briankbski

A few words of wisdom and caution.  As most of you know I sold my Avid Catalina Kit over this past weekend.  Today I received a troubling email from the buyer.  Below is his email from today and below that is my reply.  Has anyone EVER encounter a situation as odd as this where the response is so unexpected and unwarranted?
 
Dales reply to me today ...
 
merry christmas, you just got about $3500 dollars more than this crap is worth. Guess That will be my lesson to trust no one. Used seats used instruments no nav lights, the pedals are a bad joke, and the list goes on. Not to mention the 1200$ just to travel up there. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will more than likely have to part it out to break even. Thanks for the grief............
 
 
My response to Dale's email
 
Hello Dale  (Pilot in Command)
I’m not sure how to respond to your note.  To say I am completely surprised and disillusioned and saddened would be an understatement.  The whole time you were here on Saturday I never once got the impression you were not satisfied with the condition of the kit.  I sensed you didn’t realize how many parts there were and that it might take you a little longer to assemble it … but it is an airplane ( a seaplane) kit … what did you expect?
 
You were here from 10am to 5pm …  I spent the better part of the day helping you where I could to loading everything.  ALL the parts … right down to every nut, bolt and washer was available to you to look at and review.  Almost every part was labeled and easily identifiable.  How is this in any way me ripping you off?
 
NOTHING was hidden or concealed.  YOU handled EVERY SINGLE PART.  I didn’t even plastic wrap the AN parts bins until you were just about to load them.  The CLEAR plastic bags the seat cushions were in were OPEN for you to inspect ... NOT sealed.   You even helped me double bag them.   And BTW  the seat cushions are NOT used … remember they have been stored since the kit was bought by the original owner.  Probably about 25 years.  Yes, there were a few minor blemishes on them but NO wear marks NO rips and NO tears.  How is this in any way me ripping you off?
 
YOU duct taped EVERY SINGLE CONNECTION (nut and bolt) on the control surfaces, control linkages and wing mount attachments.  There wasn’t a part of the kit YOU didn’t have you hands on.  FOUR days AFTER you arrive home … NOW you tell me this is not what you thought it would be???   Good god man … grow up!  YOU decided to buy the kit!  YOU decided to contact me after seeing the ad!  YOU phoned ME and WE negotiated a fair deal.  I sent you EVERY photo you asked for … YOU DIDN’T buy this kit sight unseen.  YOU bought it with your EYES WIDE OPEN.  How is this in any way me ripping you off?
 
No one put a gun to your head forcing you to make an offer on this kit and buy it.  I NEVER called you and asked you to buy it.  At ANY TIME before you arrived or while you were here you could have said this is not what I was expecting and decided not to buy it.  YOU had the money … the ball was in your court.  YOU had the ENTIRE kit loaded and strapped down BEFORE you even gave me the money!  How is this in any way me ripping you off?
 
You knew I would have been happy to keep the kit and put it in storage.  You knew I was not in a rush to sell it … I told you on many occasions, even while you were here loading it.  In 2009 I paid $13,600 for the kit and NEVER once felt I got ripped off.  Yes … I paid a premium dollar for it but it was what I wanted.  In 2015 I sold it to you for $8,500 … a $5,100 loss to me, remember, it also cost me $1,100 to have it shipped to Thunder Bay from Ottawa.  How is this in any way me ripping you off? 
 
Now that you are home you give the kit a valuation of $5,000??? … I disagree.  I think the kit is easily worth what you paid.  If you think it is only worth $5,000 then listed it and sell it at that price.  My guess is you will have people fighting to buy it at that price.  If I could get time off work I would drive down tomorrow to buy it back for $5,000.  Remember, that is the valuation you just placed on the kit.  
  
I’ll even go one step further … you bring it back in the EXACT same condition with ALL the parts … I will give you your $8,500 and put it in storage ... like I was going to do!  That is $3,500 more than what you value the kit to be worth.   Be thankful … I think most people would tell you to F.O. and be done with you!  How is this in any way me ripping you off? 
 
Discuss the offer with your wife show her this email ... or anyone else ... I’m betting they will all feel I am being more than fair.
 
DON’T ever say I ripped you off.  You will not find a more honest and open individual.  I pride myself on my honesty and integrity.
 
YOU of all people … someone who has owned two previous Avids … one amphibian and one Catalina, should know what they are getting themselves into. 
 
During our conversations you said both were not what you really expected and they both had issues … especially once you stripped the fabric off wings and fuselage and saw what need to be repaired.
I am sorry you had bad experiences with your two other aircraft.   
I am sorry to hear you sold your last Catalina to your friend (teacher) and now feel you got ripped off on that too! 
I am sorry to hear that your first Amphibian almost fell off the trailer and the fuselage got twisted and damaged while you were still in British Columbia. 
I am sorry you lost parts from one of your previous plane transporting it back from BC.  
I am sorry you felt the trailer you got with one of the planes was crap and needed to be rebuilt.   
I am sorry if you felt assembling this kit was more than what you expected.  
I am truly sorry, but none of that is my problem.
There seems to be a common theme here … you buy a plane … after the fact you have issues with it … and then blame others.   Try taking responsibility for your own decisions and actions … it is called growing up!
 
