how much do ya charge to make a computer

[Atyper]

just asking what is the rate out there??
and warranties and what prgrams do ya install on it??

[CMonster]

I usually charge $50 US for system integration of desktop PCs - I only pass manufacturer's warranty.

[Ptrper]

$50 bucks??!! I usually charge about $200 depending on difficulty of configuring system software!

[jman01pa]

I charge about $150.00. Assembly, OS, and drivers. Usually I set up an ISP too. Warranty is 1 year.


J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by jman01pa (edited 10-31-2000).]

[Mntsnow]

WOW. And I thought I made good money! I'm right close to Cmoster. (75 for Assembly (25bucks) and OS install (50 bucks)) (which includes any required drivers) Then I charge an additional 20 an hour for any other software that the customer wants me to install. Warranty is 1 year labor and whatever the manufactures warranties are for the hardware.

[gyoung]

Mntsnow,

$20 an hour!! I'm assuming you tell them that the 40X CD-Rom's aren't worth it right? Go with the 2x CD-Rom out of the bargain bin!!!

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[emcron]

It really depends, I usually charge $200 for the computer. Thats assembly and OS installating and sometimes ISP. But I also go to their house and set it up if its in my area. The exceptions come in when, for example if its a working college student that desperatly needs one and has little money or if its a non-profit organization that doesnt have a big budget. Sometimes I do it at cost. The prices go up went they want me to set up setup or add something extra to the computer.

[qball]

Having built PCs for a few people, I will state that I will never do it again. They ask, I point 'em to;

www.micron.com (http://www.micron.com)
www.gateway.com (http://www.gateway.com)
www.dell.com (http://www.dell.com)

Iffin they want to build their own, I'll help.

Now, whenever I want a new PC, I build it myself. For a few reasons;

As annoying troubleshooting Microsuck OSes, hardware conflicts and technical/software issues, I actually enjoy it immensely.

Very few build boxes to my specs, and if they do, expensive. I know what I want and building myself ensures I get what I want.

Lastly, though my experience is pretty good, nevertheless, I always end up learning more. Considering how fast the technology changes, there is always something new and exciting.

$20 is very cheap....

[RenaissanceMan]

I do it just for the fun of it
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Szech]

I don't charge my friends, but acquaintances get an additional $50 tacked on the cost. That probably should be more, but I make them buy the parts, so...

When I was building computers at work, my salary more than made up for it.

[jman01pa]

If your going to custom build a PC, your going to have to make some money on it or its not worth it to support a warranty for a whole year. Most warranty work I do is user related. If I have time I will also make an image which will allow for a quick restore.

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Dputiger]

Usually I charge something. The most I've ever made is $150 dollars on a system build--but that system took hours of my time for a variety of very complicated reasons. Let's just say that had I charged minimum wage I'd have made $300 bucks.

I don't build systems for money I build them for enjoyment and to do favors for people. I ask that they compensate me, but I'm not Best Buy to charge $40 for a video card installation.

[Caaf2935]

Sort of off topic, but im really intereested in starting a mini job building comps for people. How would I go about doing this? Any pointers? How do I keep costs down and beat other companies and how would I get people to trust a 17 year old? Thanks

[Jeff7]

I built a computer for someone recently; I basically had no idea what to charge. I mean, building a computer is fun - almost felt like robbery charging him for it. He had $70 left in his computer-buying account. That money is now mine. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Richie Rich]

If I build a system for someone, I usually don't charge, but will buy some component for myself. (Hard drive, memory, etc.)
Most of the systems I have built were for friends and this was agreed on when I started.

[PickledOnion]

I don't charge my friends, I just ask that if they have any friends in trouble to tell them not to go to the rip-off major stores and to bring it to me, I then charge them according to what work has to be done.

As a guideline I charge about £50.00 to a £100.00 for a completely new system. It really does depend how much work goes into it. Some systems seem to go together in a couple of hours. Others a few days.

I only pass on manufacturers warranty but promise if it goes wrong I will fix it in my own time. Fingers crossed but this has only happened once! Any progs they want and pay for go on.

[This message has been edited by PickledOnion (edited 11-01-2000).]

[AuraEdge]

I charge 10%..that includes setup, installation, and permenant tech support, as long as they stay in touch with me.
I tack on 14 day warrenty on parts
I install various useful programs and diagnostic stuff, and download all the updates for Windows and IE, cuz I know they wont do it http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.
- IE 5.5
- AOL 5.0 (6.0 now), with autostart off (even if they dont use AOL, I'm sure some of their friends will.
- Windows Media Player
- Winamp, with Autostart off
- AOL Instant Messenger, with autostart off
- ICQ, with autostart off
- Sisoft sandra (mostly for benchmarking reasons, to make sure everythings up to par
- Download Accelerator Plus
and only if it has a good 3D card in it
- 3DMark2000, to show them what thier comp is capable of.

I think thats most of the free programs...

Also, I always tack on Norton Antivirus, since it doesnt cost too much, and is VERY important for anyone who can go online, with virus's rampant.

My main customers are usually my friends, who are for the most part comp illerate teenagers. This is why I equip thier comps with the programs either them or thier friends will potentially use, although I keep them out of the way.

BTW - I'm 17..Im sure you have some friends that want to upgrade thier comps or sumthin.
The thing is, ask them, or tell them stuff, and you have to act like you know what your talking about.
I think my first job was when my friend was going off to college and flippantly mentioned he needed a new computer for school
I was going to 12th grade, and i told him Id make one for him, if he could cough up the money.
I kinda asked him how much he wanted to spend, and what kinda of specific things he wanted. Then I made a estimated spec sheet for him, with a quote (If you know your parts, shouldnt take more than 1-2hrs at Pricewatch).
For example, he wanted to spend $1500-2000, and wanted to focus on sound and DVD multimedia.
I then wrote up a sheet for them.
Also I told him Id take him to a comp show and he can pick out his own case (people really like that part for some strange reason. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Before I know it, he gave me a check. I knew him for most of my life, so he knew he could trust me. Well I got it all on order by the following day, and built the following week, and spent about 2 more days on installing stuff (most of it is downloading updates and defragging at the end, so its not like i sit there).
He had some issues with his sound card not liking his motherboard, so I had to do some research, and order another soundcard out of my own money. This will happen sometimes, and its not the customers fault, so you have to deal with it yourself.
Satisfaction is the most imporant thing, even if you have to shell out a couple more bucks to make things just right, cuz satisfied customers refer friends.
I got 2 more referals from him, small jobs, and then one of my friends from highschool asked me to make him one for college this last summer after seeing my 3 completed jobs.
He handed me $3000 CASH up front, without even knowing me for more than a year. Thats what referals will do for ya.

Dont look for standard customers or opening a business if your still young...check out friends n stuff.



[This message has been edited by AuraEdge (edited 11-01-2000).]

[Ted61]

$20 an hour! Mntsnow, you are way to nice.

I usually do it for friends free. If they call me in the middle of the night because they crashed their family tree program and can't find the pictures, I will charge at least $50 an hour for the rest of their lives unless inflation kicks in.

Ted