Broadband Tech > General Questions > Selling custom built PC's, your thoughts.

reply to OZZY

Re: Selling custom built PC's, your thoughts.

My plan was to build computers. Buy parts cheap, put it together, install windows, post it online and hopefully one would sell. I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts. Majority were very helpful, some were not but cant expect everything to be perfect . Anyways, I bought a website for $10 for the year. Go daddy has some store setup for $5 a month so I threw some money at that. Tinkered with the website, post some pics to test and put on a test item on the site. Got use to everything so that was perfect, nothing wrong on that side. Doing more research I saw that I had to collect taxes before I sell anything. Said ok, let me fill out the forms. I filled out a form or two and faxed it in. Says that I would get a certificate in the mail so I could start collecting taxes. I was ready to get this thing going, slow but get it going till I started hitting legal bumps in the road.

I thought I could install windows and ship it to the customer. Its not that easy. Dont forget you need them to accept the terms and condition meaning I couldnt do a typical install. I would have to have the user have what is called a Out of the Box Experience (OOBE) which requires you using a OEM Pre-install kit (OPK) which requires you creating the disc image with drivers on it. It was getting very confusing reading the instruction about it, It would be something very time consuming to create and install.

I already started buying parts for a computer to test thinking I could tinker with it but getting familiar with the OOBE and OPK, it really started to turn me off. Another thing is support. I got lost reading Microsoft mumbo-jumbo about the OEM terms and condition. I knew I would support the PC itself but when you open the Windows 7 OEM box, all of a sudden you agree to all this terms and condition shit thats quite funny. Deep inside the terms, you have to support the product. Microsoft isnt that clear on how to support windows 7 or the PC. Getting my mind to wrap all this legal stuff up was really giving me a headache. Also dont get me started on my terms and condition on my website so I wouldnt get sued and lose my house or whatever. Oh almost forgot about warranty, I had a general idea on what I was going to do but what would I do about shipping it back, getting it fixed, shipping back, etc.

So what am I going to do? Im not going to build computers to sell. Ive bought a few pc parts already, I could use another computer on the side for me. Microsoft legal stuff is just a PAIN IN THE ASS. I was considering about building naked computers with no OS, but then comes in the warranty thing. Also buidling a naker computer, how to test it? Turn it on? See if it boots to tell me theres no OS? I dont know. Another thing I was considering that people were mentioning is fixing/upgrading computer as there where the money is. My thing was I wanted to start a store where I didnt have to deal with going to peoples house or they coming to me for services. Its something I might consider a bit more but im not leaning that way.

What am I going to do now? Not that much. Ill still be weighing my options but this thing isnt going to pick up, even as a hobby. Ill probably build a few computers for friends or family hoping not to go to microsoft jail (I heard they make you use vista, oh the horror) . All jokes aside, Im quite disappointed but glad for all the responses from you guys. I even got a few PM's from folks telling me to let them know what I was gona do. Well now you know.

I would like to start some kind of store, my mom makes decent college team pillows, maybe I could sell some of those? Probably not due to more LEGAL reasons like not a approved product or some dumbshit like that.

You can always set up an affliate account with a company like this one:

»www.tradestead.com/affiliate_pro···ion.html

Provide links on your site that takes the customer to the other site to purchase and make a commission in the process. (Best advised to actually make your site look like a real storefront)

No inventory worries, no billing worries. No customer service worries. Just pure commissions. You'll spend a bit on getting your website advertised, but once it's out there and the major search engines pick it up; you'll be good to go.

There's some dude who's actually running infomercials about how he "got rich" essentially doing exactly the above. Setting up affiliate accounts and mad-advertising his websites. Plus, now he makes money selling his "how-to" course on how to do it.

- FM
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Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

But somehow you got to get people to go to your website, then convince them to go to their website. So you need something appealing like a blog or so.

That's where the advertising comes in.

Think local paper, pennysaver, radio ads, local cable, even dropping flyers on cars in grocery store/mall parking lots.

There are also 'ad affiliate' sites where you display ads on your site, and for each time you show an ad, YOUR ad gets shown on other sites in the network.

There are tons of people doing web based advertising, but where blogs are concerned, for instance, on a site like this one, if you are found to be "pimping" out your site (aka spamming for the sole purpose of drawing customers in), your post(s) will be moderated.

- FM
--
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

reply to Duramax08
Well, you might think this falls into the not helpful category:

Your 20 years to late on the PC, 10 years to late on figure out how to legally monetize a web site. There are tens of million sites all trying to chase down the same clients and whatever you offer it will be price matched, coupon snooped and only if you have the deal worth getting you might get a second look

You know why Google is rolling in the $$, they make people pay to get there page/product show up in the first few pages i a search. Nothing you can do but fork over money to make people find your site and there goes your profit over the competition.

Its a good thing your dipping your toes in the water, and you get to see first hand as your experience has shown what all the hidden costs are to offer something for sale.

If you can think you can sell widget "X from a website, maybe you should try Amway ( I hate it ) , but the concept is you make money finding someone to sell a product to which is dropped shipped.

If you can't make this work, then there is no chance of you selling things on your own as you have the same challenge, finding customers

Good luck!

reply to Duramax08

reply to Duramax08

reply to psafux
Depending on the competition, consider supporting the hardware & software that others buy. If you are savvy & knowledgeable there is money to be made.

reply to Kilroy
Yep, they want 10%.

Another thought, reselling monoprice cables at fleamarket. Sell a $3.12 cable for like $7 to $10. Yeah yeah they could get them offline but the south side over here aint that tech savvy 8-)

The you have booth rent, sale tax ( they have revenue agents that go flea markets checking up on folks ) and your time, spend an 6 hour day and sell nothing to maybe a few cables, would make more working at mickydees.

There are no easy, quick rich ways for $$ that are legal. Want more $$ , more hours or a second job is the only guaranteed score for more income

reply to Duramax08
To me, it aint worth it. I use to do it and made money off of it, but when someone gets a virus, spyware, or a software problem, they ring your phone off the hook bitching you out thinking its your problem to fix. Hardware issue? Sure, it's covered under manufactors warranty and not to big of a hassle to replace. Software? Sorry, you're on your own, or we'll start the billing while I fix the issue.

I built a computer for $300 from newegg and sold it for $500 to a business that needed one super quick. Profitable? Yes, but they constantly call asking questions.
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reply to Duramax08
SO...What did you ultimately decide to do?

- FM

Save up money to buy a challenger (see avatar).

reply to FutureMon
I wouldnt mind reselling monoprice cables and wall mounts on a saturday at the flea market, maybe some other day, not now. Im a platinum member at monoprice from all the cables I order for work so I get everything at a much cheaper price.

Down here most stores sell custom built pcs without windows due to legal reasons. (as you are well aware now) Instead they put either Ubuntu or Linux Mint.

Of course, most non-technical people after buying said Pc get a "nerd" family member or friend to install a bootleg copy of windows. Im not saying its the right thing do, but I know its a valid alternative for someone who is just getting started in the business.

Good luck in your business! (have you thought about selling Pc parts to some third world countries, such as Brazil or maybe even Mexico? It could be and interesting business oportunity for a young entrepreneur.)
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reply to Duramax08

When the juke first came out, I really wanted one. We even signed papers to get a red sv shipped from another dealership but we were told that they sold it a few mins after we signed the papers. They told us to pick another color and I told them nope and we left.

I had a V8 challenger as a rental car for two weeks back last August.

Man that car was fast. But it sure did like to drink up the gas - even when I was driving light footed. I must have spent close to $100 for gas for the two weeks I had it (commuting 38 miles/day plus a little extra on weekends)

- FM
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Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.