danielwebb
asked on
I Want To Start Building Computers To Sell On Ebay Need Advice!!!
hey guys i've been working on computers now for several years and I want to start building them and selling them to students at the college i go to as well as to gamers on ebay. I was just hoping for some advice on what kind of systems are the most profitable and where to get good deals on parts. Is this something that i can actually make a living doing out of my home?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
PCBONEZ
www.pricewatch.com
That's the one I couldn't remember. : )
I thought so.... ; )
I remembered another:
This place is little known, great prices, small inventory, but sometimes they have what you need.
http://66.216.68.88/
I remembered another:
This place is little known, great prices, small inventory, but sometimes they have what you need.
http://66.216.68.88/
danielwebb
Where are you located?
Where are you located?
ASKER
I'm in charlotte north carolina
ASKER
i was just wondering because i asee some of these high end gaming computer priced at like 6 or 7 g's on ebay. they can't cost more than a couple thousand to make.
ASKER
i like the idea of trying to be the "software guy" for small firms.
ASKER
computer guy rather
danielwebb:
I suggest you track some of those auctions you are seeing on eBay and see what the outcome is.
I'd bet that not many of those actually sell right off and they get relisted several times.
And the seller pays fees based on the asking price ~ even if they don't sell it.
It adds up and eats the profits.
Also take one of those systems and -on paper- build one yourself.
Find the actual amount it would cost YOU to build it. (AND the cost to advertize and sell it!)
..........
Actually the best answer might be to combined all those jobs into one job.
Be the PC guy for small firms. (Highest pay)
~ Advertise this locally. The paper, the 'freebie' paper, buisiness cards, bulletin board ads, get a website.
Be a mobile PC guy, house calls. (Next highest pay)
~ Advertise this locally too.
Be a dismantler/ebay reseller. (Steady and can do in volume. You need a fair amount of work/storage space.)
~~ Buy some small new items in bulk to build your reputation.
~~ Look for things that are worth more as parts than as systems.
~~~(You REALLY have to know how to research and the current value of used parts for this. It changes fast.)
~~ Look for lots (even pallets) of used PC's. WATCH SHIPPING $$$. Make sure there's something worth something there.
~~ You can resell your 'pulls' from upgrades from the first two jobs through this outlet too.
Build PC's. (Most fun but lowest profit and lowest volume.)
~ With the other higher profit/volume jobs taking priority you can be an opportunist wait for the really good deals on parts to come around. Don't expect a volume you can actually live off of though. Look for other larger niche markets. Gamers usually like to build their own PC's but how many regular people wanna be able to convert their VHS to DVD? Build systems for whatever niche and hoot'n'hollar about the feature.
As you get more and more of the higher paying 'contracts' you can do less and less of the lower paying work, but you'll be all set up with that as a 'back-up job' when you hit a lull for the better paying work.
Don't ever forget that your time is money. Making $10 turning a part around doesn't mean much if the time to collect(buy) /test /advertize /track /process /ship the item adds up to 3 or 4 hours. You actually LOST money if you could have made more doing something else in that time.
.
I suggest you track some of those auctions you are seeing on eBay and see what the outcome is.
I'd bet that not many of those actually sell right off and they get relisted several times.
And the seller pays fees based on the asking price ~ even if they don't sell it.
It adds up and eats the profits.
Also take one of those systems and -on paper- build one yourself.
Find the actual amount it would cost YOU to build it. (AND the cost to advertize and sell it!)
..........
Actually the best answer might be to combined all those jobs into one job.
Be the PC guy for small firms. (Highest pay)
~ Advertise this locally. The paper, the 'freebie' paper, buisiness cards, bulletin board ads, get a website.
Be a mobile PC guy, house calls. (Next highest pay)
~ Advertise this locally too.
Be a dismantler/ebay reseller. (Steady and can do in volume. You need a fair amount of work/storage space.)
~~ Buy some small new items in bulk to build your reputation.
~~ Look for things that are worth more as parts than as systems.
