Was I unreasonable?

frfly172 said:
If you want the airplane,the problem is yours to solve. You agreed on a price,without any provisions for delivery. How bad did you beat him up on the asking price?
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$2k off - not crazy.

As for getting it - my inlaws are in their 80's - they're not driving 150 miles each way to get me! But I can stay there -

The only offer I ever got was flying the guy an hour in the wrong direction - which is more like 2.5 hours since you need to land, get him off, refuel, then fly back -

I asked him to bring the airplane back to its home base outside Chicago where I could get it more easily. . . nope.

I also said, look, bring the airplane to an air carrier airport or major suburban airport outside milwaukee. . . where I can return a rent a car.

As for his risk - my contract says airplane is not moved until the money is 100% in escrow. The thing is coming out of annual - I've satisfied myself the plane is in good enough condition - my final inspection is everything works as stated and the accessories [cover, cowl plugs, logs] are with the airplane.

Anyway - the airplane is at an airport you a) cannot fly air carrier to and b) not serviced by buses or trains and c) has no place to drop a rental car. I'm gonna uber 60 miles?
 
WAIT WAIT WAIT!

Hold the phone....
This is POA.

Can anyone here fly @comanchepilot to this airport?
Lots of folks in that area. right?

Would that solve your problem?
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
WAIT WAIT WAIT!

Hold the phone....
This is POA.

Can anyone here fly @comanchepilot to this airport?
Lots of folks in that area. right?

Would that solve your problem?
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yeah - it would - but I asked about whether I was reasonable - much easier to provide an opinion than a ride!
 
But honestly, everyone - thanks for the input - its a reality check!
 
I think Ubering 60 miles would cost about the same as a rental car for a day.
 
Dave Theisen said:
I think Ubering 60 miles would cost about the same as a rental car for a day.
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It really depends on the location. In my experience delivering airplanes for new buyers, Uber tends to be the cheapest, even when you need to get over an hour away from the airline served airport. But, certainly not an absolute. I usually research all options.
 
To be honest, the minute I hear that the seller is in Florida and the airplane in Wisconsin, I’m done. If the seller couldn’t be bothered to fly up and sell his airplane, what kind of care is he really giving it? It’s a buyer’s market and there are a lot out there. My first airplane I flew all over the place to sell, and spent a day at the airport with the buyer. I did what I had to do to sell it. I flew my second airplane to bloody Georgia in August to unload it. If the seller isn’t willing to do what it takes he or she can find another buyer. Good luck with that, and I hope he enjoys paying hangar fees all winter for an airplane he’s not going to fly. Sellers can be so utterly stupid.
 
Thinking differently, if it wasn’t in the contract for the seller to deliver it to a location of the buyer’s choosing, then I’d think it’s “As Is, Where Is”.
 
I recall when I'd reached impasse on my purchase negotiation... no more price shift from a seller who knew I wanted his plane. But, the final deal point was the Power Tow, which I persuaded Mr. Seller (a gentleman all the way) to throw in, and he carefully broke it down and packaged it up for transport in the baggage compartment, with appropriate padding and protection. He also arranged my instructor sign-off (by a Bird Colonel, no less!), and offered me a place to sleep, if needed prior to return flight.

Always look for ways to make the deal work, but when asking, make sure it's something seller can easily accommodate.
 
The time investment in buying an airplane is considerable. I wouldn't let a $150 uber ride stand between me and the right airplane.
 
So….is the OP going back to the seller to work it out, or has the bridge been burned???
 
Fearless Tower said:
So….is the OP going back to the seller to work it out, or has the bridge been burned???
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I think the bridge collapsed.

bridge_831572a.jpg
 
If the OP still wants the airplane, he can have a friend call to make the deal, and then he can fly in to sign the papers. The seller has never met him and won’t be there, so he won’t recognize who the buyer is/was.

But the operative word is “if.”
 
Maybe the uber ride to that airport was just the tip of the iceberg?

We don’t know and depending what happened before it might was reasonable to call off the purchase. Just my 2 cents.
 
Skywalker said:
Maybe the uber ride to that airport was just the tip of the iceberg?

We don’t know and depending what happened before it might was reasonable to call off the purchase. Just my 2 cents.
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Certainly, but if that was the case, I would think the OP would have shared those additional details, particularly since he was specifically asking if his reaction was reasonable.
 
Next time, post here and see if anyone in the area could drive you over. A two hour round trip drive isn't unreasonable, no reason to pay uber through the nose for it. Throw some gas money in and its good.

Then once you've decided you're going to drive, maybe the guy driving would be a pilot and offer to fly you over...crazy idea, I know, what are the odds...
 
The interesting thing about this story is that the folks I know who buy and sell a lot of airplanes use AIRPLANES to go look at them and get them.

They grab whatever time builder who’s spending a small fortune anyway flying around going nowhere at the local club and tell them they have a “mission” to go get an airplane, or another pilot with an airplane and they go get it done. Someone always wants to go. Trade some safety pilot time, whatever. (Make it as legal as you like, I’m sure some pay for the gas... whatever.)

All this “rental car” this and “Uber” that... why?

The best way to get to an airport is by air, after all.
 
denverpilot said:
The interesting thing about this story is that the folks I know who buy and sell a lot of airplanes use AIRPLANES to go look at them and get them.

They grab whatever time builder who’s spending a small fortune anyway flying around going nowhere at the local club and tell them they have a “mission” to go get an airplane, or another pilot with an airplane and they go get it done. Someone always wants to go. Trade some safety pilot time, whatever. (Make it as legal as you like, I’m sure some pay for the gas... whatever.)

All this “rental car” this and “Uber” that... why?

The best way to get to an airport is by air, after all.
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That's how I got my Luscombe back home.
 
Skyrys62 said:
hmmm..... needing an uber to go buy a plane...

seems like a good problem to have if you ask me :)
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The heart bleeds doesn’t it? Touching story. LOL.

It’s that time of year. Hallmark Channel needs some good holiday tear jerkers. They might pick this one up. Hehe.
 
I wanted to test drive a niche market car for the wife, 3 hours from home. Made arrangements a few days in advance of a rare time that both mine and my wife's schedules aligned and allowed for such a trip. Day of, touch base with seller to ensure we're good, he informed me it was raining, car had been detailed recently, not willing to show it.

Offered me a few alternate days, all of which I declined without checking to see if they worked or not. My buddy told me it was probably a very well maintained car if the guy wouldn't take it out in the rain even to show it. I disagreed. Must not want to sell but so bad. If you want to sell the car, you'll detail it again if I don't buy it. Dime holding up a dollar in my opinion. This situation seems similar. I view the buyer as being in the position of having the upper hand here and seller should probably accommodate minor inconveniences as possible.

Great thing is, both parties will probably eventually end up happy and thinking they won. Seller will find a willing buyer, OP will buy a different plane and likely be just as happy.
 
denverpilot said:
The interesting thing about this story is that the folks I know who buy and sell a lot of airplanes use AIRPLANES to go look at them and get them.
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That's great, but doesn't work for alot of buyers.

The first time a lot of my customers see their new airplane is when I show up with it at their home airport. May sound crazy, but it happens….quite frequently.

Might not be the best way to buy an airplane, but a lot of folks really are buying planes sight unseen.
 
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