The ball is in your court!
 
Brian

HELLO All
 
Welcome to my Airdale Backcountry s/n 007 restoration Diary.  Over the next 2 years ... hopefully sooner ... I am going to chronicle the rebuild this bird from the ground up.  I initially debated if I should remove all the fabric but have now decided to do exactly that.  The wings were never in question, they were going to be recovered.  The frame has a little  "surface rust?  I will post photos.  I am going to have it bead / sand blasted and re-coated. The frame is currently powder coated.
 
Below is a reprint of a post I put in the General Category.  Since this is an Airdale I thought it would be better to start a new thread in the Airdale Category.   Probably best to start with my introduction post.  (see below).
 
I am the PROUD new owner of an Airdale Backcountry kit (exactly the same as shown on Airdale's home page.  Serial Number is 007.  The original owner of this kit was Mr. John Larsen.   S/N 007 has has never flown and I am the 3rd owner of the kit.  It is probably 50% complete.  My wife and I picked it up two weeks ago.  We were VERY fortunate to have been able to arrange a meeting with Mr. Jerry Matison (former owner of Airdale).  We also got to see his Airdale S/N 001.  It is in his hanger on floats ... what a BEAUTIFUL sight.  We took a number of photos.  See attachments.  The plane shown on Airdale's home page is Jerry's plane but on wheels.  My plane has the extended speed wings ... not the STOL wings as Jerry's plane has.   Oh ya, the speed wings are missing the fiberglass wing tips.  Apparently, I can order these from Kit Fox.  I have seen an article, detailed in writing and photos, where someone installed these on a wing similar to mine.
 
I was also very fortunate to be able to speak with Mr. John Larsen prior to purchasing my kit.  As most of you know he has been involved with Avid, Kit Fox and Airdale and has helped design many of the features of their aircraft.
 
The wings and fusealge are covered and painted with initial silver coat.  I will be stripping off the dacron from the wings to get a better look before I recover them.  One wing has the new Airdale ethanol resistant fuel tank, the other wing has the regular fiberglass fuel tank.  I will try to post a few photos of the kit as it sits now.
         
Looking forward to any and all comments.
 
Brian
Captaincanuck

Make an offer!  COMPLETE kit.  Kit #148 AB. All factory recommended upgrades are here.  I have ALL the manuals and TONS of other reference material.  EVERY thing is here needed to complete and cover the kit.  EXCELLENT condition.  NO engine.  Engine mount is for a Rotax 582.  Some instruments.  See my other post to view photos of the kit.  I can post more photos if needed.  Askiong $12,500 Canadian (about $8,750 - $9,000 US)   All reasonable offers considered.  Thank you for looking.
 
It is killing me to sell but I now have an Airdale Backcountry s/n 007 to complete that will take up my limited free time.  If I can't sell it the Catalina goes back into storage.
 
Brian

Thought I would start a new thread in this forum to document the building of Airdale s/n 007.  I still haven't decided on a name for her / it!  She will be heading into the garage shortly.  I wanted to take a few photos with the wings extended before I take them off and take the covering off.  Thought everyone might like to see her stretching her wings.  It will be a while before you get to see her with the wings on again.  I will keep everyone up to date on my progress with posts and LOTS of photos and questions.  
 
The 7 pallets of Lock Stone (started with 9) you see in the photos need to be taken care of before I get to play with the Airdale.  : (   I promised my wife I would finish off the last few projects around the yard and house before I would make her a plane building widow.  LOL   My plan is to start working on the Airdale this fall.  
 
The lake you see in the Background is Lake Superior.  CAN'T wait to put skis on her for the winter and floats for the summer and fly her from home.  The plan is to keep her parked beside the house and wheel her through the front yard and on to the beach / ice and fly her from home. EXCITING.  Got to have a dream. : ) 

A few photos of my Catalina #148AB  ... looks like it's back into storage  : (   as I start on the Airdale this fall as she will take far less time to complete and get flying. : )   Haven't done much to the Cat.   All the control linkages were removed and painted and labeled for easier identification and thought it would make it faster, easier and most importantly improve thoroughness and accuracy of pre-flight and annual inspections which ultimately improves safety!   Started to add carbon fiber reinforcements in the areas where the fuselage contacts the hull.  Initial hull and wing fitting.   
 
As always, please feel free to comment and offer recommendations and suggestions.
 
Enjoy the photos.  : )
 
Best Regards
Brian