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thinking about starting my own business

P

patentman

Golden Member
Hey all, I didn't know which forum to put this in, so I stuck it here.

I don't know about you all, but It makes me laugh hysterically when I go to some "high-end" system builders websites (Voodoo pc; falcon-nw etc.) and they are charging upwards of 5 grand for a pc that has maybe, maybe $2600 worth of components in it. Now I understand that a business needs to make money, but IMO anyone who is going to pay 100% more for a pc is just addled.

That said, I'm thinking about swithcing careers (again) and opening up my own pc building business. The idea would be to substantially undercut the aformentioned "high-end) manufacturers, but still provide the same or very similar product. Will I be able to offer cases painted with ferari quality paint? Probably not (at least not initially), but I've built enough systems for myself and my friends to a) know what I'm doing; and b) provide a rock solid product.

Has anyone here ever tried to do this? If so, what were some of the pitfalls I should look out for? How did you arrange supply for your components? How poor are you now (LOL)?

Thanks for the input in advance. I know this is probably a pipedream, but I think it would be really cool to get paid for something I truly love doing.
 
is there really a market for what you want to do? How can you honestly compete with Dell? I hate to be the first to say crash and burn.

-=bmacd=-
 
I'll be the first to rain on the parade. There is no money to made building pc's, especially high end ones. I know a couple of people who tried, and failed. THe market will not be able to support you most likely.

EDIT: Ok, I'll be the fourth to rain on your parade. 🙂
 
the problem with building pcs is supporting them later

not worth the couple hundred bucks you make off the system...trust me

unless you're not offering any kind of warranty or support at all except for a price...

even so, more of a hassle than it's worth

i won;t even build systems for anyone anymore, i refer them to dell
 
You'll never find enough customers for gaming rigs to make a living building them. It's not a question of being able to undercut Alienware, it's finding customers. And has been mentioned, the support costs will kill you.

The people who will pay for custom-built systems are exactly the people who will want a heck of a lot of help after the sale.
 
Originally posted by: JRock
Keep it a local side project. Make a little extra pocket $ here and there...
Click to expand...

That's what I'd do as well. Advertise and be able to build a PC here and there but don't expect to make this your career.. At least not any time soon.
 
I'm another naysayer. 😛

I've done this before for individuals, but there's no market for it. The real problem is that when you open a computer shop, you're going to have to carry parts inventory to build orders quickly... The problem with that is you'll eventually get old-part pile up and you'll lose money that way.

The worst part is that if you sell a system, you're going to have to provide support for it. This is where you don't want to be. Just because the person may have a lot of money to throw around, doesn't mean they deserve a fly PC. Chances are, you'll get stuck with idiots who won't know what they're doing and will need hand-holding and house calls... Even though you'll charge them, it will take away from the rest of the business if you're doing this full time. It's a downward spiral.
 
Originally posted by: quakefiend420
the problem with building pcs is supporting them later

not worth the couple hundred bucks you make off the system...trust me

unless you're not offering any kind of warranty or support at all except for a price...

even so, more of a hassle than it's worth

i won;t even build systems for anyone anymore, i refer them to dell
Click to expand...

This guy knows what he's talking about. Support is a bitch.
 
Originally posted by: YetioDoom
Originally posted by: quakefiend420
the problem with building pcs is supporting them later

not worth the couple hundred bucks you make off the system...trust me

unless you're not offering any kind of warranty or support at all except for a price...

even so, more of a hassle than it's worth

i won;t even build systems for anyone anymore, i refer them to dell
Click to expand...

This guy knows what he's talking about. Support is a bitch.
Click to expand...

Thirded.

The worst is when you help someone with their computer, and they assume that everything that happens after that point is your fault because you didn't fix it right... even if it's a year later.
 
Originally posted by: YetioDoom
Originally posted by: quakefiend420
the problem with building pcs is supporting them later

not worth the couple hundred bucks you make off the system...trust me

unless you're not offering any kind of warranty or support at all except for a price...

even so, more of a hassle than it's worth

i won;t even build systems for anyone anymore, i refer them to dell
Click to expand...

This guy knows what he's talking about. Support is a bitch.
Click to expand...

Amen!
 
