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I am really confused and am looking for some constructive suggestions.
I want to make some money of selling custom build computers at e-bay. But, I am confused about what type of system to build: High Tech Gaming ones (that cost me over a grand to build) or low-end ones (that will cost will $400 to build) or middies (that will cost me $600-800 to build).
Now, if you going to say, start out with low-end ones with Sempron processor, what if no one buys them? I am losing my money on something I never would want to use!
And if you say, start out with High-end ones, Socket 939 mobos, what if no one buys that? I am losing my money on something darn expensive!
Which "end" should I go with?!? HELP
Build one or two of each.
Find out which one(s) is(are) selling and concentrate.
Tough market. Hard to compete with computers from Dell at $299.
Good luck!
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Badboy is right.
I build what I call web cruisers. The web cruisers are little p2/p3 systems that get refurbished and let go for peanuts. Small hard drives make them pretty much useless for any thing else. But instead of throwing them away they get a new lease on life. I can't keep them in the shop for long. They move very well. I don't ship them as shipping would cost more than the machine. You may consider trying that in your local area.
I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid...
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I would spend a month tracking prices on ebay to see what various PCs go for. It is a hugely competitive market. If you build high end PCs it is a greater risk but a greater potential gain. Like Badboy points out building low end systems it is virtually impossible to compete with someone like DELL.
One quite common approach seems to be to wack a huge great Pentium4 in an otherwise low end machine. People who dont understand hardware see lots of GHz and think its worth what your asking for it.
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A very tough market to try to crack. A local supplier I deal with for components charges only $100 (aud) to assemble. It's almost not worth buying the parts except that I enjoy the process of building myself. Nor would I EVER buy a system on ebay. Concerns about quality/warranty/returns/backup support would hold me back. I guess you can count me out of your target market.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and his wife will never forgive you.
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lol Richard59.
Well, I've been tracking computers for a while (actually you dont have to track for months, you can view completed listings)...but anyways, most of them are "Buy it Now" and out of 10 listings 1 gets sold.
Rest auctions, people are looking hard for 0.99cents auction computers that no one bid on to win it for a dollar. And if you put beginning price as $300, you get mixed responses.
Overall, yeah, it looks like a tough market. Not when I have to sell JUST parts (like motherboard, memory, hard drive), but when it comes for entire custom build computer, DELL-SONY stuff got the lead there.
Anyways, thanks for the input. I know I am pretty much losing my money here, but I still want to build one. Here is what I found for motherboard:
http://www.biostar-usa.com/mbdetails.asp?model=k8vga-m - $60
Processor recomendations? or should I go with an Intel mobo because people think P4 are always better and rest all is crap.
I am trying to go here with Dr. K. Kennedy's advice above.
Also, do any of you know how that reselling DELL on ebay gig works!?! Is it just that you buy it off DELL and are free to sell? Or is it that there is a "no-rip off" reseller program?
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I doubt you're gonna make any money building & selling new PCs...there's just no way to compete with the "big boys". Even if you build a superior machine, the "average Joe" would rather buy a $400 Dell than an $800 rig built in someone's basement.
I sell cheap refurbed systems for between $50-200 complete. I make more money doing repairs & upgrades than system sales. Spyware & virus removal has become a huge part of what I do lately & frankly, I'm getting sick of dealing with it.
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz
768MB PC3200
Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit
Gamer Edition
WinME/WinXP Pro
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That board you posted is MicroATX - is that what you want?
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz
768MB PC3200
Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit
Gamer Edition
WinME/WinXP Pro
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I am gonna give it a shot, here is what I got:
CHAINTECH VNF3-250 Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD64 3400+ NewCastle core processor
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
XFX PVT43VUA Geforce 6200 256MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
200GB Western Digital HD w/8MB cache
SONY DW-D26A Black IDE DVD Burner
NEC FD1231H-302 Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive
I cant settle on a case, but everything by now is adding to: $550 after shipping
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The point is ... you don't sell custom built pc on e-Bay. Why? Because:
1. you don't provide after-sales support.
2. you don't provide the licensed OS pre-installed.
3. DELL offers custom-build PC as well with very attactive deal.From the look of it, if your target customer is gamers, most likely the target customer group can actually assemble, even overclock, their own PCs.
For non-gamers customers, you must understand that when they buy PCs, they want some kind of assurance that the goods are really in a good condition - that's why DELL achieve the highest sales in 2005. And, that's why they can capture the market.
If I were you, I would re-think that idea again. U need the profit - but how would you get it? Think. :-)
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hmm...true.
But how are those people selling them making money?
Anyways, I read your reply a little late. By the time, I had ordered all my parts.
So, my plan is, if the PC doesnt sells, I will use it and won't regret anything. After all, I am paying just $680 for this PC that DELL would sell for $1400.
And yes, I am selling it with OS.
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I know this thread is a bit old but..
With a Dell you would get a flat screen included, DDR2, PCIE etc, other bundled software $1400 PC. Periodically you get free printers.
And to add to Badboys sales volume comment...As an e-bay seller sales volume has the added bonus of making you look more attractive. I might consider buying from an 'e-bay store' with 2000+ feedback but not from an individual with 10 for eg.
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I got all my parts shipped (only thing left is to build the computer)
I think people will buy a computer if the deal looks good. Feedback is a part of it, but if a guy has a positive 100% feedback, people usually dont hesitate as much.
If you guys want, I will let you know if I ended up selling this pc or not.
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