Ebaying builds.

[gamerfreak]

Has anyone tried to ebay new builds, even just to break even? If so, how did it go?

[Capper]

I'll never deal on Flea-Bay, nor will I recommend it to any of our members. It represents everything thats wrong with our society. The legal system still hasn't figured out how to deal with online crime.

Before you deal with anyone online, take a look at the list at trollhunters.com.....I'm sure you'll find quite a few names from bigger forums (like HARDOCP).

I'll only even recommend people make deals online with very reputable stores, and almost no forums (except our own).

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by gamerfreak

Has anyone tried to ebay new builds, even just to break even? If so, how did it go?

I tried my system, I'm sure you remember: FS: Custom Water Cooled Rig Didn't work out well at all, 1 person bid, but he didn't meet the reserve. I don't recommend Ebay at all, especially for fully built systems, as most people get scared away by the high shipping price. If you are going to sell your build, it's best to sell it in pieces, or better yet sell it locally.

Are you going to sell your rig?

[gamerfreak]

Originally Posted by Capper

I'll never deal on Flea-Bay, nor will I recommend it to any of our members. It represents everything thats wrong with our society. The legal system still hasn't figured out how to deal with online crime.

Before you deal with anyone online, take a look at the list at trollhunters.com.....I'm sure you'll find quite a few names from bigger forums (like HARDOCP).

I'll only even recommend people make deals online with very reputable stores, and almost no forums (except our own).

I'm not asking about the logistics of selling on ebay. I'm a seasoned seller there -- if you do it right you don't have any issues.

What I'm asking is, how hard/easy it is to sell new builds there for little profit/breaking even.

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Are you going to sell your rig?

Hell no, I just have a little cash to bounce around and was thinking of doing a lower end build if I could re-coop it.

[Jokerswild]

The trouble with selling a computer you build is that some people will only buy from Brand name Companies and the ones that buy a custom made computer want it to their specs or want one thats cheaper than the sum of the parts.

[Capper]

Originally Posted by gamerfreak

I'm not asking about the logistics of selling on ebay. I'm a seasoned seller there -- if you do it right you don't have any issues.

What I'm asking is, how hard/easy it is to sell new builds there for little profit/breaking even.

I'm not telling you "the logistics", I'm giving you my opinion, and relating that I don't recommend it to our members.....simple enough I'd say.

As someone who used to deal frequently on FleaBay, as a collector of sports memorabilia, I've seen the community go from a decent one with the typical allotment of scumbags, to a community full of them.....

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by gamerfreak

Hell no, I just have a little cash to bounce around and was thinking of doing a lower end build if I could re-coop it.

Yeah, if I were you I'd maybe get a buyer first (probably locally), then make a custom system just for them and what they want. You could maybe change them a little extra for your effort. :P

It's really hard to sell a rig on Ebay for more or equal to what you bought it for. I got my system for around $1150-1200. I dropped the price all the way down to $500, and I still only got one bidder. Bad.

[gamerfreak]

Originally Posted by Capper

I'm not telling you "the logistics", I'm giving you my opinion, and relating that I don't recommend it to our members.....simple enough I'd say.

As someone who used to deal frequently on FleaBay, as a collector of sports memorabilia, I've seen the community go from a decent one with the typical allotment of scumbags, to a community full of them.....

I appreciate your response -- didn't mean to sound spiteful.

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by gamerfreak

I'm not asking about the logistics of selling on ebay. I'm a seasoned seller there -- if you do it right you don't have any issues.

What I'm asking is, how hard/easy it is to sell new builds there for little profit/breaking even.

I'd recommend checking the past auctions to get your answers.

Knowing what I do about computers and people, you'll be hard pressed to make any money off of selling pre-builts on Ebay.

People who know anything about computers will sharp shoot your component selections.

If you buy the cheap components to make a build work, and some one researches it, they will figure out you've built with cheap stuff.

If you buy mid-range to expensive components, your potential customers will see a better deal somewhere else...ie...some one using cheaper components.

You can't hope to offer the warranty and customer support a "real" business does. Now you're at a catch 22. If someone knows enough about computers to service their own, they'll typically know enough about them to see the cheap stuff you put in it to make the price attractive and not buy from you. If the person doesn't know enough to service their own computers, then they will skip you due to a lack of support channels with you.

The list goes on and on. It can obviously be done, but it's something you would need a lot of capital to begin and expect any real chance of success IMHO.

I've seen a lot more people make money in computers by starting their own local company and letting word of mouth draw in business.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

I'd recommend checking the past auctions to get your answers.

Mine's a past auction.