Originally posted by: Injury
Originally posted by: YetioDoom
Originally posted by: quakefiend420
the problem with building pcs is supporting them later

not worth the couple hundred bucks you make off the system...trust me

unless you're not offering any kind of warranty or support at all except for a price...

even so, more of a hassle than it's worth

i won;t even build systems for anyone anymore, i refer them to dell
Click to expand...

This guy knows what he's talking about. Support is a bitch.
Click to expand...

Thirded.

The worst is when you help someone with their computer, and they assume that everything that happens after that point is your fault because you didn't fix it right... even if it's a year later.
Click to expand...

Fvcking right.

"My antivirus software says its about to expire on the PC you built me one year ago...what do I do?"

I actually had this brought up. Like all the software is suppose to be free forever from you or something because they threw you $50 eight years ago. The best part was I didn't even build this particular PC. The guy who had my job before me did. She says "Its the PC so and so built for me." Do I look like so and so? Here's a phone book. Look him up. I'm sure he'll tell you to go screw yourself too. Download your own warez.

Let geek squad and dell have 'em. I'll do small side setups of network equipment and if I'm sure the person isn't going to be a go tard later on I'll even do easy crap like ram upgrades. But the full build is just asking for trouble. Every time they download a virus its like "the computer you built let me download a virus! what are you going to do about this?!"

The best way to get rid of them is to just charge them up the ass. They'll either pay you an outrageous fee that will make things actually worth your time, or they'll get lost. Either way you win.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
The best way to get rid of them is to just charge them up the ass. They'll either pay you an outrageous fee that will make things actually worth your time, or they'll get lost. Either way you win.
Click to expand...

Harsh, but true. :thumbsup:
 
NO way would i even think about getting back in the computer retail business. When someoen can go to Dell and buy a $500 computer (with monitor!) it makes it very hard to compete. Those alianware computers are not mainstream. I doubt they sale very many of them.

Unless you are buying in bulk there is noway to even come close to make it cheap enough. not ot mention do you really want to be someoens computer tech for the next 10 years? heck no. been there done that. not worth my time now.
 
4353^324 -'d. It's financial suicide. The computer building business is a bitch. Support for stupid people is the worst. Go somewhere else.
 
As all have said, the market is rough and unforgiving.
You deal in the high end you'll have to deal with:
* Supporting the damn thing after the build
* Dealing with upset customers due to lead times to get parts shipped in (or...)
* Deal with huge costs of part inventory that depreciates in value like crazy

You deal with the low end (cost alone) and you'll have to deal with:
* All three above
* Dell
* Wal*Mart

Hard to turn a buck my friend. I have tried with both models. The low cost market used to be OK but Dell and Wal*Mart selling $300 PC's with a monitor has pretty much killed that market too.

BUT there is money to be made in on-site upgrades/repairs. Especially in the small business market where the company is not big enough to have an in house IT person but has enough systems they need someone in once a week or so.

Good luck!
 
I don't even do PC work for my family. I got abused like a ragdoll when my wife and I first married. Especially by her father. The bastard would invite us over for dinner, but it was always just a ploy to get me to work on his PC. Eventually I just put my foot down:

"Honey, either you tell him this sh*t stops, or I do. Your pick. I really don't care which way it is, as long as it happens."

She chickened, so one day he invited us over and before I even had my coat off...

"Hey jbourne77, could you fix my wireless network?"
"No. I work 8 - 5 and I'm paid. Do you give free legal advice on your spare time?"

Not only has he not asked me to work on his PC since, we hardly ever get invited over for dinner. Talk about a win win situation!!!
 
I've done this before, and while I was successful (I catered to a niche - daytraders) - the tech support is what made me miserable. I had so much business, I had to turn away new clients. I considered hiring more people, but decided to quit while I was ahead. I sold the business for a tidy profit and moved on to concentrate on my other side businesess.

If you can find a niche, not just "gaming", you'll be better off. not much better off though. find a solution to the tech support issue. I was successful with the daytrading niche because I'm a daytrader myself, so it was more like a hobby than real work. You can't just be a PC builder. I've seen so many shops open and close around here, it isn't funny.

Good luck.
 
Terrible idea.
1. You don't want to have to deal with support
2. Most gamers know how to build a computer
 
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