Becoming a "professional" system builder?

[Ditto1958]

Does anyone know if there is a forum for people who build systems "professionally?" I.e. people who do it for a job, either self-employed, or for an employer, or people who do it sort of as a side job?

I'm going to be relocating to another state soon. When I get there I won't be licensed in my current field for at least a year, so it's likely that whatever employment I get will pay less than what I am making now. I'll likely be forced to try to supplement my income with other things.

One thing I've thought about is building computers. I love doing it, and wonder if it's possible to do some of it for pay. When I read reviews at Newegg.com, many of them seem to be written by people who build systems for a living.

I've got a lot of questions about this, though, and I'm wondering where the best places might be to ask them.

 

[IINexusII]

yeah theres lots of people who make systems for other people and get paid. im sure someone here does it. also one of them is tjharlow on youtube, heres his channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/tjharlow?blend=1&ob=4 you can maybe ask him

 

[phanbuey]

There is a bunch of people here that do it as extra income... Ive sold about 20 systems in the past two years, so I wouldn't say that I do it professionally by any means...

But in my limited experience, the hardest parts are
1. Support support support. They will not be calling India... they will be calling your house, unless you explicitly state that if they break it they fix it. Still, they will be calling your house.
1. Finding customers (as in any business)
2. Differentiating yourself from all the other builders.


Really the majority of my customers fall into two categories:
1. Total noobs (not meant as an insult - just that these people have no idea how a computer works... these are the people that say their computer has a virus if anything is wrong with it). Worst customers ever, if they download something and it doesn't work through no fault of yours, they will call you. Tell these people to buy a dell regardless of how much they want to pay.
2. Wanna-be enthusiasts, usually ppl that want to build a rig w/ special features/cooling but don't wanna do it themselves, they pay well, are easy to upsell, and troubleshoot their own issues and install their own OSes, so for me this is the sweet spot.

I also would stay away from building systems that cost less than $1500, not as much money to be made.

 

[vbx]

At this day and age, I would assume it would be a little hard to start making income building rigs. Maybe if you already started, and already have "word of mouth" going on, it would be ok.

If you do decide to build rigs, remember to always use a legit licensed version of the OS you're using. Unless you're using Linux.

Because, if you somehow pissed off your customer, they can report you to a local authority and you'll be pretty much f'd.

 

[AltecV1]

im one of the "Wanna-be enthusiasts" i dont know how do wire the case wires so i payd 15$ extra that the buisness were i bought my parts,do resemble the rig no body has teached me how to do that

 

[DRDNA]

There is ALWAYS room for success in this arena..You have to be very wise though!

 

[aj28]

Finding customers is always the most difficult part of that type of job. Once you find them, however, word-of-mouth based on a quality job is the easiest way to get repeat business. It's more the breaking in than anything else which is difficult... There are so many "technicians" out there these days, and yet so few of them have an honest dedication to quality and all the right know-how, combined with the business and people skills necessary to maintain a business of that sort. Even certifications are slowly beginning to lose their meaning... You really do have to go out and talk to people, or know them already, if you intend to make good money off of it.

 

[Ditto1958]

My questions about this

As I believe I indicated in my original post here, I am interested in doing this, but have some questions.

Once I have customers, my biggest question is how could I ever make a profit from this with the prices of pre-built computers from HP and Dell so low these days? I'm very happy with what I can get by buying components from Newegg and putting together exactly the system I am looking for. I would think, though, that many people would just look at bare specs and price and think the HP with support and warranty is a much better deal.


Let's assume, though, that I do have some people who want me to build them computers. How would I work it? Should they decide what they want and then give me the money to order the components? Or, should they order them and then bring everything to me when it comes?

Is buying from Newegg, Amazon, etc., the cheapest way to get components? Or can system builders get them wholesale for less?

 

[Disparia]

^-- Why I stopped.

I used to build custom systems back in the early 2000's. Did just under 300 machines. But prices started dropping, more and more people wanted sub-$1K machines, and it just wasn't fun anymore. Would like to do it again, but more as a hobby (build a themed computer, play a bit, sell it off). Anyhoo...

Not a huge profit gainer, but you can offer to "build and test". Try to get the market of people who would like a nice machine but for whatever reason are hesitant to build their own. Makes it easier to support them, especially if this is a temporary endeavour.

Unless you're moving a lot of machines buying from Newegg.com is easier/just as cheap as buying from a tiered wholesaler.

 

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

So here is my advice as an experienced builder for customers, not a professional, but experienced

-ALWAYS build on a platform you know like the back of your hand, because if you dont know the motherboard BIOS inside out, the motherboards common issues, and the right stable yet capable BIOS for the board when you sell the system; you WILL after countless long hours and months trying to fix problems in a customers system.

-following the above point, NEVER EVER build a system with a board you have not used. If you must build on an unfarmiliar platform make sure you at least use the Brand of board you know best and take some extra time to learn the ins and outs of the board before you sell it off.

-NEVER sell a system with a) super fast RAM b) known unreliable ICs such as Micron D9GMH - you will go through major headaches with tech support if the ram you put in a system starts to fault.

-similar to previous points once again - stick to cases you know, working in the same case over and over speed things up and helps you improve you time/$ ratio

 

[Disparia]

+1 to that.

Back then I'd never build on a VIA based board.

 

[MilkyWay]

selling some pcs or building for friends and family is just doing it on the side, doing it professional is like selling pcs and hardware for a living or as a second job like you do it all the time for extra cash not just a here and there you do it

 

[PaulieG]

I've been selling custom systems on the side for years. I've slowed down on this, because the profit margin has decreased significantly, considering that prebuilts now have very aggressive pricing. When working with the average consumer, it's hard to convince them that you are offering a superior product for the money. So, I've focused on marketing only high end system, plus I offer a "mobile PC repair service". I also occasionally contract with local PC shops to take emergency calls for them. I've made enough money selling and doing repairs about 5 hours a week, to support my hardware addiction.

IMHO it's really hard to thrive in this market as a new player....unless you market exceptionally well.

 

[Black Panther]

1. Total noobs (not meant as an insult - just that these people have no idea how a computer works... these are the people that say their computer has a virus if anything is wrong with it). Worst customers ever, if they download something and it doesn't work through no fault of yours, they will call you. Tell these people to buy a dell regardless of how much they want to pay.

I don't agree with refusing these customers.

Perhaps my view isn't morally correct...... but I'd just charge them for the work they expect me to do on their pc if they keep insisting. They think they got a virus? Sure... I'll remove the virus, against payment obviously.

More on topic, once I got a quote for parts from Scan in Malta (franchise of Scan UK). After giving me the quote, they told me they'd charge ONLY €25 for assembling the pc themselves!
That's why I don't think I'd go for it as a job myself here. As a hobby okay I assemble my own stuff, but I'd never go for all the hassle (including having to give after sales service, support, getting calls, warranty stuff etc...) just for €25 per system.

Unless you purchase parts in bulk wholesale and can make good profit off the parts... that'd be another story...

 

[TheMailMan78]

Then you have guys like me. I build them for free. I enjoy it.

 

[3volvedcombat]

I want to be a costum rig builder to you know......
Ive built at least 20 computers then taken them apart and built them agian XD.

Ive notice (freinds that want to be hardcore with a rape computer) Scream when something is wrong with a overclock. For some resone if your going to offer servercies to costumers that want overclocks. Cold leds. and water cooling (i need to get into that ) that you need to be a pro at it. They will message you on xfire. Call your house if something dosnt go right or if a overclocked somehow screwd the computer up over ruining a raid array .

I realy want to get certified to with proof that im qualified but im only 15 right now. The computer shop wont hire me. And i would rather work at the computer store. When it comes to offering special pluses to your work. You have to be sure. I know for the rest of my life when im going to overclock a system apon request. Im going to tell the costumer the bads, and the goods in a simple way and let him choose what he wants to do. Then im going to overclock a system to a acheivable easy speed then orthose the bastard for 48 hours strate >.<. Im getting ready to build another system for sub 250$ for my self. Cause i got a free mobo and proc. Im dedicated and ready to learn about water cooling, Sleeving wires, and moding cases with my dads tools (rox my sox every tool in the world XD). I eventualy be doing that for extra pay. And i love building systems lulz

 

[BroBQ]

take a look at this site ...

http://www.technibble.com/

 

[phanbuey]

take a look at this site ...

http://www.technibble.com/

Thank you for this... Excellent.

 

[Meecrob]

one easy way to get some business is to under cut places like geekfraud, i mean geeksquad, the charge like 85bucks just to look at a system, if the cant fix it, u still pay 85bucks, if you want the system cleaned up(remove spyware and such) ur looking at paying at least 160 and listening to them tell you that any system you have needs to just be replaced because its to old(even if you bought it from them 6 months ago and the same geekfraud rep said it would last you years)

I charge like 25/hr for good clients, 35-45/hr for people who are "aol users"(the total noobie's), more if the systems some damn clusterfuk OEM job that requires alot of extra work to deal with.

you can just go hang around bestbuy and the like in the tech section handing out cards and telling people you can build them a better rig OR clean up the OEM box they buy and do a clean install of the apps they need(easy money and alot of people will bite if u explain why cleanings a good idea)

 

[3volvedcombat]

There is a bunch of people here that do it as extra income... Ive sold about 20 systems in the past two years, so I wouldn't say that I do it professionally by any means...

But in my limited experience, the hardest parts are
1. Support support support. They will not be calling India... they will be calling your house, unless you explicitly state that if they break it they fix it. Still, they will be calling your house.
1. Finding customers (as in any business)
2. Differentiating yourself from all the other builders.


Really the majority of my customers fall into two categories:
1. Total noobs (not meant as an insult - just that these people have no idea how a computer works... these are the people that say their computer has a virus if anything is wrong with it). Worst customers ever, if they download something and it doesn't work through no fault of yours, they will call you. Tell these people to buy a dell regardless of how much they want to pay.
2. Wanna-be enthusiasts, usually ppl that want to build a rig w/ special features/cooling but don't wanna do it themselves, they pay well, are easy to upsell, and troubleshoot their own issues and install their own OSes, so for me this is the sweet spot.

I also would stay away from building systems that cost less than $1500, not as much money to be made.

I would def understand what he means there. I live in a city were people acctualy dont know a shits worth about computers and every computer around me is a dell..... Theres some freinds and freinds of freinds that have cash and so on but dont know a worth shit about computers. I under stand and go with (1.) Stay away from those people. Or tell them to read a book and research about computers in the first place. Stay AWAY FROM TOTAL NOOBS. Out of know were thell call you, message you, or do something and say that there computer is lagy. I THINK THATS BULL SHIT. i go over there and notice no diffrence over at a freinds house, and the explian to me that xfire or some program is starting slow and its acting up *face palm instantly*. People need smarts if there ganna pay people that can build and wire tire Beautifal systems and overclock them for 1500+ dollars.

 

[3volvedcombat]

one easy way to get some business is to under cut places like geekfraud, i mean geeksquad, the charge like 85bucks just to look at a system, if the cant fix it, u still pay 85bucks, if you want the system cleaned up(remove spyware and such) ur looking at paying at least 160 and listening to them tell you that any system you have needs to just be replaced because its to old(even if you bought it from them 6 months ago and the same geekfraud rep said it would last you years)

I charge like 25/hr for good clients, 35-45/hr for people who are "aol users"(the total noobie's), more if the systems some damn clusterfuk OEM job that requires alot of extra work to deal with.

you can just go hang around bestbuy and the like in the tech section handing out cards and telling people you can build them a better rig OR clean up the OEM box they buy and do a clean install of the apps they need(easy money and alot of people will bite if u explain why cleanings a good idea)

Thats acctualy a realy good idea. I live were 200,000 Pop and no one knows about there hardware. Thats a realy god damn good idea. Im just afraid of geekfraud/squad will come shoot my ass down and send me home

 

[BroBQ]

Thank you for this... Excellent.

Its a great site for anyone in the business...

 

[Meecrob]

only if they get your addy and can figure out how to program it into their gps, then you can alwase outrun them, they drive vw bugs of course

most geek squad reps are RETARDED, my buddy bought an extened warr on the zune he just had to have, it died, they tried to use a macbook to test it, then tried to use a pc that didnt have the zunesuit to test it, desided it was broken because he couldnt get into it to move files......(the screen was dead, not the hdd)

the way you get to go to peoples homes as a geeksquad rep, you sell like make alot of sales in store of shit and services people dont need, you only keep that status by selling people more stuff they dont want/need when you go to their homes to fix stuff......u dont even need to know how to recover files or the like, just how to sell them norton's current version and how to sell them programs they probbly got no use for!!!

oh and how to convince soccer mom's and grannys that their computers to old and needs replaced......thats an important skill!!!

 

[Creatre]

This is interesting stuff. I've always considered doing this as a kind of side thing when work/school is light, and may pick it back up again. Doing 1 or 2 decent builds a month gives adequate money to spend on your own computer and hobbies, however doesn't get you too involved or overwhelmed.

 

[BroBQ]

one easy way to get some business is to under cut places like geekfraud, i mean geeksquad, the charge like 85bucks just to look at a system, if the cant fix it, u still pay 85bucks, if you want the system cleaned up(remove spyware and such) ur looking at paying at least 160 and listening to them tell you that any system you have needs to just be replaced because its to old(even if you bought it from them 6 months ago and the same geekfraud rep said it would last you years)

I charge like 25/hr for good clients, 35-45/hr for people who are "aol users"(the total noobie's), more if the systems some damn clusterfuk OEM job that requires alot of extra work to deal with.

you can just go hang around bestbuy and the like in the tech section handing out cards and telling people you can build them a better rig OR clean up the OEM box they buy and do a clean install of the apps they need(easy money and alot of people will bite if u explain why cleanings a good idea)

Anytime I run into a client using AOL I laugh. But in the end I talk them out of using it.