I want to open my own Geek Store

[Undeadlord]

Guys,

I have been thinking for a while that I want to open my own online store. Basically I have seen stores with great prices and crappy service. So I have decided if I ever open my own store its going to be about the service. I mean of course prices will be good, but none of this charge your Credit card now and ship in two weeks ****. I want a company that I would enjoy doing business with. The reason I posted this was, I guess I am just alittle unsure how to begin. I mean does anyone know of a guide or any info for this. I don't know anyone who has opened there own store or done this before so I am alittle lost http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I am doing some research of my own, I just wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction.

Here are some of the guidelines I am thinking about for my store.

1. Credit cards are charged once product has been shipped.

2. Sysopt members with 100 or more posts get a 5% discount.

3. Shipping with be done Fedex and a reasonably price. No 10 dollars to ship a stick of RAM.

4. Customers are my lifeline, treat them like **** and you go under.

5. If you need a return, I cross-ship, Call me for an RMA and I will ship a new part out promptly.

6. If you send back a part cause you say its broken, thats fine, however if I get it and its obvious you broke it, aka perhaps trying to overclock http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif .. no refund for you.

Ok thats it for now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif Any ideas, comments, flames .. whatever send away http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif


Undeadlord

[Steve R Jones]

Approx how much startup capital do you have?

You’ll need/want a business license.

You’ll need/want an attorney.

You’ll need/want real good insurance.

You’ll need/want to start contacting manufactures to see if they’ll sell to you in volume.

[Undeadlord]

ok ..

1. Startup Capital, well I would think I have around 5 to 7 thousand. I would be working at of my basement for a while. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

2. Business license is a granted I am looking into that now.

3. Attorney and insurance throw me? Why would I need these two things?

4. Manufactures .. that I need some help with. Like who distrubutes hardware and software to stores?

Undeadlord

[Steve R Jones]

3. Attorney and insurance throw me? Why would I need these two things?

Everyone is sue happy. If John Q Consumer buys a new video card from you and all of a sudden he looses is life time of work off his hard drive he could very easily "attempt" to come after you...Imagine 3 out of your fist ten customers coming after you for one reason or another...

[Undeadlord]

Hmm alright,

So insurance I can find out about, and I guess I will look into an attourney too, as sad as that is. Ok, Now I just need to look into manufacturers who will sell to a new small busniess


Undeadlord

[randy48]

One place that you need to go and get setup is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/Partner/partnering/Microsoft/sysbuilder/

Yeah, I know why? Become a Certified Systems Builder, access to a load of suppliers/catalogs/etc Sometimes they have good prices in volume! BUT! The little scrap of paper you get to hang on the wall impresses people! As does the little icon to add to your website!

For the most part, I use PriceWatch and Resellers Ratings to find what I need... I don't usually buy in volume unless I have a large order for machines, I buy as I need.

Also head over to AMD and Intel and get hooker up on their reseller programs...Free literature/posters/case stickers/etc Also a wealth of info on their products!

For a web presence, take a look at Value Web. They have a decent Commerce package at $49 a month. They have excellent customer service and this package includes about everything you need. I personally recommend them! I've done business with them several years ago helping a couple friends put up "Online Junk Stores" that were destended to fail (selling the cheap junk from those little catalogs you get in the mail!)
http://www.valueweb.net/products/commerce_hosting.html

Insurance you definitely need and at least have a good lawyer on retainer (usually $2000 will do it)!

On your cross-shipping deal, good idea, but I would recommend a claus, require credit card info before you cross-ship, if you don't receive the returned item within 30 days, you charge the card for the full price + shipping of the item (covers your **** in case of fraud!)

You sound like you've got the start of a good plan, getting info and comments here is a big step! One other thing to think about when finding suppliers when you first get started is to inquire if they drop ship! The customer pays you, you call them and say I need this shipped there, you pay them and they ship to the customer. This would save the start up costs by not having to invest big $$ in initial inventory!

Good Luck and let me know when you get started...I spend a few grand a month on the web http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[LemonHead]

cool.
there's not a lot of places on the net where you can buy you're own geeks, i always wanted to do that

[Undeadlord]

Randy48 .. Thanks so much for your comments, things like some of the things you mentioned I would not have thought of. Maybe I should give Ultimate Memebers a 10% discount http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
And don't worry I will keep everyone here informed of how things are going.

Lemondead: No Geeks For You .. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif


Undeadlord

[Undeadlord]

Any more ideas or comments anyone? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif


Undeadlord

[samwichse]

Wow, a store that cares... and no 10$ shipping for a four to three pin fan connector. When you open it, I've been looking a while for some upgrades http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

[thekingofpain]

Cool---a geek is an unreal dude in a sideshow act specializing in biting the heads off of small animals---if thats what it takes to get low dig on components---well hey? im all for it...(PETA followers need not apply I guess)

[Ziz]

Start by just calling up your favorite brands customer service dept's and ask to speak to someone about VAR sales (value added re-sellers). Some companies deal directly, others will tell you to contact another distributor, and will give you a few choices. Shop those distributors to see who can give you the best deal.

