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Becoming a systems integrator

C

Comatose51

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Oct 25, 2000
Messages
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Anyone ever had experience with doing this? I'm considering it at this moment and would love any information you can give me. Who would you order your stuff from? Are there any dedicated distributors for system integrators, like a newegg for integratros? And if you want custom cases, keyboards, and mice made, how would you go about doing it?

Thanks in advance. I'll let you guys know if anything pans out.
 
State laws may vary in the US, but generally anything online for the purpose of reselling is considered wholesale. You can re-sell anything marked oem (thats why newegg and similar companies mark them) as oem, oem means white box, it needs to be sold with other hardware (like you cant sell oem windows to an end user without "any non required hardware item" like a scanner, you can sell it with a hard drive for example) Or you can sell retail as retail. Retail meaning you can sell it by itself, as oppossed to oem which must be bundled with something else.

Almost any company online sells to both end users as well as retailers. The reason they can do this is because of the tax laws in the US regarding selling merchandise online. Since no tax is charged, you can re-sell items. The laws in california as well as other states are differant, so youll need to talk to a lawyer in your area.

You can register with microsoft after you get your company setup, its not hard (i went through the process) Then you get to be called a "microsoft preinstall specialist" gimmicky hehe. You can also register with AMD for promotional material. Intel i imagine also but i havent even gone to their website, because i dont sell intel unless a customer specifically asks for it.

The way to beat street prices to shop around, buy in large quantities and just basic common sense.

This isnt to be considered legal advice, so dont quote me. Just offering some tips.

Depending on the business you're gonna be getting into, you want to do a market analysis, figure out if the area is good, if people in the area are interested in computers, how youll handle the first couple years, startup capital, what you plan to have onhand when you open, does your rental property need repairs, are the outlets grounded, whats the max wattage on the outlets, does the cable company/internet provider provide business services, does your local municipality need to issue a license, do they have zoning issues you need to work out etc etc etc. Some states offer free business startup counseling, grants, and such you may want to look into.
 
Thanks for the advice. I imagine quite a few people have tried this line of business. What are the success rates? Is there a market for small guys? Or is everyone going to Dell and HP these days?
 
Everytime people ask me for a compaq or a dell i simply say "no, because in 1 month when its to slow and it wont run games you like, youll be mad at me and wont give me your business anymroe"

Soon as you register your company in the yellow pages expect telemarketers and huge books from dell wanting to hawk their junk.Ive gotten "marketing" from hp and the rest of the OEMS. I could sell their pcs cheap as dirt, and probably a lot of them, but i choose not to, because the alternative is better in my opinion. On what you're offering you have to make up your own mind.

Well success rate is something youll need to examine in your particular area, its gonna be differant all over the country.

Yes id say a good bit of the people who buy hp/compaq get theirs from wal-mart actually.

But, given an option i think someone is going to pick a better computer.

You just gotta be better and more competitive. If you're selling an xp 2600 for 500 complete system, and walmart has an emachines 2k for 500, you're gonna win. Generally when people buy a computer they check prices, you gotta let them know you're offering great deals and better product for the same price. Location location location, then exposure exposure exposure, then profit profit profit.

Ive seen stores put out balloons, flashing lights, music anything to attract attention. Advertising sometimes can be ok, but in my opinion roadside signs are the best. You gotta pick a market and go for it. You cant be everything to everyone.

A good business adviser is important, so is startup money. Just offering some advice nothing more.
 
Originally posted by Wixard
Everytime people ask me for a compaq or a dell i simply say "no, because in 1 month when its to slow and it wont run games you like, youll be mad at me and wont give me your business anymroe"

Soon as you register your company in the yellow pages expect telemarketers and huge books from dell wanting to hawk their junk.Ive gotten "marketing" from hp and the rest of the OEMS. I could sell their pcs cheap as dirt, and probably a lot of them, but i choose not to, because the alternative is better in my opinion. On what you're offering you have to make up your own mind.

Well success rate is something youll need to examine in your particular area, its gonna be differant all over the country.

Yes id say a good bit of the people who buy hp/compaq get theirs from wal-mart actually.

But, given an option i think someone is going to pick a better computer.

You just gotta be better and more competitive. If you're selling an xp 2600 for 500 complete system, and walmart has an emachines 2k for 500, you're gonna win. Generally when people buy a computer they check prices, you gotta let them know you're offering great deals and better product for the same price. Location location location, then exposure exposure exposure, then profit profit profit.

Ive seen stores put out balloons, flashing lights, music anything to attract attention. Advertising sometimes can be ok, but in my opinion roadside signs are the best. You gotta pick a market and go for it. You cant be everything to everyone.

A good business adviser is important, so is startup money. Just offering some advice nothing more.
Click to expand...

That's some good advice. Perhaps I can team up with someone in the Medford/Ashland/Grants Ass/KFalls area in Southern Oregon, I just don't have the money to start a business.

I'm just curious on one thing. Do you do a warrenty, or what? Or is it on a time to time basis?
 
Yeah we want to provide technical support for one year as well. What is the rate of failure on those computers? And how much start-up money do you need?
 
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