i will open a "graphic-cards only" store soon

[Zenoth]

Hey, hey !

Wait a second there, so my idea of GPYou is awesome ? Thanks guys ! ^_^

Alright, to the thread creator, if you're ever interested by the name go ahead and use it ! And just give erm ... like, you know, kinda just a simple credit to me for the name and get away with all the profits Nah, seriously though, use it, it just kinda came to me naturally, it seemed so obvious (well maybe because I'm studying in stuff that requires simple thinking that needs to bring efficient ideas at the same time).

 

[flexy]

what do you think of addiction3d.com ?

 

[sandorski]

I think this is a bad idea. As others pointed out, your first big problem is that you will be at a Price disadvantage from the outset, meaning your Prices are going to have to be higher than for other Online Stores.

Secondly, by only offering 1 type of Product you will have no Items that you can Mark Up to a decent Price to offset the slim Margins you will get on Video Cards. That's how other Online Stores(or even B&M) make money, by jacking up Prices on some Products and Slashing them on others.

Thirdly, not only will your Competitors be able to beat your Prices, but your Niche is going to be limited to a very small segment of the Market primarily that of Enthusiasts. Look around at your fellow Enthusiasts, they not only want Performance, Overclockability, etc, but they also are some of the biggest Cheap Asses on the Planet. They'll go to your Competitors for that reason alone.

Fourthly, people prefer to buy all their Hardware from 1 source. Especially when doing a New Build.


About the only way, IMO, that you could pull this off is if you had some kinda awesome product for Video Cards. Like a Cooling Device or RMF Shield or something similar. A Product that would draw attention to your Website and be the Primary Product for sale. Adding in Video cards as other Products will bring some side Sales.

I suspect that you won't go Broke if you do this wisely, but you will likely never make enough money from it to offset the amount of time and energy you put into it. It'll likely end up being more than just a Hobby. Rethink the whole idea, come up with something unique and different, but don't just be another Online Store that only deals with Video cards. That's not really "unique", that's just tying both hands behind your back.

 

[flexy]

sandorksi, everything noted.

As said above somewhere...since my funds are null i can only do on affiliate store right now - in other words: I am using an existing seller, sell their products on my page. Form a customer's point of view this is actually GOOD, since my prices are WELL competive, and i do have ZERO (literally) to invest. I can look into other options later when i have funds available.

I can offer a store solely focused on gfx-cards...why ? Because a niche/enthusiast market is a GOOD thing...i am not even remotely interested to comepete with extreme big stores like newegg or ZZF...nor offer a bigger product-range.....no chance in hell for the average person to even compete with super-discount stored like newegg. Therefore i am taking advantage of *them* and basically only am the "middle man"...but as said...for a customer this is irrelevant...even good. There AERE no markups on my side AT ALL btw.

I can (and will) add services like modding and cooling to a later point, i did all that and in i know the ins and outs. I could also promote friends/conections on my site. They could advertize their services and vice versa.

I also have the advantage that i am VERY passionate expecially when it comes to video cards, which is a good thing too. If you want to "niche market"...enthusiasm is a very good thing because people will know where to go for help and more.

I will have forums and information...so..people not only will have a big selection on extremely well priced graphics cards...but also will i have sections for my target market...gamers and FPS gamers....a forum.... and tips and help eg. about drivers/modding and gaming.

sandorksi, i dont agree anymore with "one source"..the time is over when newegg was the ONLY source for everything...as you maybe know they do not ALWAYS have the best deals on stuff...some items they have are WAY pricier...but then they have deals once in a while. I started buying from a variety of sources a while ago...why not if i get a board etc. cheaper at ZZF or mwave....

Also..if you propose to be unique...i see your point. I have other ideas for real niche marketing..and uniqueness is defintly a point which is mentioned a lot if you want to be successfull...but then i wouldnt focus on PC hardware at all....and rather sell reptile-cages/accessories....or other relatively rare stuff..which i (partially) do already.

 

[flexy]

addendum:

sandorski, and others...yes..i have some ideas..

I can very well combine....say my focus on graphic-cards....but eg. i can ALSO have power-supplies and say a limited section of games.

An idea is to eg. that i can eg. offer a graphics-card, say 8800GTX...and at the same time add links to recommended PSUs.

I know there are many people who buy cards and then look for the right PSU for it..this can all be done ! Or combinations gfx-cards...links to recommended PSUs, the latest FPS.

If a new game comes out...say....soon we games like "alan wake" and "crysis". If someone is passionate about gaming...i can recommend and also sell (at one place) MS Vista (eg. for Alan Wake they WILL need Vista ).....i can recommend and sell the right DX10 card AND the PSU...and i can also sell the game...all at the same time. And its NOT a wild random mix...but its also done based on my own experience regarding PC hardware. I wont sell them junk but recommend them the right set of what they need. The beauty of an affiliate store is that everything is already there...its just a matter of presentation, and additional information.

