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Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:29 pm
by LoneWolf15
Hi guys,

I'm asking advice on the value of a build I already have together. It is slightly used, but in excellent shape; I just want to be fair to the client I'm selling it to. I'm torn because new systems have gotten fairly inexpensive, but this one is pretty high quality, and the cost of an OEM copy of Windows 7 is still 90 bucks or so, so I'm polling the forum. I will be providing support for this person several times a year.

Specs:

HEC mATX case (standard stuff, but looks pretty sharp), Scythe S-Flex FDB fan for exhaust (case is reasonably similar to this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811121119 )
PC Power and Cooling Silencer 370w PSU
Intel DG33TL mATX mainboard, (mainboard link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813121315 )
Core 2 Duo E6550 CPU (2.33GHz, 1333MHz FSB) (link - http://ark.intel.com/products/30783/Int ... MHz-FSB%29 )
4GB (4 x 1GB) G.Skill DDR2-6400 memory (matched)
Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB HDD (2 years warranty left, as it is a warranty exchange for a 1yo Caviar Blue)
NEC 3550A DVD-RW
OEM nVidia Geforce 9500 GTS, 512MB
3.5" multi-flash card reader
OEM Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, x64 with full COA and media

I'm also looking to include a new-in-box Logitech wireless keyboard-mouse combo that I got on a good deal but never used. I do not have a monitor going with it at this point; we'll probably either use his existing monitor or he will order something new if he wants an upgrade. Let me know what you think.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:47 pm
by JustAnEngineer
Compare your system to what is available from Dell.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:40 pm
by LoneWolf15
JustAnEngineer wrote:
Compare your system to what is available from Dell.


Already have done comparisons with the Vostro 260. I was more or less looking to see if my thoughts were in line with that of others. Configurations vary --those have more processing power, although compared to many of them, this system has more hard disk drive and more memory, and this system has a discrete graphics card.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:56 pm
by JustAnEngineer
I was thinking about something like the Optiplex 755 as similar to your system.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:08 pm
by mduncan62
I don't think you are looking over 150-175. If you already have a support contract with the purchaser, I wouldn't go over 150. You can't find the vid card on ebay, the proc is 30.00 tops. At the end of the day it's an old system in terms of value.

You probably got good service out of it, so let it go for what it's worth now.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:46 pm
by LoneWolf15
JustAnEngineer wrote:
I was thinking about something like the Optiplex 755 as similar to your system.


That is similar, if the RAM/HDD are the same.

I was taking the Vostro 260 and since it was new, going to about 50-60% of the least expensive one's value. 60% of 269+tax comes out to about $170.

I checked your link; Dell's 755 prices for something similarly configured are high. The top price I could justify in my own mind was $200, and that was only because of the brand new $90 copy of Windows. Sure wish I could get the OS for cheaper.

Closest configuration I found that Dell had was $288.

http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/StoreCata ... isLaptop=N

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 12:24 am
by mduncan62
Just get some money out of it. Don't think you can match Dell's prices.

The PC God's are going to smile on you, because it's still worth something, but nothing to someone who actually uses a computer.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:19 am
by LoneWolf15
mduncan62 wrote:
Just get some money out of it. Don't think you can match Dell's prices.

The PC God's are going to smile on you, because it's still worth something, but nothing to someone who actually uses a computer.


I'm not thinking I can, or want to. I've worked in IT for fifteen years, and we use Dell Optiplex 755 systems quite extensively, so I have an idea of their general dollar value.

This isn't about greed, but it's not a donation for charity either (I've given away systems before) --this is someone I do business with. It's a replacement for an aging Dell P4 that will be used for their business, and I happen to have a system that uses business-class components, otherwise I wouldn't sell it to them, as my reputation matters. The key is the price of a copy of Windows 7, which I am buying new for the system, and that since I'm supporting it, if something happens in the first year (unlikely, but not impossible), replacement parts are going to be on me and I need to account for that up front to ensure I'm not upside-down in the end.

