Yeah, it makes ok business. I've been doing it for five years. Not a money tree, but it works. You need todo home computer repairs to make money.
When conducting business, try and remember that you can get a P4 dell with good ram and good vid card with monitor for $499. The only thing that sells my PCs if customer friendliness. I can only sell to customers who know i'll be there if they have a problem. Believe me, do NOT take business you can't drive to, because customers will need you sooner or later. And most people don't understand anything over the phone.
I see you both are 16, I hope ya'll got cars, because you're going to need them.
You can't make a business shipping computers that cost twice as much as a dell and offer 0 support.
Anyone who wants a gaming machine is just easier off getting the lower end alien ware for $600.
The only thing that is going to sell you a computer is customer trust.
Also, you might want a bank account or something with good cash in it, not many people like paying up front for a computer from younger people, trust me, I know.
Also, only use parts that carry a 1 or 2 year warrante, because if you don't give a customer a warrante, you won't sell. Dell offers a basic 1 year, so you need to have a one year as well at least. But dont offer any ridiculous warrantes like three years, you will lose a lot of money.
Another thing to a starting business like yours, don't ever diss a brand, because most people want stuff that they see on television.
Use ASUS, OCZ, etc. No generics. That includes CPUs, hardly anyone outside of the computer world(your only customers) knows what AMD is, stear clear of amd rigs for people who dont know what it is.
Your best choices for systems are celeron D(not the crappy basic celeron) and Pentiums, people love celeron d and pentiums, because dells uses them..lol
Anyway, I know it seems like a lot, but take it from someone who learned the hard way, I wish I had been given this advice.
A couple of typical rigs I offer.
Basic System:
Celeron D 2.8GHz
1GB Corsair value ram
asus p4p800s mainboard
80GB seagate HDD
DVD-RWDVD-rom
Geforce 6200 256MB
19" acer LCD monitor
2.1 altec lansing speakers
wireless kb/mouse
All in a good case with 400watt psu.
$850
Extreme rig:
Pentium D 840(soon to be conroe)
2GB Performance ram
asus p5ps -deluxe
400GB seagate HDD
DVD-RW
DVD-ROM
7800gt
23" sony widescreen lcd
5.1 altec lansing speakers
all in a cool case with a 600watt psu.
$1650
Anywhere in between there is what I sell.
AND remember, charge them for an OS, dont put pirated software on there, that will get you put in jail. Add the OS price on the final value after you ask them what they want(windows xp usually).
Dont put linux or a pirated copy of windows on it..
Remember, anyone at a computer forum can build their own machine, you need to find normal people locally to sell to. And give them confidence, let them know you know what you are doing by using computer jargon around them, unless ythey ask you to explain something, then be general.
If I can think of anything else useful to tell you, I will edit this post.
