Please pardon my saying so, but back when I was selling 72G, if the very first question from a potential buyer was, "Does the aircraft have any damage history?" I promptly responded that I was sorry but I believed that the airplane was already sold. Even though 72G had no major damage history.
For, in my opinion, such an opening question leads me to believe that the potential buyer is either uninformed or one that would be too persnickety. Haunting me after the sale with every little thing he, or she, found wrong with the 30+ year old airplane. Either way, a hassle in which I can easily do without. Personally, damage history is not an important question. "Does the airplane presently have any faults that I should be aware of?" would be a more appropriate question.
Again, I apologize if this sounded a bit "uppity."
Bill
Grants Pass, Oregon
Bill,
Thanks for bringing up the other half of the equation.
I look at the damage issue a lot like you do I think. I would not necessarily be put off by an airplane that has been damaged and repaired well but I take your point about choice of language. Don't know if you've been following the other thread about the guy trying to sell the super duper 152 Sparrow Hawk. That guy clearly should have gotten some pointers on how to market his airplane because the approach he has taken has turned off many potential buyers, well at least me.
The same point holds true for buyers too. As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. The negotiations involved have the potential to be a lot more complicated than walking into a Krispy Kreme for a dozen glazed.
I hope my email asking about damage didn't come across the wrong way. Since his listing was on eBay there were several other questions and answers already posted and mine was a follow on to what had already been discussed. He didn't seem to take offense but then you never know.
