Building and selling computers

[Freeforall]

I'm thinking about building computers and selling them with my dad. Would this be a nice basic rig to sell for fairly cheap?
We have a lot of fun doing this, and I think I could make some money off of it, too. He said we could have a couple of tiers.

G41 mATX Intel Motherboard - $40
4GB 240 Pin DDR3 - $30
Mid-Tower ATX Computer Case - $17
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Processor - $57
Nvidia GeForce 210 1GB DDR3 - $36
Antec Basiq 450 WAT PSU - $29
WD Scorpio Blue 400 GB - 300 MBps - 5400 rpm - $79
ASUS DRW 24B1ST CD/DVD - $19

I'm doing it just to make some money. It's not suppose to be a hardcore gaming machine, just an average home PC. I already checked, and all of these things are compatible with the motherboard.

[Matty_Richo]

That computer itself is missing both a Hard Drive and an Optical drive, after you add them in you're going to be looking at a building cost around $300, you aren't going to be able to sell that for much more than that. You will also have to keep in mind that the people you sell it to will probably want some kind of warranty which you will need to be able to offer, and they will also most likely want some form of technical support.

Also, where and how would you be selling them? Going through somewhere like Ebay will make you very little profit, if any, and if you plan on doing it independently you will need to think about some marketing strategies, a cardboard sign out the front of your house probably won't cut it.

[ARTgames]

I guess your dropping optical media and don't like hard drives. Or in other words two things not on your list you may want to consider if this is a whole new pc. Unless your recycling those pieces from some place else.

edit: I WAS HERE FIRST MATT!! man im a slow at typing. :P Anyway yeah what he said. Also to add onto that what are you going to do about an os? Your ether going to have to make sure the people know the system comes with nothing, have to buy windows and add it onto the price, or use Linux.

[Freeforall]

Woops, I completely forgot about those. I'm an idiot. Let me update the list.

And we can sell them around town, there are lots of people that will buy computers around here.

[ARTgames]

And for the os? (if any)

[Matty_Richo]

Haha, just got in there a moment quicker Art.

Yeah, but to be honest, you aren't going to be able to sell that computer for much more than $300, you are going to struggle to make money on that, and what plans do you have for offering technical support and warranties?

In reality you'd be best to find someone that needs a computer, find out what they need and custom build one fore them and then add a labour fee on top of the cost of the parts. Because there is no guarantee that someone nearby will want a computer with those specs and if they are looking for such a low-end computer they'd probably be happy to by second-hand.

[Freeforall]

OS will probably be Windows 7.

And, maybe I should give up with the idea? I mean, if it's not worth it..

[Jmac]

If you know for sure that multiple people would actually want to buy them from you, and for a price that nets you a good profit, then go for it man.

[Matty_Richo]

OS will probably be Windows 7.

And, maybe I should give up with the idea? I mean, if it's not worth it..

To make it worthwhile would take a heck of a lot of work otherwise there would be a ton of people doing the exact same thing. But if you have a few friends/neighbours/whatever that need computers, and you are able to custom build them one and then slap a labour fee on top of that then go for it, but don't expect to become the next Bill Gates with this idea.

[Freeforall]

OS will probably be Windows 7.

And, maybe I should give up with the idea? I mean, if it's not worth it..

To make it worthwhile would take a heck of a lot of work otherwise there would be a ton of people doing the exact same thing. But if you have a few friends/neighbours/whatever that need computers, and you are able to custom build them one and then slap a labour fee on top of that then go for it, but don't expect to become the next Bill Gates with this idea.

Nahh, I wasn't looking to make a big time career out of it.

Also, I have an old Gigabyte Radeon 9250 128MB graphics card for $10 if anyone is interested.

[Lingus]

Remember to get your business license, reseller's permit, and charge sales tax...

[Freeforall]

Remember to get your business license, reseller's permit, and charge sales tax...

What happens if I don't? :P

[ARTgames]

Lol if its just for a friends or family im sure ok with this.

[Lingus]

Remember to get your business license, reseller's permit, and charge sales tax...

What happens if I don't? :P

The government will come and rape you.

No seriously though. You stand to pay several thousands worth of penalties and fines if you don't set up your business properly and pay the appropriate taxes.

[Freeforall]

Remember to get your business license, reseller's permit, and charge sales tax...

What happens if I don't? :P

The government will come and rape you.

No seriously though. You stand to pay several thousands worth of penalties and fines if you don't set up your business properly and pay the appropriate taxes.

Ah, I see. Well, my dad is a superintendent, and they have a deal at the school where they pay about $10 for a copy of Windows 7 per school computer. He said I could probably do that if I pay for it.