New Feature: Custom Build Recommendations

[yisela]

Proposed by Orion Dec 30/2019:

An idea that fits really well with what we already offer: custom build recommendations.

Something like 3 tiers, from 3-15% the total cost of the build. The basic one just includes a custom parts list with guaranteed compatibility and free email support. The mid-level one adds the build guide, and the top-level one adds a warrantee. Something like that. We could mix in things like an option to add alternative similar builds too.

Each parts list would include a summary of how the build will perform and explanations for why each part is the optimal choice.

To make it worth our time, we would probably want to position the recommendations for high end or professional-use builds.

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See comments below.

[yisela]

Thoughts about this feature:

We have a set of Builds. This would be available for each of them (all).

• What would be the format for these recommendations? Is it something you buy on top of the existing basic builds? So you have free access to the build on tier 1, but if you want tier 2 (the detailed documents) you pay and you download something?

• What does it mean that we provide warranty in the top tier? Do you mean life-long support?

[yisela]

PROPOSAL and thoughts

I've given this some thought and here are some more (pre-meeting) ideas.

A 3 Tier system:

1. Free, online (basically what we have now)
2. Build + Dashboard login + Ticket support
3. Build + Dashboard + Ticket + Live support

Features:

Dashboard Login

The user is given / creates a user and password and can access a dashboard that contains his/her build details. If the parts were acquired through the configurator, this would be done fairly automatically. If not, we'd have to see how exactly to see what the user bought (not sure if we can track purchases without using cookies or something similar).

The dashboard provides not just a list of parts, but also a basic level of support in the shape of manuals and videos specific for each type of part AND specific parts. The dashboard also provides access to general building guides about tools and similar higher level stuff.

Ticket Support

Users that have access to the dashboard can also create tickets about their build and its parts. These tickets are sent to support and guaranteed to have a reply in, say, 48 hours. The admin going through these tickets knows, thanks to the user info, what parts are involved. The tickets are kept in archive and can be referenced at any time.

Live Support

Live support is the ability to chat / videochat to a dedicated support person (either in the moment or most likely by appointment - as we wouldn't be able to guarantee someone there 24/7 unless we make an agreement from the get-go with a support service) that reply to the users' specific questions.

This support might include step-by-step live guidance for first-time builders (I know for sure I would have liked to have someone online with me when I built my PC!).

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OTHER FEATURES

Custom Builds

Perhaps a different type of service (not the 3-tier build one) would be custom builds created with PC GOALS in mind. The user selects the software and games that they want to be able to run, and parts are added to existing builds (or completely NEW builds created) to match those needs. The rest is as before, support in two tiers.