The difference would be that a user VERY WELL could get the same items somehwre else, i dont deny this ! But everyone will have that problem with an own store....but the customer MIGHT have a harder time to filter out information eg. on newegg or mwave or ZZF...while on my site everything will be easier to find (hopefully) and there is no need to go thru a whole area of other products and non-related information.

If someone, say, wants to get "Alan Wake" or "Crysys" (and i predict that both games will be killers, A.W. even MORE since MS promoted !) and he builds a PC and wants the right components...he can have ALL that information on my site.

Other idea is to solely focus rather on high-end (i toyed with that idea)...and combine graphics-cards, quality PSUs and compenents (like quality memory) etc...high-end would be kind of a niche...but then i dont know how big the market would be...probably not too big

 

[flexy]

add: Gamerzzz.com ??????????

I actually like it....

Something in that direction..since my audience defintly will be 99% of gamers..and the name also would give me more room for having a limited section of, sayu, PSUs and games and other related components.

 

[flexy]

i finally got it up.

http://www.gamerzzz.com

My focus is mainly on graphics-cards and related h/w, say the right PSU and high-quality components.
I am still working on stuff...eg. it hasnt even been crawled by google yet so the banners are empty etc

I'd very much appreciate if you give me your input...regarding banner-placement...what you like and what you dont like.

I am kind of limited right now...certain things i have to do a certain way (eg. from a design point of view).

Feel free to critique please and also test the forum..i always have problems with phpBB signup/email.

I know it's "only" an affiliate store...but (as said) i think for the customer this is a good thing. (Big selection and good prices).

Also i need input whether i need some more categories in the forum.

Note the main focus is graphics hardware/drivers, related hardware..and gaming

greets

 

[bobsmith1492]

Hm, I like Newegg's search style where you can look for cards by their stats - any chance of putting something like that together? I can't find anything there now...

EDIT: By search, I mean the drop-boxes on the left. The search function did work as far as I could tell.

 

[flexy]

stats like ... ??? i can do some things...tell me what stats you're thinking about. Although, as detailed as newegg might be difficult. I am a bit limited with the shopping program. But..at least you can search for brands, manufactures. If you go under "advanced" you can search for them under the different categories i have right now.

 

[tuteja1986]

How broke are you ?... How can you even afford to have pay your internet bill or your power bill when you can't buy a $10 domain. Are you a kid ? Living with your parents ? freeloading someone else.

 

[bobsmith1492]

I was thinking mainly by the series (x1800, x1900, 7xxx, 8xxx, etc) then core name (7900GS, 7900GT, 7900GTX, etc) was a useful one. Oh, and I made the first post on the forum.

 

[flexy]

yay

edit: did the sign-up work with email and everything ?

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: flexy
yay

edit: did the sign-up work with email and everything ?

Yeah, I signed up - haven't seen any email, though, and I'd rather not...

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
How broke are you ?... How can you even afford to have pay your internet bill or your power bill when you can't buy a $10 domain. Are you a kid ? Living with your parents ? freeloading someone else.

thats what i was thinking. also why would anyone buy from you. give me a good reason to consider your shop over newegg or ZZF next time i buy something. i am sorry if this comes out rude but thats what you have to think. YOU have to offer something that bigger stores don't.

 

[flexy]

the:

as said above...i can offer knowledge...i am a hardcore GAMER, i know how to mod cards...i know my shiat (so to speak)..i am a hardware (and especially graphics cards) enthusiast.

Please go and ask newegg or ZZF when you have driver - problems with your new card etc..etc....or how to run HL2/DM with what driver and on what server ? Or what PSU you need and what memory brand is recommended.


Also...now ENOUGH with those stupid "i am broke" threads..what has it to do with that ?

Its not that i am sitting on stolen goods or scam people...if you know how affiliate programs work then you should know that this is a good thing, i am also more focusing on GAMING and SUPPORT. You can buy h/w wherever you want...everyone has that freedom - and thats a good thing

 

[flexy]

btw. newegg does not ALWAYS have the best deals on everything..i remember a whil ago when i got my dfi lanpary mobo...they were like all the way on BOTTOM of the list in regards to prices. It always depends. They have deals on some things and other things can be pricier.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

as said above...i can offer knowledge...i am a hardcore GAMER, i know how to mod cards...i know my shiat (so to speak)..i am a hardware (and especially graphics cards) enthusiast.

