Local Computer Business Finds New Life in Recession

Unless their income hovers somewhere between that of a professional athlete and that of a hedge fund investor, the economic climate of the last few years has likely impacted most people’s approach to buying things.

People compare prices. People clip coupons. People look for deals.

People want the best bang for their buck.

Chad Messenger, who lives in Redding, owns Discount Laptop Shop, LLC, a Brookfield-based computer refurbishing company that buys off-lease laptops by the thousands, restores them and offers them, accompanied by warranties, for as low as $200.

“When you think about what we do, think of it like leasing a car,” Messenger said. “You use it for two or three years, service it if you need to and then trade it back in after the lease expires. We offer a 90-day warranty on all products and offer extended warranties of one, two and three years.”

Messenger’s been in the laptop refurbishing business for 12 years. He started working as a part time assistant in a previous company before working his way up to vice president of sales there.

“I was generating over $1 million a month in sales,” Messenger said.

Laptops in particular are becoming more and more integral to education, especially in college, Messenger said.

“Our goal is to get the word out to people and businesses that they can save a lot of money on refurbished products,” he said. The market for refurbished computers is “enormous, but underground.”

Messenger, who buys computers from Dell, HP and IBM directly, said has at least 10 full-time employees at all times, but when business picks up in the fourth quarter, he might taken on as many as 20. Currently, Discount Laptop Shop, LLC, moves 2,000 to 3,000 laptops and desktops per month.

“We focus on end users through our website, and we focus on schools, businesses and the wholesale market,” He said. “We sell in bulk and to individuals. We currently are on of the largest drop-shippers for online websites.”

Still, the company has its eyes on a whole lot more, Messenger said.

“Our goal is to be moving five to 10,000 laptops and desktops a month,” he said. “Some people think refurbished means old or outdated, but that’s not the case at all. A lot of our product is only two or three years old — some even newer — and is the same technology that Dell is selling now.”

After partnering with Ecap Capital, Messenger recently moved his company from Pound Ridge, N.Y. to a 12,000 square foot warehouse on Commerce Drive in Brookfield.

“The space is great,” he said. “We intend to grow.”

What differentiates Discount Laptop Shop, LLC, from its competitors?

“We are a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher,” he said. “Most companies don’t take the appropriate steps. Everything we sell is in excellent, ‘like new’ condition. We’re green — we recycle product; nothing goes to waste. We paint any product that is scratched or old looking. We make everything look new.”

The company also does local repairs and is getting into iPhone and iPad repairs and refurbishment as well, Messenger said.

A LAN Party

Messenger said he plans to host a LAN party — where gamers get together with lots of computers and play each other over a local area network — from July 15 to July 17 at his warehouse.

“We are currently reaching out to sponsors who might be interested in providing giveaways, posters and other sponsorship materials,” Messenger said. “This will be the first event that Discount Laptop Shop, LLC is hosting but we are anticipating a minimum of 150 competitors from our initial marketing feedback.”

Admission to the LAN party is $30, with 100 percent of the tournament entry fees going to the winners.

“We’ll have PC games, Xbox 360 games and tournaments, Nintendo Wii games and tournaments, Playstation 3 games and tournaments, food and drinks, great music and tons of prizes and giveaways,” Messenger said.

To contact Discount Laptop Shop, LLC, visit its website or call 203.740.0562 or 877.700.0763 or email Messenger at chad@discountlaptopshop.com.