How to sell my C-172?

[kentb]

My RV9A is in phase II now and I don't need (can't afford) my Cessna 172.

For those that have sold planes before (the 172 was my first plane), how is the best way to find a buyer?

What advertising media/publications should I use?

Kent

[mbell]

I have bought and sold about 2 dozen airplanes over the last 30 years and Trade-a-Plane is still the best. But you also want to put it on Barnstormers website and ebay is OK too. Take lots of pictures and put them in the ads. Put all the pertinent info in the ad. That will cut down on some of the goofy calls. Make a list of what's good and what's bad about your plane. Emphasize the good but be up front about the bad. Don't waste your time or a buyer's time by trying to hide stuff. Be reasonable about the asking price. It's easy with a factory-built like a 172 to get a "bluebook" figure off of the valuation service from TAP and AOPA, or have a pro do it. Clean it up and have all the logs and papers in order. Reply immediately to emails and phone calls. Too many people post ads and never reply, or they can't answer simple questions about their plane. I use ebay but consider it only an advertising tool. I don't think most rational people would buy an airplane sight unseen off ebay. There's a way to post it now where people can make bids to you and you can dicker back and forth, and automatically reject lowball offers. Expect flakes to reply to ebay ads. I have had lots of inquiries but never sold an airplane from an ebay ad. A buddy did sell his 172 in a couple of days on ebay so it's possible.
Also, make a flyer and post it on every local airport bulletin board. You can post for free on AOPA's website. And if you don't want to mess with all the above, let a broker handle it. But you should be able to sell a 172 without paying a broker.

Mike Bell
Elk Grove, CA
Formerly RV4, 6

[mbell]

And since you are up in Oregon consider an ad in General Aviation News and Flyer. They have a pretty good distribution in the Pacific NW.

[DBone]

I just sold a Cherokee 235 in preparation for my 7a tail kit to arrive. I had it listed on just about every airplane selling site on the Internet, but I got the most, by far, interest from the eBay ad. They have a "fixed price" ad option, which lets you set the price and it's displayed to everybody. Users can then either offer full price and it's a done deal, or they can offer something less. And believe me, you'll get a lot of offers for $5k or $10k. I simply denied those offers and responded "serious offers only, please".

Just like Mike said, I thought of it more of an advertisement because nobody is going to actually bid for and buy the plane through it. I think it was $70 for 6 pictures and a 21 day add.

I also agree with eBay producing some weird responses. I got plenty of LOW ball offers, but the trade offers were the best... I could have had an Ford F-350 and a ranch in Minnesota if I wanted it. Boats and motorcycles were also popular offers for trade.

Dave
Dallas, TX
7A Empennage Kit