Question Suitable setup

[supercrosses123]

So I'm planning on starting my own business by selling computers on ebay, and so I was wondering if this setup would be a suitable start to the endeavor? https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mcfrcq

 

[Eximo]

Not much of a profit margin based on what is available on ebay right now. How are you handling shipping and support? Even if you make $100 per machine, but spend more than 4 hours on each one...that includes ordering time, assembly time, and dealing with questions...

Personally I would steer people towards one of the boutique builders at this price point. Have some sort of reasonable expectation of support.

Honestly not enough margin for custom builds with new parts unless you are offering something beyond the basics.

 

[greigm78]

Ebay is far too saturated with mediocre and mid range systems being sold by the volumes that mean margin isn't primary driver.
It's incredibly difficult to compete on price because it's incredibly difficult to complete on scale. You need to have a differentiator but in a wholly saturated marketplace that is also, sadly, incredibly difficult.

As a business you would probably also need indemnity insurances and service agreements written in to sales and that is not a cheap part of the game either.

As someone who did build and sell custom PCs in mid 2000s it's a tough game to get into.

Maybe do the odd one or two and see how it goes but I wouldn't recommend jumping straight to a business model.

 

[supercrosses123]

What would you suggest if i was too go into yhe computer selling market?

 

[USAFRet]

$650.
A typical buyer is going to also want a valid Windows OS. Add $100 to that price.

 

[greigm78]

What would you suggest if i was too go into yhe computer selling market?

As I say, I wouldn't recommend it unless you can buy and build at the sort of scale that means you can compete.
Quality of parts is probably your main differentiator but then, most people looking for a cheap PC probably don't care about part quality over, say price and service/warranty plan, and then people that do care about part quality know their PCs and probably self build.

In reality, your target market is fairly small overall and the competition is high. That was the one main reason I stopped selling PCs in 2008.

Unless you can get parts practically wholesale then there is little margin to be made in order to compete.

 

[supercrosses123]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mcfrcq

 

[supercrosses123]

$650.
A typical buyer is going to also want a valid Windows OS. Add $100 to that price.

That's less than it's worth are you high? And I was referring to what a good market to sell would be to start out

 

[kanewolf]

I would NEVER build a PC without an SSD. The difference is night and day.

 

[USAFRet]

That's less than it's worth are you high? And I was referring to what a good market to sell would be to start out

Your pcpp list shows $663.88
I rounded to $650.
Add $100 for a Windows license.

What special benefit do you bring that you could charge more than $750 for this?

 

[USAFRet]

And then add in the 10% ebay fee, and $50+ shipping.
So, if you include a valid Windows license, and sell that for $800 on fleabay, your actual 'profit' would be

Sale of $800 (not likely but just as a round number)
Parts for $663
OS for $100
ebay fee of -10%
shipping of -$50


Selling it for $800 leaves you $93 in the hole.

 

[USAFRet]

Not in 2020.
Absolutely needs a solid state drive.
250GB or larger, and not an off brand.

 

[USAFRet]

The backstory on this:

Question - Suitable setup

So I'm planning on starting my own business by selling computers on ebay, and so I was wondering if this setup would be a suitable start to the endeavor? https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mcfrcq

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