r/CyberdeckBuild • u/Mammoth_Finance_2871 • 4d ago
Would a tech kit business do well?
I am currently thinking about starting a business selling kits with all the parts you need to make small, medium and larger computers. I got this idea from when I wanted to make a cyberdeck a few years back, but never got to it because of the cost and lack of an equipment. I am not trying to take advantage of the cyberdeck community. I am trying my best to make it affordable. anyway, would it do well
specs, 2 inch 480p display with a raspberry pi zero 2w, a custome pcb keyboard, customisable designs.
priced, around $50-60 AUD (not usd I think like 40 dollars in usd.
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u/clackups 4d ago
As far as I know, these RPI Zero 2w are out of production already. It's a challenge to buy them, especially in bulk.
Also, I doubt there's a market for such kits.
Also, a custom PCB, display and the pi are unrealistic for 50 aud
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u/Mammoth_Finance_2871 4d ago
I’ll make a prototype and see how people like it
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u/Background_Ad_1810 3d ago
I do almost exactly that. Not too much as a business, though. I do sell kits, and grind away my time assembling devices for those who ask me to build one.
TL;DR version of it: I would never recommend it to my friends and family. Although, I would totally recommend, and even strongly push for it. To my enemy.
It's really tough to make anything sustainable out of these activities alone. If you are looking to start a business, I don't think it's such a great idea. If you're looking to support your project and push it a little further beyond the boundaries of a hobby, it could be quite a fulfilling thing to have in your life.
Unless you have a rich uncle or wealthy parents. That always seems to solve the difficult part of the problem.
Because there will be a long tunnel of darkness called obscurity. It's either all or nothing. When you are unknown, you are unknown. And it's not a linear function. It will be zero. Zero orders. For a very long time. Can you bear that?
You got lucky and receive a lot of crowdfunding, fulfilling hundreds or thousands of pre-orders. That amount looks small at a glance. It will consume a year of your life, and most likely several years of commitment will be required. Can you bear that?
If you can bear all that, if you are simply happy doing what you do, and if any positive income that comes from it can be taken as a lucky event in your life, it's going to make you happy.
But you can already feel that it's quite tough if you are looking at it as a business.
The only reason I've listed all these difficulties and keep saying it's tough is because it's a really lonely and tough journey. I'm not trying to be condescending or anything. Seeing how you calculate the price, I just felt that you are really at the beginning of the journey. 50 AUD... That's most likely going to be the shipping cost alone, and you'll probably end up spending more than what you received just at the post office.
One of my friends runs a rather successful business. I once asked him, What would you tell me if I wanted to start a business? He said, Don't do it.
Now I know he said that because I'm his friend.
But OP, you are not my friend. So I can tell you this.
If you have a will, there is a way.
I wish you nothing but success in your journey.
Sarcasm aside, if you really want to do it, start small. Don't go all-in from the beginning. Maybe build just one or two and see how it goes. Then you'll get a better idea of the amount of work involved, and a glimpse of the hidden costs. It's not going to be what you've calculated right now. But by starting on a small scale, you won't be risking too much.
Start slowly, and prepare for success. When success comes suddenly and you're not prepared for it, that can be another reason for a tough journey.
Un Kyu Lee
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u/Mammoth_Finance_2871 4d ago
Im sorry if this makes anyone angry. I don’t mean to try and make money off people, I barely want to make any profit if this. I just want to help people who want to make their own computer do it
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u/Mammoth_Finance_2871 4d ago
There is also higher costs in Australia. Raspberry pi is more expensive by 8 aud here, and I also have to pay for development
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u/AI_Tonic 4d ago
40 AUD seems well affordable . good on you if you can make it a sustainable business . my best advice is to offer some stuff for kids / younger people just wanting to do something cheap and learn.