redmms250713 Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 whats your thoughts on small/med plush at $1 in a somewhat larger grocery chain store, to much? Maybe mix in other prizes that are worth a little more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gs Vending Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 I'd only run machines at $1/play if it's filled with jumbo plush or really good licensed stuff, not any bargain generics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 I really would not. Plenty of money at .50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmms250713 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 do they still make the coast to coast stage 2 controller? anyone use em? anything like it thats better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 the majority of "street accounts" or "b's and c's" (pizza shops, diners, small mom and pop grocery stores etc.) will do better at .50 to play.. we have LOTS of machines at $1 to play, but we only run high end zoo/museum retail in those locations, and they are A+ spots. (12.99+msrp) .. the "b and c" locations get the low end stuff at .50 with 30% retail and 10% licensed sprinkled in. If you only have 1 machine, you will be buying low end product at high end prices! you should go with .50 to play... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerVendor Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I really would not. Plenty of money at .50. I go with $0.50 per play and stick with product costing an average of $1 or less. Players like to win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I go with $0.50 per play and stick with product costing an average of $1 or less. Players like to win! Your right knobby balls out sell plush by 10-1 and our ball cost is 4 to 6 % Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billnuts Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 I charge $.50 cents for all my regular plush cranes... I charge $1.00 on.. Gravel or mp3 cranes Double up cranes winner every time 2 claws $1.00 per play 5 inch knobby cranes $1.00 play till you win... Giant cranes $2.00 per play bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Havend, what kind of plush are you using that knobbyballs out sell 10-1?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 We use generic jumbo plush appeal or playtime. I think it's the win ability factor. Balls are easy to win I have watched people win a ball on a couple bucks then stick in 5 more to win a couple more. People like to win. We have a location where we place a generic lock on top so the owner can fill the balls. It's a 38 inch machine and sells out every two weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkochan Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I run my cranes at $0.50 for both plush and balls. I put 8" - 12" plush in my Rainbow 36" and 42" cranes. I put 5" - 8" plush in my 30"/31" cranes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 havend, did you recently start selling knobby balls? We used to do great with them, but now people don't want them.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 havend, did you recently start selling knobby balls? We used to do great with them, but now people don't want them..Few years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerVendor Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Rhode Island novelty has a large assortment of knobby balls. A big assortment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Rhode Island novelty has a large assortment of knobby balls. A big assortment. AA Knobby balls are much better. RI are far to thin latex and stick to the claw worse. They also Pop too easy. AA has better color also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 to each their own! I have found RI Novelty to be the best option. AA gave me a case for free to try about a year ago.. the neon/pastel colors were a nice change from RI, but 20% did not inflate to a round shape.. (we do not inflate all the way to maintain a nice round ball that does not get stuck in claw..) I got the case for free, so I did not complain. I am sure AA would have fixed the problem. What I like about RI is that you can buy bulk colors.. for instance Alabama operators can purchase crimson and white balls in bulk and mix with collegiate licensed products to make a nice "roll tide" themed out machine... Great way to average down your product cost and still keep a nice tidy appearance. For the record... we have inflated and sold hundreds of thousands of knobby and vinyl balls from RI and never had a popping issue?? are you overinflating havend? we do experience that about 1.5% deflate due to a poor valve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musser Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 A&A totally doesn't get it when it comes to cranes, in any product category. I have tried everything they have, some big orders too, but they just don't measure up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I agree with your comment about aa. The only exception... we got in on an early trial for punk ducks last march about 35 cases. they did very well for us, but we ran them around easter. Not sure if they are an everyday item. if they could get pricing below $2 I would back the truck up for easter. $2.5 plus freight is outrageous! Great product, horrible pricing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musser Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Well I agree on the ducks, monkeys worked well too, but the price issue is there. Doesn't matter how well something sells if there is insufficient margin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havending Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 We ran the monkeys good item. A&A totally doesn't get it when it comes to cranes, in any product category. I have tried everything they have, some big orders too, but they just don't measure up. It's hard to be involved in everything and do it all well. I agree that pricing could be better and honestly should be with their buying power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanihotdog Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Havend, Actually, AA Global does not have much buying power when it comes to plush.. They are very well capitalized, but do not have the volumes to take advantage of manufacturing power (dedicated low end factories like some of the other established companies out there)... they also have substantially more overhead than the other pre-packers/small importers. here is an illustration of what I mean: If we assume an arbitrary production cost estimate of 1.5 for punk duck/monkeys and 20cents for freight... they land in baltimore at 1.7 markup by 20% to cover domestic overhead.. they have 2.05 tied up.. they could sell them for 2.25 and make 20 cents profit/pc but I don't think they are in the market to create a new product line, risk manufacturing defects/delays/defaults to only make 10% profit. A much smaller company could manufacture for the same price, have the same freight, but only 10% overhead... that company can afford to sell for 2.05 and still have a 10% profit margin. AA is smart, they bundle product, and they also do a great job creating/differentiating product. Unfortunately, they have too much overhead to compete on price in the crane product business... And the crane business is all about price (currently). I think AA global will want to move up the value chain and acquire a retail plush company (healthier margins), or an existing carnival plush company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musser Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I think that is probably a pretty accurate view of things. I know that they buy from some of the same suppliers I do (you too I am sure) so its hard for them to sell to us. Licensed product may be an avenue but there are huge dangers with licensed plush. Every one of us that know a lot of plush suppliers know that for every legal plush toy made in a Chinese factory going out the front door there is a black market toy going out the back door. License holders really don't like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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