If this was about max value, I could have skipped buying the software, and parted the system out. I'd probably make more. It's about balance.

Anyway, thanks JaE for the Dell Financial Services link, I'd forgotten about that. I think I have a good idea of what I'm going to do.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:47 am
by Firestarter
I would most definitely sell that system 'as is'. Your customer will probably get some good mileage out of it, but to expect a year worth of support for that kind of money is a bit much I'd say.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:54 am
by just brew it!
LoneWolf15 wrote:
If this was about max value, I could have skipped buying the software, and parted the system out. I'd probably make more.

With the Thai flooding situation, If you wait just a little longer may be able to get more for just the bare hard drive than you could've sold the entire system for a few weeks ago! :lol:

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:49 am
by mduncan62
You pretty much hit the nail on the head for why I don't sell home made computers to clients/people within my organization. I will manage our Data Centers, etc. But I'm not getting wrapped up into a situation such as this.

1st problem, there are so many variable that are out of your control for what could go on with that computer.
2nd problem is to allow for the 1st problem, you'll have to charge for the warranty and/or charge todays prices for a computer that could have been purchased a couple years ago.
3rd problem, if this is indeed a business, how are they going to depreciate a used computer for tax purposes.

This computer and your time to support it isn't going to ever sell for what it's worth. Unless they have zero problems with it. If you have to drive over to their office 2 times due to this computer, then you're losing money. Not to mention that you'll be responsible for all software that will be on that computer too.

Sorry, I've had a couple of these go bad, prompting me to stop. :o

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:23 pm
by LoneWolf15
Firestarter wrote:
I would most definitely sell that system 'as is'. Your customer will probably get some good mileage out of it, but to expect a year worth of support for that kind of money is a bit much I'd say.


That's the great thing about my side-work; it involves clients I generally enjoy, ones that understand that you don't get good work by trying to find the lowest bidder, but that also realize I charge a lot less than the Geek Squad but give them a lot more expertise. To mduncan62: That's where I'm lucky. I don't offer gear to people whose expectations I think will be unfair either. I have the luxury of being able to turn down work from people who will never be satisfied; I know and agree with how things can go south quickly from some people.

My client started out as my realtor, and became my client in the process. He's a good guy, with reasonable expectations of me (or he wouldn't be my client --my freelance people are the ones that come to me via word-of-mouth, and respect me by not sending unpleasant people my way). He doesn't automatically expect a year of support from me --it's just one of those things where if a part took a dive within a period of time, I'd handle it.

I've also given him the option of going with a new Dell Vostro, in case he'd rather have that, and letting him choose.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:07 pm
by DPete27
Yeah, I would think you could get at least $170 for it. Software doesn't depreciate in value just because its not from a major vendor so you can probably figure windows alone can be about $60-70 of the total.
I generally do what has been suggested here by searching for a similar dell computer and starting there with my price. You have the advantage that almost all of your components are better than what someone is going to get in a dell system.
I've had some luck with pointing out to people that certain components of the system I am selling can be "recycled" at a later date for a very cheap upgrade, something that I would never do with a dell. Its the kind of "this is what a similar system costs from dell, but if you go with mine, your next upgrade will only cost you 'x' amount because you wont need to get a completely new computer." Its a good selling point not to let people overlook the quality of the components inside, even if they have no idea what that means. Obviously this is only for "customers" that are going to be with you for a while. Which in your situation sounds like the case. Also, it depends on the age of the computer you are selling and what the customers upgrade cycle timeline looks like.

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:49 pm
by Coran Fixx
$200 seems reasonable to me. You can work on value to the customer by selling him the computer for $110 and then telling him it will need a win 7 license for $90. I'm not stating things correctly because I'm tired but in the future he will perceive that he paid you $110 (when he is evaluating whether you gave him a good deal or not).

Re: Advice on pricing out a system I built

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:21 pm
by LoneWolf15
I picked up a 22" LCD for a song today. I'll probably sweeten things up by adding it to the package for another $60-80.

I think that makes for a pretty nice package.