I offered to make my roommate a computer.... ***POLL*** **UPDATE...haha**

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nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
my roommate needed a computer as soon as he got here. so i offered to make him one since i already had a PSU, cd burner, heatsink, floppy, athlon 2100, geforce4 mx 440, and some fans layin around. so i was going to sell him those at a discount since they are collecting dust and all he would have to do was order a few parts to make the whole computer. i was thinkin it was goona cost him about 600 or so dollars for the whole thing. he says "no, thanks anyway. my dad knows someone who makes computers and we are going to get one from him". so i was like ok, whatever. he gets the computer in yesterday and this is the specs:

athlon xp 2400
80 gig
floppy
512 pc-2100
no name DVD drive
no name 52*32*52
cheapo PC chips MOBO (goes for 40 something on newegg)
xabre 200 video card
generic black keyboard/mouse
a cheapo evercase
15" no name LCD
and a 30 dollar lexmark printer

total cost -- $1130.30

i think he got totally ripped, but thats just my opinion.

**UPDATE**

well, i was trying to think of a way to show him how bad he got ripped off. i ran 3dmark on my computer to show him what the program did and everything. he thought it was a cool program and he asked if my score was good. i said it was a pretty good score for my system. since he has "faster" processor he was sure he could beat it. :p so i ran it on his computer and his score was a little lacking. ;)

**UPDATE #2**

his keyboard broke, and his lcd has a dead pixel. some people just have to learn the hard way...
 
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WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,867
1
0
Just don't burn him about it. It's nice that you offered to help him build a much better value computer, but as long as he's satisfied with it, let him be.

But also keep in mind that complete built systems from stores come with a 1-3 year warranty and some support. That adds some dollar value to the overall price.
 
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chocoruacal

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2002
1,197
0
0
Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Just don't burn him about it. It's nice that you offered to help him build a much better value computer, but as long as he's satisfied with it, let him be.
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Thats the kind of pu$$y whipped attitude that keeps shady computer makers in business. He got reamed BIG TIME, and he should know it. $1100 for a last year's tech. I mean, what did they charge him for the LCD....$600?!?!?! LOL. Lets say it together...He should have bought a Dell :D
 
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WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,867
1
0
Originally posted by: chocoruacal


Thats the kind of pu$$y whipped attitude that keeps shady computer makers in business. He got reamed BIG TIME, and he should know it. $1100 for a last year's tech. I mean, what did they charge him for the LCD....$600?!?!?! LOL. Lets say it together...He should have bought a Dell :D
Click to expand...

Hehe, everyone has to be able to make a buck. True, he got ripped. But being burned about being ripped is worse than being ripped itself. I'm sure he'll notice the slide shows when he plays games in due time ;)
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
i havnt said anything about it to him, and i dont plan to. just when he starts playing games he will be like "what the....?"
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
i don't even offer to build computers for home/casual users at all anymore. you can't beat dell for quality / value / tech support for their desktops. actually i don't offer to build for anybody except a couple of close friends that have multiple systems or can wait a little bit of time, so if one goes down or there are problems, they give me the box for a week or so and don't harass me about when it gets done.

just build yourself another box and use it as a backup if yours goes down. he will notice that yours will run pretty close to his, if not faster in games because of the video card. you did the correct thing by offering. i would let him know he screwed up by you playing games on yours and the fps are a lot higher on your, in his eyes "inferior", hardware. non-computer people believe that not all that makes a difference in a computer is the cpu, they don't understand how a graphics card makes night/day difference when gaming. and also, 2100 to 2400 is so damn close.

i guess i am passive aggressive.
 
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thirdlegstump

Banned
Feb 12, 2001
8,713
0
0
Let's see...the parts themselves would've cost about $700-750 tops.
He made about $380. If he's not a responsible consultant and does not provide help on a needly basis, he has ripped him off. If on the otherhand, he's available when he's needed and professionally provides help, it is just 'expensive' and not a total rip off.

I typically have to make about $250-300 per system (for prices up to $1500 per system) to make up for the time and to provide good aftercare, otherwise I will not even bother building a rig since I would hate to blow off even 'cheap' clients. Think about it, they pay for good products and services, and you get paid for that service. You're both happy. Client get's what's worth

Here's my honest advice:

Be absolutely professional about it and make it so that it appears that you don't mind losing one customer and let him know that if he needs any help with that computer he bought, you're there for him but you will charge a friendly $30 an hour or so for your time. That way he doesn't feel bad getting burned and you're still making a bit of money on the side.
 
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apac

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2003
6,212
0
71
I've got a similar story. About a year ago my mom needed a new computer at her business. I told her I'd configure a good computer for them but her boss said the same thing as your friend. Her "computer literate friend" paid about $1500 for this rig. I nearly had a heart attack.

For those who remember the company DEC, this was a cheap knockoff "DEC Professional computers" or something like that, not at all affiliated with the high quality original, just using their name to trick people.

P4 1.4ghz
ECS mobo
40gb HD
nvidia TNT2
128 RAM
17" CRT
Windows 98
No name cdr/w and 52x CD drives (no dvd)
On top of it all the worst sound card/speaker config I've EVER heard.
 
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thirdlegstump

Banned
Feb 12, 2001
8,713
0
0
Also, he may not even play games...or does he?
The problem with the folks on Atech (no offense) is that many of you think building a rig revolves around ultimate gaming performance, which is cool in itself but not always the right thing to build depending on user needs. I do understand that if it performs well in 3D gaming, it can handle most other tasks...but a system could be better built and optimized for specific requirements thus saving customer money by not having unnecessary hardware. (such as the latest Geforce video cards etc.)
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
7,573
0
0
Is he able to sit down? Does he have to carry one of those inflatable doughnut cussions? Poor guy :p

Thorin
 
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PanzerIV

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2002
6,875
1
0
Originally posted by: Adul
he was bent over like a prison inmate meeting buba for the first time.
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Agreed. What a POS. I don't feel one bit sorry for him or his father since they apparently enjoy spending a lot of money without consulting the advice of knowledgable people or doing the research themselves.

I hope he enjoys his lovely new system. Glad it's not me :p
 
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Slogun

Platinum Member
Jul 4, 2001
2,587
0
0
I think a number of people who have commented here need to keep in mind that Nick is sharing a room with this guy for the school year.

That's not so easy to do even without being critical of how poorly one spends their $1000 or criticizing their stuff.
 
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petery83

Senior member
Mar 27, 2003
479
0
0
ever since i discovered the joys (and cost-effectiveness) of building your own computer, i've never gone back to the oems
 
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InlineFive

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2003
9,599
2
0
Originally posted by: petery83
ever since i discovered the joys (and cost-effectiveness) of building your own computer, i've never gone back to the oems
Click to expand...

Aye. Got meself a Radeon 9700 Pro for $219 and didnt have to buy a new computer. :)

-Por
 
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martind1

Senior member
Jul 3, 2003
777
0
0
"no name"??

I am sure there is a brand name behind them.


I doubt that his dad's friend would've ripped him off. I personally think it is your lack of knowledge that makes it appear that way.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
Originally posted by: Slogun
I think a number of people who have commented here need to keep in mind that Nick is sharing a room with this guy for the school year.

That's not so easy to do even without being critical of how poorly one spends their $1000 or criticizing their stuff.
Click to expand...

poor nick, he has to live with a guy always complaining about his butt hurting....

 
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