Selling a car without a price.
Discussion
Why? I mean, I often see cars parked up with a 'for sale' sign in the window, but what's the point in offering something for sale without stating your expectations regarding financial remuneration? Even the price of the sheddiest of sheds can vary by hundreds, so some clue or indication as to your personal valuation must be a tremendous help in actually selling the thing.
Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
johnny fotze said:
Why? I mean, I often see cars parked up with a 'for sale' sign in the window, but what's the point in offering something for sale without stating your expectations regarding financial remuneration? Even the price of the sheddiest of sheds can vary by hundreds, so some clue or indication as to your personal valuation must be a tremendous help in actually selling the thing.
Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
I agree.Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
Especially annoys me when advert is on-line or printed, and I really cannot be bothered to chase them around.
Dr Interceptor said:
Nothing wrong with it... quite common in the classic car world, especially on cars that are tricky to value.
The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
But the point is that the only reason why a seller wouldn't state a price is that they are hoping someone will come along and offer "over the odds" for it.The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
If you state a price you're setting a ceiling on what you'll get for it. If you don't state a price then you don't have that ceiling. It's the only reason I can think of.
In some ways it could be considered sensible for a seller who is trying to maximise the value achieved for the vehicle, but they will more likely get 99.9% of offers below a price they'd sell for, and they're dealing which this just in hope of that 0.1% who come and offer above.
Why else would you do it?
mrmr96 said:
But the point is that the only reason why a seller wouldn't state a price is that they are hoping someone will come along and offer "over the odds" for it.
If you state a price you're setting a ceiling on what you'll get for it. If you don't state a price then you don't have that ceiling. It's the only reason I can think of.
In some ways it could be considered sensible for a seller who is trying to maximise the value achieved for the vehicle, but they will more likely get 99.9% of offers below a price they'd sell for, and they're dealing which this just in hope of that 0.1% who come and offer above.
Why else would you do it?
1. You might not be sure what it's worth, so invite offers. You can then review said offers, see if any would tempt you into parting company with your P&J and then make a decision. If you state a price you're setting a ceiling on what you'll get for it. If you don't state a price then you don't have that ceiling. It's the only reason I can think of.
In some ways it could be considered sensible for a seller who is trying to maximise the value achieved for the vehicle, but they will more likely get 99.9% of offers below a price they'd sell for, and they're dealing which this just in hope of that 0.1% who come and offer above.
Why else would you do it?
2. If you advertise an asking price, buyers will typically bid you a lower offer. If you invite offers, then the buyer is effectively showing their hand first.
3. Some people as you say will be trying to maximise the value attained.
johnny fotze said:
Why? I mean, I often see cars parked up with a 'for sale' sign in the window, but what's the point in offering something for sale without stating your expectations regarding financial remuneration? Even the price of the sheddiest of sheds can vary by hundreds, so some clue or indication as to your personal valuation must be a tremendous help in actually selling the thing.
Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
I heard and it is probably total BS that in the badly modified crusing scene it was a way to get your number out to invite races without being too blatant but also potentially sell the car if the price is right.Almost as bad is 'offers'. What's the reasoning behind that? You enjoy engaging with timewasters and chancers on the off chance someone will match or exceed the magic number known only to yourself?
Rant over, discuss. Or don't, I just needed to get that off my chest.
Dr Interceptor said:
mrmr96 said:
But the point is that the only reason why a seller wouldn't state a price is that they are hoping someone will come along and offer "over the odds" for it.
If you state a price you're setting a ceiling on what you'll get for it. If you don't state a price then you don't have that ceiling. It's the only reason I can think of.
In some ways it could be considered sensible for a seller who is trying to maximise the value achieved for the vehicle, but they will more likely get 99.9% of offers below a price they'd sell for, and they're dealing which this just in hope of that 0.1% who come and offer above.
Why else would you do it?
1. You might not be sure what it's worth, so invite offers. You can then review said offers, see if any would tempt you into parting company with your P&J and then make a decision. If you state a price you're setting a ceiling on what you'll get for it. If you don't state a price then you don't have that ceiling. It's the only reason I can think of.
In some ways it could be considered sensible for a seller who is trying to maximise the value achieved for the vehicle, but they will more likely get 99.9% of offers below a price they'd sell for, and they're dealing which this just in hope of that 0.1% who come and offer above.
Why else would you do it?
2. If you advertise an asking price, buyers will typically bid you a lower offer. If you invite offers, then the buyer is effectively showing their hand first.
3. Some people as you say will be trying to maximise the value attained.
Your point 1 is moot, because you don't need to receive offers in order to decide the value you would like to sell at. There has to be a benchmark in your mind which you're comparing these offers against in order to determine if you'll accept them or not (how else are you deciding?). Why not figure out that benchmark in advance, and advertise it as the price? (Indeed you could build some negotiation into the price you set, but the point is you still can set a price.)
I maintain that the only reason is to hope that you receive offers above the minimum you'd accept. Not saying there's anything implicitly wrong with that, but just be honest and open about it.
