A new front for PC dealers

Christmas has been and gone and we gave it our best in the post-Christmas sales as usual.

Don’t get me wrong – we weren’t offering any discounts here – I’m talking about picking up bargains at the department store sales that we can resell later.

What?

You don’t do that at your shop?

Heck, every electrical retailer thinks they can sell computers and printers and other techie stuff now, even Big W does it.

I just restocked the warehouse with inkjet printers at one of its “red spot special” sales.

My buy price isn’t even close to the price those guys are selling this stuff to the public.

Retravision and Betta Electrical have also joined the fray with a swag of brand-name PCs, notebooks and printers on the shelves.

Does anyone remember when you had to jump through hoops of fire and perform six other death-defying acts to become an authorised PC dealer?

Makes you want to go back and become an Apple dealer again, except it’s only iPods and iPhones that seem to sell.

What’s the appeal with iPods anyway?

I thought it must be the paintjob so I got a few cans of Dulux in gloss black and gloss white from the Mitre 10 next door and spent a few hours in the shed with the latest batch of MP3 players from China.

But even though they’re whiter (or blacker) and way more shiny than any iPod they’re still on the shelves.

At least the Mitre 10 guy isn’t selling PCs.

Yet. I’m sure Bunnings is looking into it.

All the rent-a-quote analysts tell me that I should be in services not sales – just take a look at where IBM went.

But how can I make any money in services?

Dell is throwing away years of warranty and free phone support until you die.

And this stuff hardly ever breaks down these days.

The only places still paying for support are the schools and that’s only because the little monsters disembowel the classroom PCs to overclock their home computers to get an edge on their gaming buddies.

Speaking of games, there’s another market stolen by the supermarkets.

I’d like to punch a hole in Big W’s Halo I can tell you.

Then again, those “red spot specials” bins saved me once more!

Picked up a swag of old games and managed to slip them into the returns shipment.

Getting a refund at cost price still means I’m making 20 points! Better than RRP around here!

Since the whitegoods whackers are after my turf I’ve decided if you can’t beat them join them.

I’ve just ordered my first double-door fridge with built-in Internet PC on the front.

I reckon this thing will just about sell itself.

Look at the value prop!

You’re sitting there playing World of Warcraft on your fridge, and it looks like being an all-nighter, and the snacks and beer are right there behind the door!

No need to get out of your chair!

I’ve opened up another division, Rabid Relocators, for dudes who want to truck their PC fridge to their mate’s place for a network gaming weekend.

Awesome!

No need for the esky!

And nobody can take a sneak peek at your screen – you just open the freezer door in their face!

I’m on a winner here, and with the margins they’re offering I only need to sell one a week.

Take that Big W.

Gotta go!

Customers waiting!

a dealers for front new pc sales & marketing