I'm 100% in agreement with post 6, 7, and 8. Before my LHS sold he had a complete room of nothing but built planes being sold on consignment. The shops name is Nice Twice, he sold new and used items. I have seen some great dedals and planes in that back room just sit there collecting dust for a lot more then months. Kit built planes just don't sell?? Maybe it is a trust issue but I would have thought just the low prices would be worth it because of the engines and gear I have seen in some of these planes. Don't hold your breath waiting for your planes to sell, it may be a while.
Nice also had some nice old kits in stock once in a while, they would buy an estate sale. Once in a while there would be a new kit in stock too. Depending on what it was it may sell right away or sit there forever.
If your LHS stocked a couple of kits like an Up-Roar or Dazzler do you think they would sell? Probably not. If it was marked up even a little over the price Tower sells them for they will never move.
As a builder I'm the only one I know that still builds at all. Even some of the best I have know have gone over to the ARF.
They do buy all those Dubro and Sullivan items you saw hanging on the walls to replace the ARF hardware. I just bought out all the 3/32 and 5/32 piano wire at Nice and had to go over to the Hobby People to buy more. Nice doesn't stock wood, they didn't stock it before the place sold, it didn't move. Hobby People stocks wood but you would pay through the nose for it. No way could you ever buy your wood there to da a scratch build. I buy my wood in bulk from National Balsa but HP is fine for when I need a piece of wood. This week I need a sheet of 3/32 ply, they have it in stock. Michale's also sells wood but again, you can't afford a lot of it but there light ply is pretty cheap.
Builders are a thing of the past so hobby shops aren't going to cater to a few people like myself. As mentioned, I'm cheap too but I just saved myself a wait by ordering some items on line, my LHS ordered to order it for me but they tend to forget to call when items come in and they charge more for the parts. Then I would have to drive across town to pick them up. They were a buck a pack cheaper and I got them sent to my door in only three days.
Nope, sorry, built kit planes aren't worth spit and if your a builder then you are a mail order person too. I used to have a Nice hobby shop that stocked what I needed but I think that is a thing of the past too.
Good luck on the sale!! The LHS owner is pretty much correct but I don't think a ARF is better built then one of my planes, lighter yes but not better. They still can't last for decades the way I fly!!