Pre-Built Computer Prices

[Dale Beams]

James,

The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

I buy and sell older computers myself.  I make pricing decisions by 
comparing prices on e-bay, as well as using the computer blue book ( 
http://www.kbb.com/blue.html ).

Recently I placed a closed bid on two computers from a local business in 
town.  I had taken a good look at what was included and made a bid i 
thought was to low.  I however won the bid, removed the parts of value 
to me or resell, and then set them up for relatives who had no computers.

The price for an older computer as I would sell them, would be an 
average of prices I could buy on ebay + 10%.  Anyone buying a computer 
from ebay is going to pay the 10% in shipping.  An example would be, buy 
the computer for 50.00, the average ebay price for an equivalent si 
60.00 + 10%.

Service costs (installation, configuration, etc.) can be priced the same 
way.  Call around and ask different buisnesses what they charge, 
calculate an average, and I normally price 10% below my competitor to 
ensure I get the buisness.

Seperate your material cost from your service cost for tax purposes.  
Seperating cost also helps the customer the value you are providing 
him/her for your service.

ps.  The two computers I recently purchased had thier hard drives 
intact.  I warned the secretary and buisness owner that I could recover 
any information on the hard drive unless it had been sanitized.  I was 
informed that the information was erased.  After inspecting the hard 
drives, it is suprising what state government employees do with thier 
time.  :-o  It is only fair to the prior owner that you sanitize the 
drive before re-selling the old computer.

Dale B.