Please go and ask newegg or ZZF when you have driver - problems with your new card etc..etc....or how to run HL2/DM with what driver and on what server ? Or what PSU you need and what memory brand is recommended.

and you'll be asking AT forums. thats not really a plus cuz most ppl who need that info from a shopkeeper are also ppl who would never be able to handle opening their copmuter case and installing memory.

the modding part might work work but will you offer warranty for your modded cards ? i mean explain to me why I, as i hardware enthusiast who visits AT forums should prefer your store over newegg. if you can't do that then your business model is flawed and bound to fail. sorry for the harsh words. keep in mind newegg offers excellent customer support, there website is a lot more professional etc etc.

 

[flexy]

>>>
the modding part might work work but will you offer warranty for your modded cards ? i mean explain to me why I, as i hardware enthusiast who visits AT forums should prefer your store over newegg. if you can't do that then your business model is flawed and bound to fail. sorry for the harsh words. keep in mind newegg offers excellent customer support, there website is a lot more professional etc etc.
>>>

the: the decision is on the customer where to buy. As said above..newegg is good in some aspects..others not. I do NOT say newegg is bad tho

If i shop around i look various places..whether this is xyz store, ZZF, mwave, newegg.

Also...sure newegg is "professiional"...we're dealing with a multmillion company here. too bad newegg doesnt offer affiliate partnerships.

I am selling over amazon and this is a good thing..i do NOT worry about whole-sale prices. There is NO WAY the average joe can beat monsters like amazon, buy.com, newegg in purchasing wholesale to a better price then they do.

The associate program allows me to have ALL the service/prices and variety amazon has..i can focus in a niche (like high-end graphics/gamin..what i am doing right now). The customer does not have to sift thru millions of unrelated stuff...i offer the same products, but with relevant information on ONE site. Graphics-Cards and Gaming.Period. Also, i do NOT have ONE penny markup like other smal online retailers.

(Believe me, i have seen people specializing in selling certain motherboards...and they failed...because ther is no way they cant even remotely compete as a single person)

My business model CAN not fail since i know there are people who are into graphics cards and gaming (as i am)...high quality hardware...and there are always people asking for advice or wanting to share their opinions or have fun just within the topic


greets


Edit: regarding the modding...i have to look around. Maybe i can partner with a very known person i know from another forum.

Warranties etc. is all clear...every serious business should eb cocnerned about customer satisfaction. At this point tho i just set the store up and the forum....the other stuff will come later.

 

[rbV5]

Right on flexy!

I think its a great idea for a true, knowlegable enthusiast to jump in and see if you can maybe make something happen with something you are passionate about. Many successfull businessess have been setup on a shoestring, so don't let the naysayers hold you down.

Good luck, I'll be checking it out :thumbsup:

 

[flexy]

rbv, thanks

Yes, this is my absolute passion

Btw. Are you really a beta tester for ATI or is that meant ironically ?

Does ATI have any affiliates/ads programs ? Just wondering....i was looking around on the usual places but didnt see anything.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: flexy
rbv, thanks

Yes, this is my absolute passion

Btw. Are you really a beta tester for ATI or is that meant ironically ?

Does ATI have any affiliates/ads programs ? Just wondering....i was looking around on the usual places but didnt see anything.

LOL, yea, I've been a beta tester for ATI for a few years now, although I've not been real active the past few months. I'm so busy these days, and quite honestly don't have the passion I once had, although after the holidays, I start thinking about gaming and such alot more

I'm not sure about affiliate programs, I mostly know the engineers rather than the marketing guys...but I'll ask around and see if I can't turn up a contact for you.

 

[Chadder007]

What??...no X1950 Pro for AGP? :*(

 

[flexy]

Chadder, you stumbled me.

I just checked and i found out why....X1950 Pro AGP (Diamond Viper, $239 256MB, $289 512 MB)..they dont shop up because you can only preorder them. (My store doesnt support preorder) They will be available on January 15th.

 

[RichUK]

No offence, but you don?t have a chance against the competitors out there. Honestly, what could you offer that is so unique and worthy that would make customer purchase goods from you instead of the big E-tailers out there. Especially when you have no capital what so ever.

I don?t mean to be harsh, but I don?t think you have thought this one through at all. I honestly don?t think you?ll get anywhere with this idea. But good luck all the same, and I only hope you prove me wrong

EDIT: Hmm, just seen the link in your sig. I suppose the website isn't all that bad. I hope it goes well for you. :thumbsup:

 

[Skott]

Maybe I'm the oddball here but GPYou.com doesnt conjer up the image of graphics cards in my mind. Maybe its the 'You' part? I dont know. If I saw that heading I wouldnt recognize it and I know full well what GPU is. Then again you could call it anything. Call it Flexy's and once word got out how great of a place it is to buy from, great products and service, people will come. I wish you luck in your endeavors.