Anyone here rebuild and sell computers?

As part of my services that I am offering as a mobile tech, I'm thinking of getting into this. However, I was wondering if anyone else does this and if so, who or where do you go for your supplier of parts or spare parts? Do you buy new, or do you harvest from other machines? If so, how do you get the old machines?

 

I've not really done much of it, a few times and I got most of the parts from either PC's people have given me when bought a new one or ones I've bought cheap and used, then build Frankenstiens. Although doing it this way means you don't make much profit due to the free/cheap parts are usually fairly oldish.

But if you done some research you could most likely find enough parts to build a half decent machine brand new and sell it for a profit while still competing with the "Best Buy" specials. But I think low end is tricky because you can get a dual core PC with monitor and printer for like $400 or cheaper on the right deal. But when you get high end, man you could make so much profit and massacre the "Best Buy" special.

I once priced out a machine someone asked me about at a electronics store, we went on the website and got all the info and then I looked through parts for a high end gaming machine.....$1999, not only did I beef it up a bit but my total with same extras was $1200, so I would feel perfectly happy about selling that for $1500, make $300 for a couple of hours work.
But yeah, high end you cold make money , low end you might find harder.

Just my opinion based on little experience.

 

Pretty much agree with NL - the steadily dropping prices for newer and better equipment is killing the mom-&-pop repair service industry...the same holds true for upgrading: it's just not cost-efficient anymore...

One huge problem I'm running into more and more is trying to figure out what to do with the graveyard equipment - there is just no easy or safe way to dispose of obsolete computer hardware, at least in my area...

If you can gather a few hardcore gamers, 3D modelers, medical field types, etc., then you might be able to make a few bucks, but, man! It's getting tougher every day competing with the Best Buys and Walmarts of the world...

 

No, You can build a new machine out of cheap parts as cheaply as the cheapest new store ones and you can't offer a 3 year guarantee, like people have said everyone just buys a cheap computer then buys a new one in a few years when the warranty has expired.

The amount of hardcore PC gamers in the whole country that want a high spec rig and can't build a computer can be counted on your right hand.

The only ones you usually end up selling computers to are friends and family who trust you won't rip them off and you don't want to make any money off them anyway, people who have never had a computer before and can't afford a store computer and these people will ruin your life if they have your phone number :-D

My advice, you won't make any but if you come across any computers sell them if you can find buyers.

 

I've custom built a couple systems for freinds, hardware is readiy available, but it's the software that eats up all the profit.

I more or less do it for fun, but still make a few $$.

The problem is that with all the $300 - $400, systems available off the shelf, most people would rather just buy a bundled system.

 

Some good info everyone. It confirms my feelings on the whole mom and pop build thing. however, the repair aspect of it seems good.

 

Agreed: the repair side of this business will never go away...pretty much why I frequent geek forums: to supplement my experience and knowledge with the thoughts and insights of others of my ilk...

And meet crazy people...

YAY!!! :major

 

I'm pretty crazy....dead sexay too...Ned will vouch...

 

I agree with what has been stated here. I've built quite a few custom rigs in the past. One I built for my nephew six years ago is based on a P4 3.0E Hyper threaded processor. He is a die-hard gamer, but just now stopped using it. My "main" computer has the same processor, and I intend to use it for the foreseeable future.

A lot of the computers I build are "Frankensteined" out of old computers people give me. I get a functioning system put together and give it away to someone who needs or wants a PC but can't afford one. They buy the O.S. if the PC doesn’t' have one, or I use a version of Ubuntu.

Building new computers anymore for an individual is kind of hit and miss - depends on where the market is on parts and such. Overall though, it is hard to compete with the big retail outlets.

I've found (like others here) there is money to be made in the repair and upgrade of older systems. People are surprised how responsive their old faithful becomes with the addition of a modern video card, or increasing the RAM . . .

 

While I'm not actually in the business of charging people for fixing their computers, I have seen enough of the people around me, at work and outside work, to realize that it's when someone's primary PC breaks that you can actually make some money off them. If you're a decent person, you'll actually do a good job repairing it for them as well.

 

Exactly. All my repairs are good repairs, and guaranteed be it a pay job or a freebie.

I don't charge friends for a PC repair (just parts if needed). I was just making the point a person stands a better chance of making money via repair/upgrades rather then building new systems for people . . . and such upgrades are worthwhile and result in a better functioning PC for the owner.

I didn't charge anybody at first . . . but so many PC's came my way from "A friend of a friend of a friend" via word of mouth I did start charging a small fee, depending on the type of repair needed. At one time I had 15 computers sitting in my study, waiting to be worked on. It comes and goes, but there are times that's all I do. Right now I just have two sitting there . . . one I think the board is dead; the other seems to be a RAM issue, but I have to run some more tests.

