building computers......

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 8:27 pm

Does anyone here build computers for profit as a side business or for some extra cash.

Not talkin about building a comp here and there for a friend.

if ya wouldnt mind PMin me that would be great

or AIM: mnkeyhead

MSN: michael_franson@hotmail.com

or post here and I will contact you

Thanks

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 10:19 pm

or anyone who has had any experience with this...

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 10:26 pm

well maybe anyone can help me though too.... short story long.... using computer shows and places like newegg, I can get parts cheaper and build computers for an overall cheap price....

but see the problem is...... software.... if i were to start to advertise this, I wouldnt be able to use anything pirated... as using pirated software is one thing.... but selling it is another...... see lets say i build a kickass computer for 800 beans.... you gotta tack on another 100 for an OS.... office XP is like 450... norton or something is another 40.....

has anyone ever or know of a place to buy licenses in bulk?

I saw on MS's site the volume pricing stuff, so that is something i can look into....

also instead of Office XP... is corel office thingy any good?

so yeah whats anyones ideas thoughts on this..... cause handing over a computer with an OS on it is like almost useless.... thanks for any help guys

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 10:44 pm

software is not the only problem. the even bigger problem is customer service/tech support.

that's the killer right there.

i have done quite a few full buids over the years and more "fixes" and "upgrades" than i want to remember.

as soon as you sel someone a product or service... especially computers, you are essentially married to it in terms of support.

if i were to do it at this point, i would sell computers without any OS or software (they would be "O/S ready"), the outsource that aspect to someone else. troubleshooting hardware on a system with no hardware changes is much rarer than software/OS problems.

i still do work for people, but not as much as i used to. it got to a point where all my free time was being eaten up.

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:03 pm

Originally posted by Faust
software is not the only problem. the even bigger problem is customer service/tech support.

that's the killer right there.

i have done quite a few full buids over the years and more "fixes" and "upgrades" than i want to remember.

as soon as you sel someone a product or service... especially computers, you are essentially married to it in terms of support.

if i were to do it at this point, i would sell computers without any OS or software (they would be "O/S ready"), the outsource that aspect to someone else. troubleshooting hardware on a system with no hardware changes is much rarer than software/OS problems.

i still do work for people, but not as much as i used to. it got to a point where all my free time was being eaten up.

tech support i would be able to handle, id have some deal such that the tower must be brought to me, and id have a few "staff" lol that could handle it....

plus i love tech support.... big problems though would be broken parts etc... but now where goin to far as if i had sold a bunch already.....

i still cant get past getting software on comps I could be selling.... i dont think id want to buy a computer that didnt have any OS on it.... let alone other software.....

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:29 pm

whats not worth it?

trying to make money off of building comps?

TRILL · Post by **TRILL** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:58 pm

Honestly, PC parts are pretty reliable. At worst you will see hardrives going bad, but even that's rare. Utilize the store and factory warranty along with a limited service agreement. I've lost count of the number of computers I've built for friends and the only problems they have are software related. That's usually when the screw something up. I don't mind fixing the problems because it gives me a chance to perform software upgrades and patches, ensure that they haven't loaded spyware and whatnot, or do a format and reinstall if they want to start off clean. I always give them at least two partitions and default everything to save on the non OS partition except for programs. That makes do reinstalls very easy.

As far as software goes, look to some free alternatives such as Openoffice.org instead of Office XP, and AVG instead of Norton.

Set · Post by **Set** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:58 pm

I would buy a system with out a OS If the price was right

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 8:24 am

Originally posted by Set
I would buy a system with out a OS If the price was right

well thats most likely because you know how to load an OS.... some people dont know its easy.... some think windows is hardware....

iaus10 · Post by **iaus10** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 9:45 am

I've been building comps for a while. I have OEM disks that I use to do the installs. I buy COA (certificates of authenticity) with the license keys for each machine. I put that sticker on the outside of the computer before delivery. XP Home costs me about $60 for each computer. I will put cheap office type software on there (like Corel) for usually under $30. MS Office SBE OEM packs can be obtained for $170. Often, I buy licenses from here.

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 10:16 am

not a bad idea

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 5:47 pm

Originally posted by Faust
software is not the only problem. the even bigger problem is customer service/tech support.

Yup.....you "think" you can handle the support....not once you get some serious numbers of computers out there. Then there's the "warranty" part....hardware failures, etc. Snowballs into a nightmare, that's why I don't do it anymore except for a few rare people.

