Question regarding WTB
 

Hello all:

I'm probably being naive or stupid, but I have a question regarding WTB types advertising here as well as the Samba, Craigslist, etc. Many state they are looking for a 911 of 912 in any condition, from project to restored, running or not. Some go as far to list a (sometimes ridiculous) price range. If this is true, why are there any cars available at all for sale? It seems logical to assume every car listed would quickly be scarfed up by all the WTBers. This issue has most likely been addressed before, but has vexed me for a while now. Most likely, they are bargain hunters, flippers, or even true enthusiasts seeking a great deal, and hope the sellers come to them (placing the WTBer in a better bargaining position?). Their reasons are really none of my business, but certainly I can't be the first to wonder about this. I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by my curiosity.
Pardon my ignorance, but I'm new to these forums, having only registered with the 912BBS yesterday.
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this question.

They are either looking for less expensive cars and/or for passive sellers who don't wish to advertise. Many cars sell without being advertised.

Makes sense, thank you.
I'll probably be in that group when I finally decide to sell my 912. I'd like to sell, but don't care much for the sometimes hassle. I've sold plenty of cars over the years, but none with this escalating value and continued mystic, so reluctance is my biggest obstacle (along with the obvious seller's regret which would follow).

If the ad is fairly specific about what they are looking and it is just for a 912, it's possible it's an enthusiast placing the ad, what you are describing, multiple models/project status are the ads by dealers/flippers.

PP requires an asking price when For Sales are posted.
It would be good if WTB ads require an offer price as well.

For example,
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/806925-wanted-3-2-coupe-pref-g50.html

when there is one available right now

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/813261-1987-porsche-carrera-coupe-original-paint-meticulous-records.html
"First year of the much improved G50 transmission and hydraulic clutch $38,995"

How could you possibly require an offer price? A seller knows what he's selling. A WTB ad can stipulate some requirements, can't specify EVERYTHING, and certainly not to the level that would justify including a price. As for the 87, I think the price is high, but it seems to be a very nice car. The price indicates (to me) that the seller is looking for lottery money, and I'm not going to bother with an offer in such a situation.

Clearly, WTB's have a price range and yours is no exception.

Without a price range, responding to WTB's is just a waste of everyone's time when the potential buyer and seller are not even in the same ballpark.

<shrug> My range has less to do with my budget and more to do with market value. I consider the pricing of the white car to be above market and I won't pay it. If I found something that was more fairly priced at the same number, I'd buy it.

That sounds like your price range is 30-40K.

WTB ads can bring cars that aren't really for sale out as well. I didn't outwardly want to sell my B5 S4, but when someone on a [relatively] local forum posted they wanted a 6spd B5 S4 with under 100k miles and put a price range that was a couple thousand over book, I responded saying I could be talked out of mine. Ended up getting $500 more than his top price, but had huge maintenance receipts to prove the car was worth it. Good deal for both of us, as he got a car that I maintained like I was going to keep it, and I got the absolute most anyone would for such a car.

As to the WTB with a price - it all depends. Had the guy not mentioned a price on his S4 search, I likely wouldn't have responded. That said, the range of condition and repair cost is huge on P-cars, and I wouldn't be able to put a price range out there if I were looking.

I have chased down more than a few WTB listings, only to discover the "hidden layers" of requirements not listed in the posts.

Occasionally, the WTB poster will have gotten over sticker shock and will have moved some of those 'has to have' items over to the 'nice to have' list.

If I were to take all WTBs seriously, no red 911 would ever be sold -- to anyone at any price.

Very true. I didn't anticipate the WTB ad I responded would result in anything. To my surprise, the guy showed up as scheduled two days later with green money for me.