[Lloyd1450]

Hi, this is my second post but here is my idea: basically i'm only 16 and so people may not trust me that much :S. But i already run my own photography site and small web hosting site.

So i plan to launch a small computer company which will provide mid-ranged systems which are totally customized to you. We shall talk to you either via phone or email and we will guide customers as to which options will suit them best. I currently build computers myself and so have experience in that sense. There will be some preconfigured systems which anyone can order direct of the website and it shall be hand built and sent via city link. If i begin selling a few i may consider registering the company so not to discourage customers. A small support team shall be setup to start with and this may grow if i begin selling systems.

So what do you think? Would any of you buy one?

Thanks - Lloyd

[grush]

Hi Lloyd1450 to be honest most folk on here that know a PSU from a CPU probably build their own rigs and the others buy the brand names or go local. If I was you I'd tend to try it local to start with and expand from there. Support is easier and you get a rep that way. Don't want to put a dampener on your idea just don't want you to spend the hard earned and lose it.

[dbuske]

Most small computer sellers make the same mistakes. They buy the cheapest parts they can. In so doing they in the long term alienate buyers. They get that computer home and it has integrated video that can't runs games well at all. The DVD drive comes with an old bios that stops the computer from booting up.
The bios in the main board is older and doesn't support the latest cpu's. So the small computer shop sets the computer up at at a lower speed. They don't want to update the bios.
Believe me you have to get the customer to tell you how the computer is going to be used. I gaurantee that if they have kids, the computer will be used for games. You really have to get the customer to be realistic about price. If they get cheap they will end up with a computer that is already outdated.
Believe me they will come back to you because you told them the truth. Yeah you can make some quick bucks selling cheap computers with cheap parts in the short term. But for the long term sell them what they really need, have to have.
Update the bios.
My Wife's sister has a computer business with her husband. They went they cheap route and are now struggling, because alot of people got a computer that is cheap, but can't be updated and do not run games.

[Dave Hybrid]

The build and sell sector is very competitive, companies like Dell make next to nothing on stuff and so do component resellers, something like 1% profit!

You have to do large volume to pull it off.

You are better of starting a repair company and sending out some flyer's to you local area, most people would rather use you than PC World.

That's what I did, I started by printing my own flyer's at home as I was skint and delivered them myself, now I'm overflowing with work and do very well out of it.

[SocialWarfare]

I think you would not be able to compete online, but selling comps locally is a far better idea, thats what I do:)
Just advertise in the local paper a in local shops
works for me;)

[skinnyman9000]

A old friend of mine used to design and host websites, then he started a 'computer hospital' as a small side project, used the same business premises etc. Now just 12 months later he's had to take a new team of staff and rent a new building just for that business. He's doing very well out of repairing computers.

If i were you though, like people have said, i would start locally. Almost every house around you will have a computer, and so work for builds/upgrades/repairs should be available. You'll definately need to build up a trusting customer base though. Sometimes people will think you're spinning them a line to make a sale. For example, i told my mate i could build him a comp for x amount, he said "but PC have this one and its cheaper", so he went and bought it. 6 months later it will not run his newer games

[alex]

Originally Posted by dbuske Most small computer sellers make the same mistakes. They buy the cheapest parts they can. In so doing they in the long term alienate buyers. They get that computer home and it has integrated video that can't runs games well at all. The DVD drive comes with an old bios that stops the computer from booting up. The bios in the main board is older and doesn't support the latest cpu's. So the small computer shop sets the computer up at at a lower speed. They don't want to update the bios. Believe me you have to get the customer to tell you how the computer is going to be used. I gaurantee that if they have kids, the computer will be used for games. You really have to get the customer to be realistic about price. If they get cheap they will end up with a computer that is already outdated. Believe me they will come back to you because you told them the truth. Yeah you can make some quick bucks selling cheap computers with cheap parts in the short term. But for the long term sell them what they really need, have to have. Update the bios. My Wife's sister has a computer business with her husband. They went they cheap route and are now struggling, because alot of people got a computer that is cheap, but can't be updated and do not run games.

That is a very astute post and very true!