[Undeadlord]

Hmm good idea,

I will make a note to do that ... I have alot of notes to do now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Anymore info out there?

Undeadlord

[Graham]

Who manufactures Geeks ??


Sorry couldnt resist http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

G

[Undeadlord]

In response to overwhelming replies http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I have decided my geek store will only sell cute geek girls ... Lets see the orders come rolling in now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


Undeadlord

[Nighthawk]

still with the discount? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

I like the idea of your store. I know when I worked at a local store we were told to essentially treat the customers like they weren't important (I got yelled at once for sitting down and talking with a customer when nobody else was in the store)

Anyway, in this area there are two or three distributors, which leads to most stores having prices that are, at most, a few dollars separated. Even if you're more expensive, if you have good customer service and focus on that in your ads people should still come and purchase.

Just my two cents.

[randy48]

I got a question about Geek Girls, do they care how old and ugly you are http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Undeadlord]

Of course you still get a discount on the Geek Girls ..

Thats what I figure, I am going to treat people like I want to be treated and I think I have pretty high standards ...

The Geek Girls will not care how old and ugly you are as long as you can decode binary http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Thats what turns them on http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


Undeadlord

[justy]

I'm posting like a man posessed, just to get to ultimate member. So I can avail of the 10% discount for my geek girl!

All the best, Joe King.

[vintron]

any bulk discounts on GGs ?

I might need a "few"

:P

[This message has been edited by vintron (edited 06-22-2001).]

[justy]

Grand job, I hope it works out.

Good advice all round, but how will you determine if I burnt out a component, or if it was faulty to start with.

Price this as part of your logistics. i.e. if you are going to spend the time to test every component you recieve, before you supply, then your time must be appended to the cost.

Sorry starting to get drunk, but I know what I'm trying to say.

Best of luck, Justy.

[DaveLewis]

Undead -


A couple more semi-serious ideas for you (aside from the good deals on Geek Girls).


- Try to figure out some kind of real time inventory system if you're going to do orders on line. I get frustrated when I try to place an order and three days later I get an e-mail back saying "sorry, we haven't had those in stock for the last three weeks and won't see any more until Labor Day". I personally am more interested in availability than price as long as the price is halfway reasonable. Any fool can charge $1.00 for a complete new system, but if I can't actually get you to deliver its no bargain.


- Answer ALL of your in stock and product availability e-mail questions no later than the next business day. If you ignore me, it means you don't want my business.


- NEVER NEVER NEVER lie to me as a customer. NEVER insult my intelligence. NEVER lie about parts availability (Oh yeah, I've got one in stock - as he looks at an empty shelf), NEVER lie about shipping dates (It went out this morning - as soon as I get it boxed up and over to UPS), NEVER lie about shipping methods (I'll ship it overnight - which means I'll get it over to UPS tomorrow if I don't have anything better to do), and NEVER lie about shipping costs (Sure it really does cost $25 to send a stick of RAM from Camden New Jersey to Philadelphia Pennsylvania.


If you can follow this incredibly difficult business model you'll get my money !

[This message has been edited by DaveLewis (edited 06-22-2001).]

[DaveLewis]

Undead -

A couple more semi-serious ideas for you (aside from the good deals on Geek Girls).

- Try to figure out some kind of real time inventory system if you're going to do orders on line. I get frustrated when I try to place an order and three days get an e-mail back saying "sorry, we haven't had those in stock for the last three weeks and won't see any more until Labor Day". I personally am more interested in availability than price as long as the price is halfway reasonable. Any fool can charge $1.00 for a complete new system, but if I can't actually get you to deliver its no bargain.

- Answer ALL of your in stock and product availability e-mail questions no later than the next business day. If you ignore me, it means you don't want my business.

- NEVER NEVER NEVER lie to me as a customer. NEVER insult my intelligence. NEVER lie about parts availability (Oh yeah, I've got one in stock - as he looks at an empty shelf), NEVER lie about shipping dates (It went out this morning - as soon as I get it boxed up and over to UPS), NEVER lie about shipping methods (I'll ship it overnight - which means I'll get it over to UPS tomorrow if I don't have anything better to do), and NEVER lie about shipping costs (Sure it really does cost $25 to send a stick of RAM from Camden New Jersey to Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

If you can follow this incredibly difficult business model you'll get my money !

[Undeadlord]

Thast is my plan, to work hard and make a store that people here in Sysopt wold be proud to shop at.


Undeadlord