I think that is the way I look at it, Hung. The N-number is provided for us to use. Not to make a profit with. We are not the rightful owners.
Ed Pataky really wanted N999ED. We decided to change our N-number so that then freed N999ED for Ed to use. I never would have even considered making him have to purchase it from me.
Kinda like my renting a house and then turning around and selling it to somebody...............
Bill
Grants Pass, Oregon
Oh come on Wild Bill, you're telling me that if Charlie Potatos from MegaSoft Corp called you out of the blue and offered you $100k for your N number you'd blow him off? No way. And who's getting hurt...nobody.
I think where your premise is basically flawed is thinking that someone "owns" the N numbers. They don't. It's nothing like a tennant selling the rental house he occupies.
At a well know SoCal marina you need a "permit" to have the use of a slip. The permits are issued by the city, harbor master, or some such authority. You can't GET a permit from them because they're all taken. When someone wants to vacate a slip they sell the permit for a hefty sum to the next tenant ($80k in our friend's case), who also pays a substantial change-of-boat fee to the local authority. Everyone gets what they want at a price they're willing to pay. Is it the fairest way to do it? Who's to say? Probably not, but money still talks, (although in many cases now it's crying for help
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