Selling Custom Built Comps...

[SVT Cobra]

I enjoy building computers for people, working with new hardware, saving people money, ect. and I have built a few computers for people around where I live and this summer I would like to continue doing this online. I currently have sold some things on Ebay, so that was a route i was going to take. I have been reading about heatware, trolls, ect...

anyway if anyone could offer some advice, maybe give me a few links ect...

Ive been able to make a decent amount of money from doing it, and there is nothing like waking up in the morning to an AMD 3700 to put into a system and OC'ing it...then shipping it away and starting over again...

i did not post this in the S/FT forum because this does not have to do with selling anything acutally....

any help would be appreciated...don't mean to sound like a n00b, because i am a powerseller on ebay, but i am new to heatware, and the FS/T forums...

 

[nick1985]

just curious, what kind of warranties do you offer with your custom built comps on ebay?

 

[Ulfwald]

Do not do it unless you are prepared to be their 24x7 tech support. You will be blamed for everything going wrong.

 

[dquan97]

CompUSA has some great deals!!

 

[Ornery]

I enjoy... saving people money, ect.

Yeah, me too. I send them to Dell and HP.

Most people around here buy Dell hot deals, part 'em out and sell them on Ebay.

 

[Falloutboy]

yes beleave me this is a very bad idea....

 

[SVT Cobra]

I back everything i sell...

I offer my number and if they say somethings wrong i will try and help them until they fix it...if they have serious problems i tell them to send it back and get their full money back, or have another built...

hmm never thought of selling Dell hot deals...but the type of crowd i appeal to are those that would buy an alienware system instead, and don't know any better...

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
I back everything i sell...

I offer my number and if they say somethings wrong i will try and help them until they fix it...if they have serious problems i tell them to send it back and get their full money back, or have another built...

sounds like a PITA

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Ulfwald
Do not do it unless you are prepared to be their 24x7 tech support. You will be blamed for everything going wrong.

Yeah and if you know these people,or are related your warranty/FREE tech support will be expected for 10 years.

:|

I have personally had this problem,and have Given for free; stuff to people;
that cost me money, to fix the computer that I built and sold/gave to them 3 years later.


Waaah.

 

[neonerd]

No way you can compete with CompUSA's tech support staff and pricing

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b

hmm never thought of selling Dell hot deals...but the type of crowd i appeal to are those that would buy an alienware system instead, and don't know any better...

that's a rare case, and even more tech support.

How many systems have you sold?

Dell > that what most ever need at a low low price.

plus they pick up the support.

I help order systems for $25 to $100, sometimes including I will put it together when it gets there. Then that's it. I leave them with Spybot S&D, AdAware and AVG on a cd rom.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Ulfwald
Do not do it unless you are prepared to be their 24x7 tech support. You will be blamed for everything going wrong.

thats where I stand..people make the stupidists mistakes....one PC I build for an now ex friend called me saying she wasnt able to get on the net...I go over to her house and the damn cable isnt plugged into the wall....morons

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b

hmm never thought of selling Dell hot deals...but the type of crowd i appeal to are those that would buy an alienware system instead, and don't know any better...

that's a rare case, and even more tech support.

How many systems have you sold?

Dell > that what most ever need at a low low price.

plus they pick up the support.

I help order systems for $25 to $100, sometimes including I will put it together when it gets there. Then that's it. I leave them with Spybot S&D, AdAware and AVG on a cd rom.

if i were to ever do this again, i would do it that way; like a consultant. person is ultimately responsible for their own computer.
they f up and open a exe file in an email? I will fix it, for another 100 bucks.

 

[mrrman]

thats what I do now gistech 1978, no more freebies from me...they pay for my time to fix their screwups or they can take it to a PC shop and get billed doubled what I charge plus the shop may sell them something they dont even need

 

[jamesbond007]

I agree with everyone else here...don't do it unless you feel bored and lonely and like to hear people nagging you with and stupid questions. Before you know it, they'll have you picking their nose for them, too.

I use to do custom machines for everyone, but them I realized exactly what everyone else was talking about and backed off and started pushing people towards Dell. I'll help them find a great deal and such, but that's about where it ends.

I still do custom machines for people that I know can handle a computer, but don't have the know-how of what to select on today's market. That's where I end it for the enthusiasts.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
if i were to ever do this again, i would do it that way; like a consultant. person is ultimately responsible for their own computer.
they f up and open a exe file in an email? I will fix it, for another 100 bucks.

Exactly...I did this before and made great money, but it was a time burden. I set up so many systems I was answering calls even at 3am....

Things like:
"There is an image [their screensaver] on my screen now moving around and making noises, I have a virus can you come over?"

"my disk won't fit in the drive you gave me!" It was being put in backwards, they did try to flip it at least.

"my printer is not printing! you said it was windows compatible!" They didn't turn it on.

many more....

for me to just do an AdAware, Spybot, AVG cycle is $50, my time is about 15mins downloading the latest, installing and walking away when each runs.

 

[MikeMike]

Son of a N00b, you are to immature to handle your own computer company, let alone deal w/ anyone else.

MIKE