What Am I Doing Wrong Selling That PC I Built

[ResidentEvil7Participant 9540]

DarkRyu wrote:

The issue with your computer is you’re charging too much f~~~ing money. You’re asking as much for yours as one with much newer stuff goes for. If someone’s going to pay $1,100 for a computer, they can get the latest gen stuff with better specs. Why the hell would they buy yours? The person that will buy your system will buy it because the price is right and it’s within their budget. They’ll make a cost/benefit analysis.

What people are saying now:
“WTF? This system is way overpriced. It has less RAM, a old processor, an underpowered graphics card, and a s~~~tier power supply than the other one that’s only $900. I guess I’ll go with that other system.”

What people will be saying if you price it realistically:
“Oh, I know I can get a newer processor and better graphics card if I get this one for $900, but ResidentEvil7’s system is only $500. With that extra $400 I can buy that kickass monitor and gaming keyboard I was looking at the other day. Yeah, I think I’m going to go with this one for $500”

Basically what you’re saying is that I invested $950 just to hand it over half price? Cheap people! This proves I won’t do this again. Why the hell should I invest in something and get half back; in fact, why would anyone?

https://themanszone.webs.com/

[Anonymous 3]

ResidentEvil7 wrote:

DarkRyu wrote:

The issue with your computer is you’re charging too much f~~~ing money. You’re asking as much for yours as one with much newer stuff goes for. If someone’s going to pay $1,100 for a computer, they can get the latest gen stuff with better specs. Why the hell would they buy yours? The person that will buy your system will buy it because the price is right and it’s within their budget. They’ll make a cost/benefit analysis.

What people are saying now:
“WTF? This system is way overpriced. It has less RAM, a old processor, an underpowered graphics card, and a s~~~tier power supply than the other one that’s only $900. I guess I’ll go with that other system.”

What people will be saying if you price it realistically:
“Oh, I know I can get a newer processor and better graphics card if I get this one for $900, but ResidentEvil7’s system is only $500. With that extra $400 I can buy that kickass monitor and gaming keyboard I was looking at the other day. Yeah, I think I’m going to go with this one for $500”

Basically what you’re saying is that I invested $950 just to hand it over half price? Cheap people! This proves I won’t do this again. Why the hell should I invest in something and get half back; in fact, why would anyone?

Yeah totally.

BTW, I got a 2013 Moto G I want to sell. I’ll sell it to you for $500. If you don’t buy it from me you are cheap, and a socialist who wants something for nothing. So give me your money and I’ll send you the phone.

[Blackagar BoltagonParticipant 64]

Another tech nerd here weighing in. You have completely misjudged the current computer market. The profit margin on all computers at this point are razor thin, even for the mass production big boys. That is why they cut every price corner they can, and maximize every dollar they make on the system by loading “crapware”.

Even when they buy their components directly from the manufacturer at wholesale prices in lots of 1000, they have to pinch every penny to make even a 5% profit. That is why systems from Dell, HP etc… are garbage. They buy the cheapest, crappiest components they can get in bulk.

How I have dealt with this, is by only making custom systems specifically for the customer. They tell me what they need to do, and I design and spec a machine specifically for their needs (Mainly professional work such as video editing, 3d animation etc..) I then hand them a parts list of my recommended build, current cost of the parts and charge a build fee to order and assemble it for them.

This way I can build a top notch “Rolls-Royce” class system that meets their needs, does exactly what they want, and does not need to be nuked and rebuilt to remove the crapware and make it usable. Plus such a system tends to outlast any system built by the big boys and outperform them. My system builds tend to last over 10 years under heavy usage with a minimum of support. Think “value added”, value added by never installing crapware, value added by building from the best quality parts (reliability), value added by being available when they have a problem with minimum hassle. Value added by saving them time, money and hassle in the long run, people will pay for that, and be very happy about it.

What you really need to be selling here is your expertise and support. I offer free email support for the life of the machine and have built a reputation with my clients of trust and honesty. Try getting that at Geek Squad/Best Buy.

Another problem with eBay is the “Fly by Night” nature of many vendors. Are you really going to pay top dollar to some random kid on the internet and take his word for the state and quality of the system? What if it arrives DOA? Will he still be there? Will you be able to get your money back or the system fixed?

People need to be comfortable they are getting a fair deal to splash out that kind of cash, or they need to think it is such a good deal they are willing to risk it.

If you want to get the best return you can on that specific system, ask around your circle of friends and see who needs a new computer. Offer to customize it for their needs. Value Added. Offer to load their software on it if they buy it, Offer to transfer their old data to the new machine for a reasonable price. These things all add value for the buyer.

Speak softly, strike accurately and hit with the force of a thermonuclear bomb

[Author]

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