I also would never charge someone more for a replacement part then what the part actually cost - something a local PC repair shop does . . .that just burns me up. I found out the other day they don't like me very much over there . . . :-D

 

Same here.

I charge for parts, and after reading your paragraph below, you'll likely hate me for it when I tell you that I do markup a bit.

Same thing with me. At work, people feel that the IT Department is just another part of their benefits package. To wit, they bring in their personal laptops/desktops and expect us to work on it and work on it for free and on company and or personal time. They can all royally get to feck in my opinion!

Now, I tell them that I will "make them a good deal" but I do charge my employees to work on their personal crap. Look, I cannot work on it on company time and if I'm doing it on my time, I expect more than just a thank you. That's time away from my wife and kids, and other personal crap I want or need to get done.

While I too get angry with high markups, I do markup about 10% as a general rule.

 

Generally with parts that need replacing I will let the person either order it themselves or I show them the site (usually newegg) and they can pay me and I'll order it, I feel this gives me an edge in customer service by showing I make no profit on parts, not that there's anything wrong with making a profit but when someone says "Oh PC shop said a new HDD will be $125" and I show them the same thing for $70 they see that I'm not ALL about money, I like to fix the PC, load up security software I know and trust, clean up and sit back while I hear things like "Yeah he did a really good job and taught me some stuff"
What I do is teach enough for them to know how to use these things but not too much so they will never call again lol.

But back to parts, making a bit of money on them is ok since you have to figure out which parts are needed and them obtain them which all takes time, but when guys are making 50% plus on part that are obtainable to the public for much less, I think that could come back and bite you in the butt. Bt if you can get them wholesale and then sell them for less than is available retail then go for it.

 

I have built a couple of high end custom rigs for friends and charged 50euros for putting it together. (you do not pay for the work but for knowing how to do it)
The OS is for the client to choose and i will install anything that is legal.

 

I don't do it myself, but I know how and build my own, because I can beat the best buys on quality, if not necessarily on price.

 

This is the kind of mark-up that I am talking about. Ten percent is defensible; 50% is absurd. Common, though, with repair services - I had an exhaust fan replaced on my aging AC unit outside. I noted the part model and number while it was being replaced. I found the same unit on line for half the cost they charged me for it . . . :mad. The PC shop isn't quite that bad . . . but still way above what is reasonable.

 

Well, you're paying for the knowledge necessary to install it in that case. And if it's as frustrating to work on as the average car, then it's probably worth the cost.

 

If you mean the exhaust fan on my AC unit, it was about the easiest replacement I've ever seen . . . took the guy about 5 mins to get the cowling off. Another five to determine it was the fan (I had no idea). The wiring consisted of two harness plugs. Fan held on by three screws. He was done within 45mins. Take a look at one (this was a Heil), there really isn't much to them.

The $150.00 I paid above and beyond what they charged me for the motor is what I took to be paying for his "knowledge" . . .

I have no problem with someone earning a decent wage, but doubling the cost of a part to get more money smacks of dishonesty . . . I guess adding that much money to a service charge might get you disgruntled customers. Tacking it onto a part cost hides this from the customer, of course, who generally has no idea of your cost, and would find it hard to argue the price of the part or expect you to take a loss on it.

It's at best just not a good way to do business. Period.

 

Would you have known what it was? Or how to determine what it was? That's the knowledge.

You found the part on-line for half price. Chances are that they only use parts from a single supplier, or original manufacturer parts to ensure that it's right. So naturally they're being charged more because of it. So no matter how good of a deal you found, chances are they're not getting the same one.

 

Again, that's what I paid the $150.00 for . . . the knowledge. Not bad for 45 mins of work. That's what, $200 an hour?

I find it impossible to believe that I, a consumer with little (then) knowledge of AC equipment was able to find a better deal then the professionals who deal in such parts all the time. rolleyes I didn't find the part for "half price" - Within minutes I found it on-line wholesale for half the price they were charging for the part. To top it off, it was from the original manufacturer of the motor . . . the exact model and part number. You want me to entertain the thought this AC company was paying twice what they had to for parts? If that's the case I might owe them an apology . . . they weren't dishonest in that case - just incompetent.

At any rate, I'm just saying it's bad practice to charge someone twice what a part costs you. If you want to practice business that way, have at it. Like I said, it smacks of dishonesty . . . a sneaky way to inflate your profits. This is my opinion.

Oh, yeah - it may or may not have a bearing on the discussion that they went out of business a while back. Imagine that.