gauging interest...looking into starting building/selling pc's & parts

[navyblue2000]

Just kind of curious, I'm looking to finally start my own business in IT stuff. Kind of curious as to what everyone thinks of phone/web ordering, auctioning...
as well as buying slightly out of date to nearly nostalgic, refurbished PCs? and new ones of course...
what kind of money would you be willing pay for stuff like that? Keep in mind, software suites, operating systems, 2-3 year warranties on parts, etc are all included with prices?
Business/SoHo PC's
Gaming/Graphics PC's
Mini's, home theater PC's
Laptops...
network/server equipment?

I know that Dell/Gateway, etc can be beat. NO SUPPORT WILL BE OFFSHORED!!!

Again, I'm just gauging interest, feeling things out for the moment. things go well in the next few months and i might see if becoming a site sponsor would help the site and its members!!

thanks for all input! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[L32Projekt]

Biggest issue with starting your own IT business is providing support to your customers. That requires a large investment in time. You also need to make sure that customers don't tamper with the systems/parts and void your warranty. Get some tamper-proof stickers to put on the case where it opens to know if people are inside mucking around with the components.

You should be able to trust your customers, but you can't let the bad ones take advantage of you. Outside of that, my father's business is starting to get going alright after a few years. The best strategy that he's found is not to directly compete with Dell, Gateway, etc but to find a niche market (like you are with older components/systems) and do the best you can for the customers in that market. I'm sure you'll do fine, but don't expect any results for a while. To speed things up become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, get certified in diferent things (Intel platforms, networking, server systems, etc) and build trust with customers face-to-face so they can assist you with word of mouth advertising. Cut them a small break under the condition that they will recommend you to their friends as a favor to you. Establish a "Loyal Customer" program to reward returning customers.

These are just a few ideas to hopefully get you on your way. I'm sure some business peoples can give you more ideas. I've never attended a business class, these are just ideas that I've gathered from working extensively in the field and with people for a long time. Good Luck!

[Balloon Knot]

You'll never survive... good luck though!

[MTMike]

There is not enough profit in computer hardware to make a good living. You will not be able to compete with the big guys directly - unless you're as big as them...

Offer service/support as well and focus more on that (at least at first) and you'll have a better chance of success.

I tell you this from personal experience.

Good luck

-Mike

[Camarorulz]

MTMike is right: PC Building, selling, repair is not a good business. Most of the places I see around can't afford to hire more employees (I looked into getting a job at one) because they don't have enough business. Most people around will not buy a computer from the local guy when they can order it from Dell: perceived higher quality.

[navyblue2000]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

HOWEVER, and not trying to be a jerk...but I've weighed all that out, and I'm not starting a business right off, I'm starting more as a reseller, with one employee, ME. Drop-Shipping, so I never touch it...tech support is provided. None of my questions have been answered yet that I posted. :(

help out some? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[malice10985]

I would be very interested in a service like the one you suggested.

I am a self taught novice that likes to tinker with computers, but I don't know much about them. A service like yours would be valuable to me. I want a supplier that can spend time with me explaining the pro's and con's of different equipment I am interested in buying.

You would need to have rock bottom prices in order to survive. You would also need to have a decent communication system to survive. My biggest gripe with big companies is that cannot answer questions about thier products when I ask them. I want to know EVERYTHING before I buy a product.

If you want to be a single employee dropshipper, you would be more of a consultant than a supplier.

Being a consultant is a tricky buisiness. Most people like me expect thier friends to give them advice for free; they don't want to pay for it. Only big business pays for consulting, and they expect a professional team of experts, not a single employee.

I would pay a limited fee for your consulting, since I don't have many computer literate friends. I would also pay for you to do find me the parts that I need. I am not the normal guy, though. THus, I think you would have a hard time being profitable in the industry.

[GrandmasterCow]

Hey man. good luck with that. i've put that to much thought but i decided to go with the hardcore IT stuff more, like web hosting, dedicated servers, running large networks, custom programming applications, web design, game servers, etc.., yes it's all internet-based but it was very fun doing so far.

[navyblue2000]

well, this is more or less just a stepping stone, something to start with. I'd like to go larger scale

[HAZ-Matt]

Dell started off by building PC's in his dorm room...

[57s98Camaro]

I can vouch that tech support sucks complete ***. I think it's a lot for one man to take on.

It also depends on how computer-adept you are. Are you A+ certified? MCSE? You may look into that before jumping into this field.

[jc Kyle]

i still want that 64mb video card... i answered all your posts in response to this...

[navyblue2000]

dude that card is LONG gone...


Like I said I wouldn't have tech my OWN tech support group. It's from the people that manufacture the computer...

Much like if you go to circuit city and buy an HP, you don't speak with circuit city tech support, you speak with HP tech support.

[chadder]

ive been looking into the same think, im currently in the process of getting my A+ certification and a job at Best Buy fixin PCs for experience. There is a LOT of competition though