Well that didn't go as expected

As I mention in my previous post, I had firm plans to visit a guy who was selling a project ultralight today.  I had a great discussion about my plans with him and he seemed keen on seeing the project go to someone like me looking to get flying and share that with others, especially youth. 

Several times I told him that I was interested but wouldn't be able to get down until this weekend.  He led me to believe this wouldn't be a problem and to call him later in the week. I thought we had an agreement pending a visit.

I should have realized things weren't going in my favour when he was refusing to return phone calls and e-mails about a meet time once we got to southern Ontario.  I never did hear from him even by text message.  I did call another number (I assume a home number) that I had for him and was told by a female that he was out of town.  When I asked her about coming to see the plane, I was told that the plane was already sold.

Now before anyone says anything, I own some of the responsibility for not placing a deposit or arranging some sort of "hold", but I guess I also made the mistake of taking his word for it.

Several more calls and e-mails have gone unanswered as of this writing.  Knowing my interest I would have thought it reasonable to contact me and let me offer a competing bid, or at very least tell me it had been sold so I didn't waste my time coming down to see it.

On the way back north, I stopped to look at another airplane for sale.  It is similar to the one I had wanted, and is according to the owner very close to being airworthy.

Accordingly, he has priced it fairly high.  Just a cursory look at the airplane (the seller wasn't there) tells me a story of someone who just keeps throwing good money after bad.  This leads me to believe that it's overpriced as it sits, and I think he knows it.  I'm going to do some research on this particular model and see if I can get it for a much better price.

In the meantime, I'll be over here licking my wounds from the first one - while I continue to look online for something else.