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That's funny, Jim. You and Hung, especially, don't even come close to the shyster crowd!

But....you know...I am looking for a nice watch!

Pssst.... Wanna buy a watch ? [members.cox.net]

Hiow about an alternator off some yellow airplane in Pennsylvania?

I've never sold an airplane before, but when I sell a car I walk the prospective buyer around the vehicle and tell them every defect I know about. That scares some buyers off. It works for the person who ends up taking the car though. They understand there's no hidden problems and are able to budget for anything they decide to fix at the time of the sale. We both end up feeling good about things.

With the airplanes, I've touched damn near every rivet, bolt, and bearing in them. I know the annuals were not pencil whipped because I was there to make sure they weren't and I did the work that most owners would skip. I look forward to finding a buyer who's appreciative of that, but it seems like most people only care about the TSMOH recorded in the logs and not the true mechanical condition of the airplane. They'd rather buy an airplane that's got 1100 TSMOH over the last twenty years in a wet climate rather than one that went 1700 in the last four out in the dry desert. You can guess which engine will rack up more hours until the next overhaul, but the "low hour" engine is more attractive. Plus, that number says absolutely nothing about the condition of the rest of the aircraft; all those little things that can eat your pocketbook for lunch.



Oh, I have. For every money grubber not looking for repeat business, however, I've run into two that love aviation and want to be in it for a long time. I've learned to do business with those for whom flying is a passion and not just a way to make a buck.

After the selling experience with John, I am going to insist to do the same when I sell in the future. And that will be to pay for the owner assisted annual. Have the prospective buyer right there as the airplane is being gone through. And then finish negotiating the deal when all the skeletons have been brought out into the open.

Bill
Grants Pass, Oregon

Another thing that I do is not to let prospective buyers fly the plane unless there is money in hand. My brother learned the hard way by giving away unlimited free flights. He even flew long distances for demo flights. No more.

If someone is serious they will not need to fly it. A tire kicker will use the guise of a purchase to get a free flight out of you. Everyone should know how a 150 flies.

In my experience serious buyers look at the logbooks and get all they need from that.

Jim

How about a cheap voltage regulator? I know what the problem is. Easy fix.

You best pull your sleeve back down to your wrist, close your briefcase and leave.

This is my territory now.

My friend Vito is coming to pay you a visit......he'll make you an offer you can't refuse.



Jim

I can't imagine anyone willing to plunk down loads of $$$ not wanting to fly it. Logs are just bits of paper with writing on it. Suppose the airplane is misrigged and you have to fly left aileron down to get the wings level. Are the logs gonna tell ya that? The logs are important but only one factor and can easily be a work of fiction. Trust but verify.