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Price on request, or not!

Price on request, or not!

  • Price on request, or not!

Letter to the editor

 

Today I was having a look for some favourite classics which I could be tempted to purchase when I discovered a huge amount of the adverts had the prices "on request"! Sorry, but this is NOT good enough. I stopped at page four and said to myself why am I bothering? If the sellers couldn't then I won't! In fact, I will not bother again. There is far too much of that nonsense going on today, in magazines, and on websites, and it requires far too much time, effort, and expense, to chase them all for prices. Cop yourselves on folks, and wake up to the fact that prospective customers are being lost due to this ridiculous practice.

Sean McGiollapadraig

 

Published:
Tuesday February 22nd, 2022

Comments

Peter McIntyre
26 February 2022, 14:02
If you have to ask you can not afford it— so how do you buy it ? Just slide a blank signed cheque across the desk with a wink wink nudge nudge
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Joseph Puleo
26 February 2022, 02:31
I also agree wholeheartedly. I've never replied to a POA advertisement.
Also, the comment "if you have to ask you can't afford it" is profoundly insulting to all of us who pursue this enthusiasm despite the fact that our means are limited. It's also stupid. Of the many well-to-do people I've known, NONE were oblivious to price.
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Michael Schlenger
24 February 2022, 09:31
One can alway make a realistic offer, whether there is a price tag or not. I recently bought an early Stoewer engine simply ignoring the price asked and paid a little more than half of it in the end, because I was the only one who was interested. I would have done the same, if there hadn't been a price tag. If you are not the only bidder, the seller will get a higher price, of course, and it's his right to achieve the highest price possible by any means, but whether it's the price he was thinking of simply depends on demand. It would be irrational ignoring an offer because one dislikes "POA", if the car or the spare part or whatever is what you want or "need". Be bold, make a reasonable offer and see what happens - it's just about old cars in the end.
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g.M. m
24 February 2022, 07:46
I understand that if you are not a dealer, you do not know the price, and just like to get in touch with a buyer to nagotiate. How ever i hate those that advertise with lots of bla bla sometimes pages long, but no price. And even more i those that do not respond after your request. ( alot of them) I would advice to exchange POA with 'make an offer' and if possible those that do not answer remove from the site.

rgds.
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Comment
Tim Wright
23 February 2022, 21:28
Absolutely, POA spoils the whole classifieds experience whether browsing or buying.....
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Tim Wright
23 February 2022, 12:26
Absolutely, POA spoils the whole experience of the classifieds, whether buying or browsing, let's petition for it's
Elimination.....
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Comment
Bill Coates
23 February 2022, 12:19
I totally agree. I ignore any POA ads no matter how desperate I am for the vehicle or part. In my view, no price no sale!
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Comment
Thomas A. Erler
23 February 2022, 09:12
Dominique, chapeau! Could not express my feelings better, not in a million words.
Regards from Tyrol
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Comment
Larry Lewis
23 February 2022, 05:16
"Price on request" reminds me of when applying for a job and you ask what the pay will be. "What do you expect?" they say. As soon as you name a number, you lose. Like a negotiation for a used car.
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Comment
Alfred Bauer
23 February 2022, 00:26
Interesting discussion. I have to say that me- as a dealer- have taken over the advertising with P.O.A. mainly because the others do it that way. One of the reasons is probably that on very rare cars you are establishing a new price without wanting to do so, and cars which were produced in very low numbers are probably very diverse in their prices for many reasons. Or, you want to have a reason to get in contact with a new customer in a first phone call. Personally, I always hated offerings without a price. Even if the asking price is high, and you have a reason for this, you can still explain this reason to a potential customer. So, why not mention the price. Possibly, I was just copying the habits of the others. From now on, I promise to always put on a proper price tag!
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David Liepelt
22 February 2022, 21:42
I fully agree. It also concerns me that the price they choose to give may be different depending on who calls, male or female, type of accent, etc.

I think you should remove "price on request" as a possibility. Or give a date for prices to be corrected and then delete all ads so notated. Reputable advertizers will be fine with it.
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Avocat Diable
22 February 2022, 21:15
yeah , but. ........if you really, really, were interested , wouldn't you just ask ? It could be less expensive than you imagined . Just a thought!
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Raymond MacDonald
22 February 2022, 18:30
Totally agree.
In fact I told the Editor as much when I met him at the Retromobile in Paris a few years back - but he didn't agree.
His arguement then, "If you need to ask the price you can't afford it"!
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Comment
Stephen Dalton
22 February 2022, 17:58
POA is off-putting and engenders suspicion on behalf of the prospective buyer. I always assume the car will be overpriced and as I do not enjoy arguing over money, I don't bother asking ...
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Henry Norberhuis
22 February 2022, 15:01
Right on man.
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Chip Wright
22 February 2022, 14:44
I agree wholeheartedly! If you have to hide the price then you must be ashamed of what you are asking. Sellers need to realize that the consumer is pretty well educated on approximate, current values of what they are looking for. If you have to conceal the asking price you are probably overpriced!
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Comment
Keith Kuehn
22 February 2022, 14:31
I really hate to admit it, but I do agree. My take is, if your hiding the price, what else is being hid. Hm?
And prices now? I see cars here that are still here year after year after year. Some I'd LOVE to have.
But, alas, too high a price, plus, I'm out of room! And three old cars is about all I can properly take care of.
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Bres Dominique
22 February 2022, 12:30
If prices were reasonable, sellers wouldn't be ashamed to display them!
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Leo Schildkamp
22 February 2022, 11:35
These words have taken my heart.
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