Questions to ask a custom PC builder

Ask these before you pay a deposit. A good builder answers them plainly; evasive answers are information too.

1. How is your price built — build fee, parts markup, or both? Can I see parts and labour separately?
2. Who chose these parts, and what would you change? Bring your own list and listen for pushback on unbalanced choices.
3. How do you test the finished machine? Stress testing, temperature checks, firmware and driver updates — and for how long?
4. What is the warranty, exactly? Labour warranty vs. component manufacturer warranties are different things. Who handles a failed part in month two?
5. What is the lead time, and what can delay it? Parts availability is the usual cause; ask how they communicate delays.
6. Can I supply my own parts? If yes, what happens if a supplied part is faulty or incompatible?
7. What support do I get after handover? Phone, in-store, remote? For how long, and what counts as a new paid job?
8. Do you keep a record of my build? A parts list and serial record makes future upgrades and warranty claims far easier.
9. Can you show completed builds like mine? Especially for water cooling or small form factor, completed builds are the evidence that matters.
10. What is the deposit and cancellation position? Get it in writing before parts are ordered.

Red flags

• A single bundled price with a refusal to itemise anything
• No testing described beyond “we turn it on”
• Warranty language that blurs labour and manufacturer cover
• Pressure to decide before a parts list is written down

Related: how much a build costs · local builder vs. mail-order