~~~(You REALLY have to know how to research and the current value of used parts for this. It changes fast.)
~~ Look for lots (even pallets) of used PC's. WATCH SHIPPING $$$. Make sure there's something worth something there.
~~ You can resell your 'pulls' from upgrades from the first two jobs through this outlet too.
Build PC's. (Most fun but lowest profit and lowest volume.)
~ With the other higher profit/volume jobs taking priority you can be an opportunist wait for the really good deals on parts to come around. Don't expect a volume you can actually live off of though. Look for other larger niche markets. Gamers usually like to build their own PC's but how many regular people wanna be able to convert their VHS to DVD? Build systems for whatever niche and hoot'n'hollar about the feature.
As you get more and more of the higher paying 'contracts' you can do less and less of the lower paying work, but you'll be all set up with that as a 'back-up job' when you hit a lull for the better paying work.
Don't ever forget that your time is money. Making $10 turning a part around doesn't mean much if the time to collect(buy) /test /advertize /track /process /ship the item adds up to 3 or 4 hours. You actually LOST money if you could have made more doing something else in that time.
.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Another thing. If you were looking to maximize profit to the same extent as the bigger builders, you would have to look into getting contacts in places like Singapore to import bulk orders of RAM, etc. There's guys making big money on eBay by working as "order takers" and then importing such things as RAM. You'll see how close together they place their ad's for identical lots like 512MB of DDR400 RAM. They compile all the winning bids into one order and buy fairly large quantities of the same products on a repeat basis. On many occasions, the Far East supplier will separately post the goods to you, and the handling change (import duty) is included into the post and packing cost tacked onto or your eBay payment by the "order taker" (ie. eBay seller).
As a side note on college students, around here I have noticed that they are looking for used laptops that are a couple of releases old, to carry to class. A thousand bucks is alot of money to a student that doesn't have a Daddy footing the bill.
Just something to check for in your area.
Just something to check for in your area.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Thanks for stressing that.
He may have missed importance where I mentioned it because I didn't push the issue.
That one NEEDS pushed.... It can make or break you...
.
He may have missed importance where I mentioned it because I didn't push the issue.
That one NEEDS pushed.... It can make or break you...
.
ASKER
Ok. I'm a college junior. Do you think small firms would be willing to hire me on? And if so what do you think would be a good fee to charge them?
Find out what the going rate is for a call-in on-site tech.
Pretend you're one of the small firms and call a few competitors for rates.
You are just getting started so undercut their fees bigtime.
If they charge $50 then you do it for $25. If they do $75 then you charge $40 or so.
You want to charge significantly less than the others do so your customers feel like they are getting an awesome deal.
That way they will remember you next time as well as hopefully tell others about you...
.
Pretend you're one of the small firms and call a few competitors for rates.
You are just getting started so undercut their fees bigtime.
If they charge $50 then you do it for $25. If they do $75 then you charge $40 or so.
You want to charge significantly less than the others do so your customers feel like they are getting an awesome deal.
That way they will remember you next time as well as hopefully tell others about you...
.
Remember there is usually a fee just to show up in addition to the hourly fee.
Don't forget to take advantage of free advertising.
Make up some 3x5 card ads or some business cards.
Leave them in places potential clients will see them.
(Like Bulletin boards in big office buildings, grocery store, city hall, golf courses, ......)
Use a phone number and an email as contact info.
I'd put your LOW fee right on the ad but if you do remember (write down) where in town you put them all so if you change your fee you can find and change out all your ads.
.
Don't forget to take advantage of free advertising.
Make up some 3x5 card ads or some business cards.
Leave them in places potential clients will see them.
(Like Bulletin boards in big office buildings, grocery store, city hall, golf courses, ......)
Use a phone number and an email as contact info.
I'd put your LOW fee right on the ad but if you do remember (write down) where in town you put them all so if you change your fee you can find and change out all your ads.
.
Thank you war1 and GranMod
Thank you much. : )