's a high chance that someone will come along, assume the high price automatically means the car is the best available, and happily buy it, not realising that there may have been better quality cars for sale for less money.
Unfortunately, a lot of prospective classic car buyers, especially those with little/limited experience of classic cars, automatically assume that a higher price automatically means a better quality car.
It's similar to how some people automatically assume that extremely low mileage means a much better quality car. Whilst that can be the case, there are plenty of times that a 40 year old car that has only done 200 miles in it's lifetime, can have more issues that a 40 year old car that has 80,000 miles under it's belt.
At the end of the day, if you see a car advertised that you like the look of, but the advert states: "POA", just ring them up/email/message them and ask what the price is - It's not obligating you to buy the car, or even go and see it.
By letting "POA" on an advert put you off, and refusing to contact the seller. you could be losing out on your ideal car, at a price that wasn't as high as you assumed it would be.
It's like refusing to bid on a car at auction because you don't know what the reserve is, and assume it will be higher than you're prepared to pay - By making no effort at all, there's a possibility that you could miss out.
The voice of reason. Don't cut your nose off to spite your face. With some cars, prices can shift on a weekly basis, and the price wanted can become outdated, requiring the advert to be redone.
By putting "POA" instead, any market fluctuations are negated instantly.
In other cases, "POA" puts a lot of possible prospective classic car buyers off, but if they are put off, how serious were they really interested in buying the car?
Let's say for example that you want a genuine MK1 Escort Mexico, you see one for sale that looks perfect, but the advert states "POA", and you can't be ar$ed to simply contact them to find out the price - How serious were you really about buying one?
Surely if you were really serious, you would at least find out the price, and if you didn't like it, you'd simply say it's not for you.
In some cases "POA" is used because sellers think it makes their car sound like a higher end example of the car, a case of: If you have to ask, you can't afford it! , and they feel they can ask any amount they feel like, because there's a high chance that someone will come along, assume the high price automatically means the car is the best available, and happily buy it, not realising that there may have been better quality cars for sale for less money.
Unfortunately, a lot of prospective classic car buyers, especially those with little/limited experience of classic cars, automatically assume that a higher price automatically means a better quality car.
It's similar to how some people automatically assume that extremely low mileage means a much better quality car. Whilst that can be the case, there are plenty of times that a 40 year old car that has only done 200 miles in it's lifetime, can have more issues that a 40 year old car that has 80,000 miles under it's belt.
At the end of the day, if you see a car advertised that you like the look of, but the advert states: "POA", just ring them up/email/message them and ask what the price is - It's not obligating you to buy the car, or even go and see it.
By letting "POA" on an advert put you off, and refusing to contact the seller. you could be losing out on your ideal car, at a price that wasn't as high as you assumed it would be.
It's like refusing to bid on a car at auction because you don't know what the reserve is, and assume it will be higher than you're prepared to pay - By making no effort at all, there's a possibility that you could miss out.
I get that POA is annoying and presumptuous, but the people it annoys are mostly those who (like me) are generally just curious rather than real prospective buyers. They want to know so they can say 'How much? I remember when you could get three of these for a fiver and still have change for the bus home' etc.
So I can see it might help sellers weed out some time wasters by putting a small but easily surmounted hurdle in their way.
So I can see it might help sellers weed out some time wasters by putting a small but easily surmounted hurdle in their way.
This is the Dutch auction clock in action, used at the flower market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnWBe_I0LiM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnWBe_I0LiM
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