It's a very saturated market and that makes for low profit margins and a lot of consumer choice. There just isn't a whole lot of profit to be earned from selling computers. You've got to concentrate mostly on the service side, that's where the money is and even then you've got to establish yourself. Why should some one go to you over Geeksquad or some such? Just because you're cheaper isn't good enough.
Service is a biggy. I have my competition across road. They will beat me hands down on price on hardware. However I have a lot of people coming over to deal with me for service as I know my stuff as I have about nearly 10 years experience in this business, where the guy across the road is just hiring uni-students.
I have customer's going across the road asking for simple things like ram
Customer :- I need some ram for my computer?
Competition Tech :- What type?
Customer :- I don't know.
Competition Tech :- Bring it in, let me have a look at it.
With me, the conversation goes like this?
Customer :- I need some ram for my computer?
Harper :- What type?
Customer :- I don't know.
Harper :- Do you know what type of processor you hand? Pentium III, Pentium 4? How long have you had this computer? Was it brand new when you purchased it?
Customer :- Not sure, but it was purchased band new in year 200
X
Even if they give me the year, I am pretty good at guessing the ram they will require and along with price on how much it will cost. And it the fact that I can give clients an answer on the spot in regards to computer issues as appose just playing the "Bring it in as I don't know" card is is reason why I am still in business today.
Experience and Knowledge goes a long way in this game. And it's where people deside on whether you are an amiture or professional.
And even with the service side of things, one can not make money along just from repairing computers. Espeically now days. Go back 5 year or so where an entry level computer was at least AU$1500, people and no problem in paying fees of AU$200 to AU$500 just to get the computer fixed. Now days where you can easly get a new computer for about AU$600, it does make computer servicing much more harder. Like if my parts and labor to replace a motherboard is going to be about AU$300, and a newer faster computer is going to cost $600, the client will think twice before doing ahead with your repair. Okay, they might deside to purchase a new computer from me, however I make much more money if they go ahead repairing it.