Dr Interceptor said:
Nothing wrong with it... quite common in the classic car world, especially on cars that are tricky to value.
The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
Understandable in the classic car world where 'personal' value is a consideration, but outside it?The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
Like most I have a budget, and the aim is to get the best possible within that budget. Without knowing the sellers valuation prior to veiwing I'm setting myself up as a timewaster. How much of my/their time do I waste before discovering our individual valuations are worlds apart?
johnny fotze said:
Dr Interceptor said:
Nothing wrong with it... quite common in the classic car world, especially on cars that are tricky to value.
The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
Understandable in the classic car world where 'personal' value is a consideration, but outside it?The seller is open to offers, make one. If it's a good offer, it may be considered.
Like most I have a budget, and the aim is to get the best possible within that budget. Without knowing the sellers valuation prior to veiwing I'm setting myself up as a timewaster. How much of my/their time do I waste before discovering our individual valuations are worlds apart?
You'll either get a 'not even close' response or a 'not far off the right ballpark' response - you might even have it accepted.
You never know.
Saw one yesterday. V Reg Astra.( Classic that's hard to put a value on? )
For Sale and a mobile number.
Lazy Seller.
Good Luck with that one.
Only once I've ever sold a car off the back of an Ad in the window.
It had been on Autotrader and Ebay as classified for Two Weeks but just sat on drive at home, nothing.
Stuck For Sale in but with Price o.n.o. MOT details and few other bits of info and took it to work leaving it in a prominent spot near the Road into the car park.
Two days later it was Sold for £50 less than asking price (you can guess it was shed money) The Buyer spotted it in car park whilst passing.
For Sale and a mobile number.
Lazy Seller.
Good Luck with that one.
Only once I've ever sold a car off the back of an Ad in the window.
It had been on Autotrader and Ebay as classified for Two Weeks but just sat on drive at home, nothing.
Stuck For Sale in but with Price o.n.o. MOT details and few other bits of info and took it to work leaving it in a prominent spot near the Road into the car park.
Two days later it was Sold for £50 less than asking price (you can guess it was shed money) The Buyer spotted it in car park whilst passing.
Dr Interceptor said:
Send them an offer.
You'll either get a 'not even close' response or a 'not far off the right ballpark' response - you might even have it accepted.
You never know.
The problem with that is that without getting into the nitty gritty of mileage, service history, MOT, etc. and giving the tyres a right good booting, you're as good as buying blind. I could make an offer based purely on outward appearance, then find myself reducing said offer after a closer inspection, which in the eyes of most would make me a timewaster. Far better that the seller sets the price and closer inspection either justifies it or gives reason for negotiation.You'll either get a 'not even close' response or a 'not far off the right ballpark' response - you might even have it accepted.
You never know.
What sparked my rant was a car I spotted this morning which appears to be just what I'm looking for. If it was on a dealer forecourt with service history etc. then it would probably be outside my budget, but a lack of this would maybe bring it inside. Either way there'd be a figure on the windscreen to get things started. As the seller isn't a dealer (with a forecourt anyway) then there should be no dealer premium, but without the figure on the windscreen- who knows what's going on inside his head.
I'm currently working on site with a strict mobile ban for security reasons. I did send a text at 6 this morning enquiring about the price, but won't know the reply until this evening. If it sounds reasonable I'll give him a ring and go from there, but given that he won't put the price on the for sale sign I'm not holding my breathe, and I'm b
ksed if I'm going to bust a nut to give my hard earned to someone who may or may not want it.Cotty said:
POA. Am I reading this right? It stands for Price on Application, so if I call the seller he will tell me the price but won't put it in the advert. 
Yeah, I always found this odd. You see these ads generally on higher end cars in the likes of Top Marques etc. (Other similar publications are available) Tempted to just ring one day and see what they say. Probably a Mason's thing.
Sure someone on here could tell us what generally happens.
davamer23 said:
Cotty said:
POA. Am I reading this right? It stands for Price on Application, so if I call the seller he will tell me the price but won't put it in the advert.
Yeah, I always found this odd. You see these ads generally on higher end cars in the likes of Top Marques etc. (Other similar publications are available) Tempted to just ring one day and see what they say. Probably a Mason's thing.
Sure someone on here could tell us what generally happens.
aka_kerrly said:
I hate this practice to and think it's a case of either it's so absurdly expensive you have to be wealthy enough to not care about the purchase price. Or they took it at part ex at a tiny price and are worried about advertising it at a substantially higher price...
Reminds me of a story Michael Winner once told (I don't mean he told me personally, we weren't on speaking terms. Not sure why, I don't recall us meeting let alone falling out).Anyway, Michael Winner's fancy is taken by a Rolls Royce he sees in a dealers window so goes in to enquire about the price.
"if you have to ask, then you can't afford it" he is told.
"I assure you I most certainly can afford to buy it" he replies "now f
k off and find me someone who can sell it"Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff