Computers can be cheap!

twix9

Hello everyone, I'm here for a bit of support. I'm starting up a business in the North-East, and in order to do so I need funding. One of the conditions of my funding is proof of a demand for my product, so here goes:

Many of you will have heard of the OEM market, and many more will have, at some point, built their own PC. Prices in high street stores border on the ridiculous, and many families share one PC between several people, or even go without. In an age where computers are next to essential for school and work, this leaves many household in the lurch.

My business aims to build computers with the same processing and graphical power of high-street models, but at a fraction of the price. Additionally, for families who need computers but cannot afford to buy them, I offer a rental scheme for laptops, computers, internet hardware etcetera.

I'm making this post on a number of forums to judge national demand for technology, and I'm not trying to market my business here. This post is more to prove, for my funding, that there is a demand for my service.

I am hoping that some of you can respond with whether you would consider my service, and why. Thankyou for taking the time to read this.

TradePro

Being 100% honest, I think you're a bit late to market.

There's no doubt that at one time PC's were expensive in stores, back in the day I've been and bought the components from local computer fayre's and put them together myself. That was then, though.

Even PC World and Co are not that expensive nowadays (compared to back then) but certainly you can buy fully built PC's from reputable ebay sellers for probably less than you can buy the parts for (I don't know how, but it's true).

Slowhand

twix9 can you give some example prices you could/would charge?

marleyboy

I build my own computers to my specifications and yes its a lot cheaper than buying a pc. As such I would not purchase a product from you but imagine many would.

You might want to consider expanding the business to include PC repairs or upgrades, as many people are lost when it comes to the technicalities of a computer, if for whatever reason Windows does not load, without the ability of clicking the mouse or booting up, some people are lost.

Software problems can be an issue enough for some who would stand no chance of grasping any hardware problems.

sillygoose

BrightHouse already do this with a web site and high street stores, except its a sort of hire purchase so you actually get the item at the end - at 30% APR!

If your targeting the poor end of the market you will have to accept frequent difficulties collecting payments, use of courts and bailiffs, items going missing and getting broken by those that won't take responsibility. To cover these issues you will need to surcharge those that do use your service but abide by the terms, pushing your prices up. (hence BH charging 30% APR)

Personally I think it more viable to take another tack of keeping your front end cost down by using recycled technology. You can get a surprisingly decent new computer case for £15. If you can get a source of cheap 2nd hand part that are not too old to build up the PC then they will look decent and you will be able to absorb some of the losses easier -they would be rented as 'Enviro Recycled PC Rentals'

yoyoegg

IMHO that's not a business with any profit in it. An Android tablet is £99, folks can get refurbed laptops easy enough for school work and the high emd gamers all go to Alienware.

I'm afraid most folks think more than £20 to fix their PC is daylight robery.

The one area that is growing is 'silver surfers' and that really involves configuring their PC for poor eyesight, making sure they can't mess up settings etc.

[Deleted User]

Blimey, if you think computers are expensive then you never spent £1000 buying a Pentium 75..

Even 10 years ago I was able to make my own PC costing about £250 - now you can buy a laptop at an ok spec for £350 in Argos!

I think i'd second the idea of 'recycling' parts (especially old TFT monitors ect) to create 'very cheap' computers.

Fifer

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Blimey, if you think computers are expensive then you never spent £1000 buying a Pentium 75..

Or £1200 for a 486DX2 with no monitor - a computer auction bargain! It did have twin floppies mind.

JJ_Egan

Fraction of the price + Same Specs .
I doubt it .

Many independents will build relatively cheap .
Computer fairs build as you wait .

Nut knowing the price of components and build time costs i still doubt the wording fraction of the price unless its a big fraction to pay .

jje

kwikbreaks

5/4 is a fraction

jaydeeuk1

If you can sell me a PC for £400 that would cost me at least that for parts on Ebuyer, you would get quite a lot of business.

Unless you're buying 10000+ identical processors at the same time, that isn't going to happen.

I used to build PCs/media centers and refurb laptops on ebay for about 6 years between 2003 and 2009, made quite a bit of money from it just doing it part time, but go out just in time where PC prices had dropped, laptops cheap as chips, credit crunch and generally bored of fingers being ripped to shreds. Now sticking to programming, at least its the sort of thing I can do whilst sat in my fav pub, watching horse racing at same time and dicking about on MSE

If you can also fix software problems, give training then you might have a chance locally.

Final top tip - try and get in with the councils - if you can get on an official recommended supplier for schools you will make a killing, easily 200% profit margin on hardware but you need to know your onions with networking, server installations, cabling etc. Should be able to command near £100 an hour for that too.