BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese businessman who bought a Russian fighter jet online wants his money back after finding it could not be shipped to China, state media reported on Tuesday.
Zhang Cheng, a Beijing businessman, bid $24,730 and paid a $2,000 deposit for the former Czech air force plane on Chinese-based eBay, Xinhua news agency said.
But legal experts informed Zhang that the MiG-21, located in Idaho in the United States, was "almost impossible to ship back," Xinhua said, quoting the Beijing Times.
Moreover, the seller had clearly confined the destination of the plane to the United States and Canada, Xinhua quoted a member of eBay's public relations staff as saying.
Chinese Web surfers have accused Zhang of trying to gain fame, but others suggest it merely shows the improved living standards of the Chinese, Xinhua said.
The buyer, however, said he was building a collection.
"I like to collect valuable items," he said. "I have the buying power and my company has an empty space where I can display the plane."
Zhang Cheng, a Beijing businessman, bid $24,730 and paid a $2,000 deposit for the former Czech air force plane on Chinese-based eBay, Xinhua news agency said.
But legal experts informed Zhang that the MiG-21, located in Idaho in the United States, was "almost impossible to ship back," Xinhua said, quoting the Beijing Times.
Moreover, the seller had clearly confined the destination of the plane to the United States and Canada, Xinhua quoted a member of eBay's public relations staff as saying.
Chinese Web surfers have accused Zhang of trying to gain fame, but others suggest it merely shows the improved living standards of the Chinese, Xinhua said.
The buyer, however, said he was building a collection.
"I like to collect valuable items," he said. "I have the buying power and my company has an empty space where I can display the plane."
After researching the import of the aircraft I found they could not be imported because of the afterburning engines. Now with my bubble busted and nothing else to do, I had to return empty handed. Oh, by the way, the asking price for both aircraft with full instruments, engines and armament would have been just under $27,000.00 US. My pot of gold stolen by the federal government. Oh well. 
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