Someone explain POA or POR reasoning?

WANNA930 · 10-08-2013, 04:04 PM

Ok I might have asked this before (not sure) but with the upswing of the 911 market so has the secret price ads.

I am not looking to argue but am seriously interested why someone would write a very detailed ad and then right SERIOUS ONLY POA?

It seams to contradict itself as how can you expect a serious buyer ready to buy when they have no idea what you are asking? I know you kind of expect the buyer to have done their homework but that would still put it in a range that varies greatly between seller and car.

What is the seller gaining? It isn't an auction and when the person calls isn't the 1st question going to be price? Why not just not waste each others time. There are 20 million dollar homes for sale with their listed pricing so why not on a $50to$125k Porsche.

Again it might seam like I am looking to argue but I really want a seller to give me insight into why they would do this. Anybody have their car listed like this?

racer · 10-08-2013, 04:11 PM

No doubt used to reduce the number of tire kicker inquiries. As a buyer, when I see POA I think, well, "snooty overpriced car" and don't bother to ask. If you "are serious", you would have an idea of the price range, or, simply call and ask, no?

WANNA930 · 10-09-2013, 07:27 AM

See that is where I guess I do not get it as if I am selling a car putting a price stops that 50% of the calls just trying to see how much I am asking? Being serious to me means when I call I am ready to buy and just want the particulars. I have bought and sold over 60 cars in my lifetime and hate having my time wasted.

Pricing is rarely that dead on with different sellers having different mindsets.

I usually walk away also but don't assume the snooty deal I just feel it allows them to run an auction without using EBAY.

Six Gun · 10-09-2013, 07:27 AM

What is POA ??

urseppos · urseppos's Garage

I think POA = Price On Application ? I do agree w/WANNA930 as I find it frustrating as well.

vracer · vracer's Garage

Good question. We should have people here who can give us the seller's perspective.

joey bagadonuts · 10-09-2013, 08:29 AM

POA or POR might be used to increase visibility.

If a car is listed on a site which allows you to filter or rank by price, listings with no price (like a POA/POR car) are usually returned in your search as the lowest price. It's similar to CL where sellers often use a $1 price to get their listing to appear at the top of the screen.

I'm not sure it's a good strategy, either. The "snooty overpriced" impression racer mentioned will be a turn off. It's also a bit evasive and shows a lack of concern for what buyers want. Hardly a good way to win over customers.

So while POR/POA might get more eyes to view the listing, it will probably turn off a number of "serious buyers" and limit the seller's upside.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

I never advertise that way.

However, I could see how it could make sense with a car I'm about to put on the market.

It's a '73.5 non sunroof T, numbers matching. As it sits, $25K. If I'm able to swap out the early 6's on the car for correct flat Fuchs, $24.4K. If the buyer has his own wheels and doesn't need the ones on the car, $23.4K. And the car currently has a Carrera engine lid + grille. I'll swap that for a correct lid and grille for +$350. So describing the pricing might require a spreadsheet.

I don't like to advertise cars with so many options, but can deal with them in conversation "on request." so I do understand how it could be an option for the seller...

vracer · vracer's Garage

Weenieman,
If you were to advertise the car as a '73.5 non sunroof, #s matching car, POA, my assumption would be that is a 10K, very original, one owner, concourse winner in the $90K range. There is a good chance I wouldn't even call. I am not offering you advice, because you don't need any, but for a relative newbie seller, I would say ask $27K, $26K, or $25K, and work out the details with a potential buyer.

christiandk · christiandk's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vracer

Weenieman,
If you were to advertise the car as a '73.5 non sunroof, #s matching car, POA, my assumption would be that is a 10K, very original, one owner, concourse winner in the $90K range. There is a good chance I wouldn't even call. I am not offering you advice, because you don't need any, but for a relative newbie seller, I would say ask $27K, $26K, or $25K, and work out the details with a potential buyer.

I doubt that tech is about to sell a 73.5 for 25k - he was speaking hypothetically as far as I can tell.

If not I am a buyer

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by christiandk

I doubt that tech is about to sell a 73.5 for 25k - he was speaking hypothetically as far as I can tell.

If not I am a buyer

No, it's a real car. But it has some alterations from stock that would not appeal to you. PM if you want info.

whiterabbit · 10-09-2013, 05:27 PM

I think some seller do this as they are not sure of the market or think the market is rapidly rising. I get Octane magazine and this month pretty much all the classic Astons and Ferraris are POA. Likewise it keeps the print add relevent as many folks still don't use the internet and use the magazines.

mobius911 · 10-10-2013, 01:45 PM

Are most of those cars for sale in the UK? They seem to be big on "POA".

The other type I hate are the dealer ads in magazines like Autoweek, where the dealer lists a car and brief description, like this:

2002 911 Turbo, 6 speed, white/black......................48,000 miles

It's like they know the eye is trained to look for a number after all the dots, but they serve up the mileage instead of the price. Really annoying.

Matt Monson · 10-10-2013, 02:44 PM

I think the POA listing serves two functions. One, it keeps tire kickers and time wasters away.

And the second one is that when the phone rings, the salesman knows that they have a real sales lead on the line and can give them their whole song and dance.

As much as I hate the practice I think it is a genuine method for people in the business to generate leads without having to weed through the chaff. I rarely see POA listings from private sellers. Mostly brokers and dealers.

whiterabbit · 10-10-2013, 05:40 PM

It makes sense about keeping tire kickers away.

So the concensus is its a good idea from a sellers point of view? Sounds correct as its what a lot of dealers are doing and they are the pros.

urseppos · urseppos's Garage

Quote:

Are most of those cars for sale in the UK? They seem to be big on "POA".

Same as here, some do but most state the price.

MrBonus · 10-11-2013, 09:15 AM

I've always interpreted that as "more than I want to spend" as every time I called a "please call for price" ad, I was always met with prices that were significantly over the going rate for the vehicle in question.

wgwollet · 10-11-2013, 09:58 AM

POA is something I never call on, it's a waste of time for the buyer. I usually go on their website to find the price, then if still POA I am done.

POA cars are usually way over priced, dealers know they have a ringer and do not need to sell it to pay the overhead of doing business. It's just a lead to listen to a sales person. People calling POA ads, usually run into many phone exchanges, before you get the true price and facts. Then after doing this once in your shopping experience, you learn, and stop calling on these cars.

POA is used as a tool to advertise a car usually in a mag ad, just to show what inventory the dealers have and the type of cars they specialize in.