Comments on: What Hardware Should I Stock?

By: gunslinger

gunslinger — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:16:45 +0000

As a rule I don’t stock parts. If i happen to have the parts on hand , great. Parts get outdated way too quickly. These days I buy parts as I need them.

Things like Video cards and CPUs are outdated a few months after you get them.

By: Fahad

Fahad — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:08 +0000

Nice list and I do agree with all of your decisions. Video Cards is probably the most important one as if you have too good cards, they will lose value quickly if you do not have any buyers.

By: Spyware Blockers

Spyware Blockers — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:40:23 +0000

Great post!!! I wish I had seen this post about 2 years ago.

My stock these days consists of various sticks of RAM, a couple video cards, a few Hard Drives (IDE and Sata), a ton of Ethernet Cables, routers (1 wired and 1 wireless), about 5 Ethernet Switches (5 and 8 port), a DVD Burner, Spare Cables, Wireless Network Cards… I think you get the picture.

I don’t carry any CPUs or Motherboards as its just too expensive to sit on for the jobs that I get.

By: New Jersey Computer Repair

New Jersey Computer Repair — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:42:45 +0000

You know what else I carry, a USB wifi adapter

By: New Jersey Computer Repair

New Jersey Computer Repair — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:26:04 +0000

The only thing I don’t stock is motherboards since 99% of computers I work on are major OEM brands and regular non-branded motherboards won’t work, well they do but you can’t use a Dell XP cd for example.

By: Bryce W

Bryce W — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:29:04 +0000

I used to buy-while-on-the-job in my earlier years since I didnt sell a whole alot (since I didnt have the numbers). I didnt like doing it though because I go all over the place and Im often far away from my suppliers so Id have to hunt around for a local computer store. 90% of the time I could buy it way cheaper than what they were selling it.

I also felt that I looked like I was unprepared. I think it also encourages me to put my sales cap on since I have stock I want to move.

As for stock spoilage, I charge them 20% on top of my original price, no matter how much time has passed. Its often more expensive than what is currently available in the store but its the convenience factor for the clients. They have the option to buy it cheaper themselves and install it themselves, or have a technician do it then and there for a little more. They always pay the higher price.

By: C! Tech Solutions - Computer Repair, Service, Support, and Consulting

C! Tech Solutions - Computer Repair, Service, Support, and Consulting — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:27:46 +0000

I carry all combinations of DDR, DDR2, SODIMMs and DIMMs at any given time. I usually have a power supply or two, lots of cables terminated and unterminated cables, from USB, HDMI, and RCA to coax and Ethernet. I also stock a couple 800VA-ish battery backups that I restock when they go on sale.

If I have a new appointment with a pre-existing client and I have an idea for some things I could sell them, like a bigger monitor or a replacement printer, I don’t hesitate to bring one with, since I’ll sometimes have that stuff on hand for future jobs. If I sell it, I can always buy a new one before the upcoming job.

By: JRoss

JRoss — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:11:23 +0000

I operate more along the lines of the last two posts. Why stock it when I can get it quickly and usually at a lesser cost when I need it.

Sometimes if I find a smoking deal on something I use a lot of, I will buy several and resell them at the average market price. The only time I stock anything is I can make a buck on it, otherwise, I operate in a more hand-to-mouth fashion.

By: Loft Conversions

Loft Conversions — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:05:34 +0000

Prices drop so fast I wouldn’t want to be keeping any stock! I’ve used many brands of motherboard over the years and have to say I’ve been lucky enough not to have nay failures, but machines built with Gigabyte boards to seem to be more stable.

By: chuck817

chuck817 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:41:14 +0000

personally in this day and age of overnight delivery for almost every PC component and even whole PC’s

I do not carry any stock for sale only for testing of the broken PC’s

THIS WAY I PASS ALL THE SAVINGS ON TO THE CUSTOMER with none of the overhead to me

most non business customers can wait 1 to 2 days to get there computer up and running

as for business customers I just go out and buy the broken part that hour and then fix the broken computer charging them full rate (I do stop the clock while I am out getting the part)