and a 150 Pacer just popped up on bs, not quite $15,000 but nice looking.

One thing for sure...if he doesn't ask, it wont come knocking at his door. Like was said before, he might find someone that really needs some cash right now, and bingo, he's got a great deal....all because he asked. I've seen that happen more than once, and I'm always the one standing on the "outside" looking in, wondering why I didn't have the guts to ask.....
I agree also with the fact that there'll be more than that amount put in the plane with STC's and stuff....but when people are in a bind....... anything can happen.
John

My Father in Law made a good point when we bought our Mustang a few weeks ago. He came with me because he's a Classic Car guy. He threw out what he thought was a fair offer and I said I didn't want to insult the guy with that offer. His reply was.... Who cares you don't even know the guy...you'll never know unless you ask. He laughed at my offer but countered with yet still almost a grand less than we thought we would get it for so it worked to our advantage and established a starting point.

Avid flyer makes a good point, and you don't have to insult them to make a "lowball" offer. Just politely say my budget is this, you have a nice bird, if I can get it for this I'll take it, if not I understand. Here's my name and number and if things change in the future please call me. I was shopping about 3 years ago, talked to lots of Cessna sellers. I am still getting calls from these guys 3 years later and they are now willing to take the offer I made a couple of years ago. I already purchased a plane, but it goes to show that lots of sellers are starting to realize that their prices are way off given the current market. Sometimes it just takes them a year or two to come to that realization. I think pulling out old TAP magazines from a year ago and calling on some the ads that are no longer listed might turn up some discouraged sellers also. Russ

The market is funny. One airplane I have seen advertised for a while is now 20+K more than it was a week ago. Go figure. Another airplane I called, the owner on said he had an over-the-phone full offer. "Wow, good for you," I told him. Weeks later the owner calls me back and said the prospective purchaser never showed up, called and said a garbage truck ran over his Super Cub and couldn't make it. The seller was offering it to me at the full price, as a back up. I told him what I could pay cash in hand, (a fair offer) if it was as advertised. He said he'd think about it and call me back, haven't heard from him since. It is still sitting on the market.

Yup, this is what is happening to me. I called a few weeks ago on a Pacer that was pretty cheap for reasons I found acceptable. I told him my budget and told him how much cash I could give him. He didn't like it, I gave him my info...and I haven't heard back and the ad is gone, I think he sold it. Another guy I called nearly a year ago I did the same thing. He's called or emailed me two or three times since still trying to work a deal. I told him what I could afford and would pay each time, and he keeps coming down on what he'll take. The plane is still for sale...and I've become less interested so I for sure won't raise my previous offers. Everytime I hear someone say they have a guy coming to look at it, I wish them luck. I figure it's worth a try sometimes to make an offer and I might end up making a match between my budget and a guy that really needs money and is willing to deal.