Most computer professionals charge at least 100 bucks an hour for their time. How long does it take you to build a computer...start that timeclock from the minute you order the parts and software for a persons computer...unbox them all, slap it together, build it, install the OS, update all drivers, install and configure software, run your windows updates, your service packs for MS Office, update anti-virus, box it up, and or deliver onsite.

Takes at least 4 - 6 hours or so to do it properly and thoroughly, most likely more. If you don't bill for your time, then, well, guess you like volunteer work.

Now think of the headaches when peeps call and catch virus's, can't get their internet working, that Maxtor hard drive fails, they just installed SBC Yahoo's latest DSL software and the computer won't boot up anymore, etc etc.

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 6:46 pm

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
Yup.....you "think" you can handle the support....not once you get some serious numbers of computers out there. Then there's the "warranty" part....hardware failures, etc. Snowballs into a nightmare, that's why I don't do it anymore except for a few rare people.

Most computer professionals charge at least 100 bucks an hour for their time. How long does it take you to build a computer...start that timeclock from the minute you order the parts and software for a persons computer...unbox them all, slap it together, build it, install the OS, update all drivers, install and configure software, run your windows updates, your service packs for MS Office, update anti-virus, box it up, and or deliver onsite.

Takes at least 4 - 6 hours or so to do it properly and thoroughly, most likely more. If you don't bill for your time, then, well, guess you like volunteer work.

Now think of the headaches when peeps call and catch virus's, can't get their internet working, that Maxtor hard drive fails, they just installed SBC Yahoo's latest DSL software and the computer won't boot up anymore, etc etc.

so i come up with a warranty statement of some kind, such that i will help you with a virus, but i will charge you, a hardware failure would be my responsbility.

im looking for some cash on the side, and i would have a partner or two...

terrancelam · Post by **terrancelam** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 8:37 pm

I work for a computer shop both as a sales person and a tech and let me just say, it's not easy at all. Sales is half the battle and if you are unsure or don't provide as good a service/bargain as the guy next door, your business is gone. It's all about making money and unless you have a good plan laid out on how to handle all sorts of situations, I don't think you'll last long to be honest.

A few things to do before you start your own business like a computer re-seller, is get someone who has a degree in marketing or taking it at the University level. Get them to do a SWOT analysis on what you have proposed so far. There is a lot that much go into the pre-creation for you to have a sucessful business.

terrancelam · Post by **terrancelam** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 8:38 pm

try and look at everything from the Macro end and not the Micro. It's great to have a great micro strategy on how to deal with certain situations, but you need to have a macro strategy on how your company will work and how many computers you need to sell a month to pay off your employees.

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 8:55 pm

im not looking to get a storefront or anything.... my co-workers would be friends.... and only one or two of them.... we never sat down to talk about anything yet which is what we will do on my thanksgiving break....

were not looking to pull a michael dell here.... were not looking for tremendous profit either....

terrancelam · Post by **terrancelam** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 10:09 pm

Originally posted by monkeyhead
im not looking to get a storefront or anything.... my co-workers would be friends.... and only one or two of them.... we never sat down to talk about anything yet which is what we will do on my thanksgiving break....

were not looking to pull a michael dell here.... were not looking for tremendous profit either....

but be prepared for everything, makes the business go smoother, even if it's only 10 to 20 customers.

teleman1098 · Post by **teleman1098** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 10:19 pm

Know viruses and how they act, YOU WILL BE CALLED!!.
You can install all the antivirus software you want, but the client will forget to update the dat files and you get the call to help them out in a crisis. Sometimes its easy sometimes its not.
As Trill said hardware is for the most part is stable, the problem arises with the end user. I must say I enjoy tech support and the money that comes with it. I have built numerous boxes and had 1 hardware failure during burnin. Don't go out and buy 50 cases and ect... and then say" here I am come and getem" Dell,HP,Compaq,& Gateway have alot more advertising $ than you do. Take the personal approach and take time to find what the client needs and then build what they need, not what you want for them. ---- mho--

Build it beefy --so you won't be sleepy

monkeyhead · Post by **monkeyhead** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 10:31 pm

i will not be buying any hardware in bulk yet... gotta wait til i have some kind of actual profit to do that..... and even if i get that far i wont be buying a lot all at once...

and like i said about the viruses, anything thats not my fault, they will be charged for if i have to do anything to the computer..... it will be a learning process and constantly changing on my terms and policies or whatever, it will take a few people calling me to realize how to handle some situations....

on another note....

thanks for the help so far guys, this isnt a final words or remarks post, so keep em coming... but thanks for making me aware of all the things i should be thinking of.... a lot we had discussed discussing about (me and my partner) we just havent done anything but say we need to talk about this, that and this....

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