Advendture

Well said regarding professionalism. I need to get a feel for how to run this business, and advice like that helps! Not much to report past couple of weeks, placed at all locations purchased from Rob, doing a run three weeks from placement of last machine (which could be a little soon) but the goal is growth at all costs. 100% reinvestment of earnings (less candy costs) are going toward buying new machines. I'm hoping to add 2-4 a month (on route, not just purchased) until I get up to about 150 locations. Party on, will update at first full pull or sooner if something big happens.

1st pull (a week in, just to get a feel for what the machine would do, and its at work anyway....) 5.25. Not bad, but definately not what I was hoping. Also went to wash my car at my other location (I know it sounds like I'm making excuses) and pulled 4.75 (5.25 less a .50 comission, that I left on top of the machine, hoping it would get re-deposited!). So, on pace for 20/month on the two of placed. Got my kickstart locations back from Rob today, interesting situation: some of the locations had a drop off date of AFTER the email was received!? But, not getting in a tizzy until I go try and drop of the machines and see what happens. Wish me luck. AB

Days 8-11 Packed up and took a 24 year old blondie to Cancun for the fourth holiday. Didnt really miss vending (at least not yet). Return to the EEUU tomorrow, where I will see what the hell Rob is doing trying to find my machines. I bought four platinum locations with Rob a few days back, and I was told he normally doesnt do commission but would try it for me. I let him have the weekend and a few days, then went ahead and broke down and got National Children's Cancer society. Still no locations from Rob. Waiting. Oh well, three on site, (two with permission), plan to go a on a blitzkreig with the remaining used machines I bought over the coming week as I recover from a (bad) sunburn. Cheladas and seafood, AB

Day 7 Broke down and did something i'm not proud of. Squatting a double in The lobby of The office bldg where my firm is The second largest tenant. That buys me a square foot doesn't it? Doesn't it......?

That's a rich dad mentality I can subscribe to! I kept asking myself how I could make this business a B/I quadrant activity instead of the more readily taxonomied SELF-EMPLOYED trap. Please feel free to PM if you have any ideas on how we can do that!

Days 6-8 Took The double head with The expensive commission and dropped it off. I was trying to find a decent location within The store when The owner said, no no no! Put it By The door, more people see it. Well thanks buddy. Still excited about The placement, i call Up The carwash across The street from my place. Its fairly New, and i've spoke with manager on occassion. I asked if i could place a small bulk machine in The break room. He said sure (not before i offered a 10% commission on gross profit, not good, but better than 50%!) I also went By a local sign and traffic store and was ReJected By The owner. it helps to keep things in perspective. Summary: 2. Machines self located (average of 30% commission on gross , and five paid locations (pending!) with rob at kickstart. Tomorrow i'm driving around til i grab another location no matter how long it takes. Happy rolling

Day 5: I cleaned the bulk double head GMW machines with an organic cleaner (some chlorox brand) and a rag. Then rinsed well, and allowed to dry. After work, I was reeling from sadness regarding my first rejection, so I decided to go to the strip mall behind the office, and visit with a USPS outlet (ship it, packaging supplies, etc). I asked him if he (went straight for the value prop) would mind if I put a SMALL gumball machine that uses no electricity in his store. He remained silent. I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to be in a place with no machines, and that was open 6 days a week with decent hours, so I blurted out (INEXPERIENCE ON MY PART, sorry older guys, I know ya'll love to hear these rookie mistakes) I would give him half (way too much!!!!!!!) of the net profit (sales-COGS). But, he seemed interested, he asked how big it was, I responded with less than two square feet base, about three feet high. He said he'd love to have it. Score one for self locating (at a steep price). But, it beats the 41.99 fee (sorry Rob!, I still have faith, I just am new to you) Tomorrow I will go to sam's club and decide what to put in my machine. Probably some sort of non-chocolate candy and gum in the other. It's the weekend, baby! You guys enjoy. (I was considering letting rob place the big machines, but at 100 a placement, I would need some pretty decent traffic to make it worth it)

Hey thundercats, Day 4: Got an email back from rob (locator) and said he would get on my 5 paid locations this coming week. Side note: decided to go commision route and told kickstart i would do Up to 20%. I started thinking about The money i Could be making so i got a little creative. I wrote a script sitting in (fort worth, for those who asked) traffic. It basically pitched my comission idea with a twist, i'll put it Up when i'm not on The god awful iPhone. I decided to give it a try while still in traffic. I called a local u-haul store and asked to speak to a manager. "you got em" John said. Go time. I read The script, nervously, and got cut off a spot in with "this is a corporate owned store we're not allowed to deal with telemarketers." Ouch. But great practice, i tried to self locate using The tele bit to get out The butterflies and failed. So what? The thing to remember, as far as locating is concerned, is that The worst you'll get is a go to hell, buzz off, or no thank you. Not worried though. Another side note: this thread May seem dull at times, but know my intentions. I am a public accountant looking to go full time Vending, but! I'll be keeping my full time job til i can replace 1/2 my current salary with my business. That being said, those looking to grow slow May particularly benefit from my thread Party on vendors, only four gumballs to a dollar beer

Texas, but i'd move in a second.

Day 3 Ive made The decisión to go with The GMW machines, bought 10 for a total of 450. Took giant machines to local Locksmith, 120 got The 2 machines with 2 keys each (cash Box and globe access to gum) replaced. More than I wanted to pay, but oh well. Used kickstart and ordered 5 locations from Rob, all platinum. I'll let ya'll know how he, and The locations do. I have faith. Also found a road runner spiral giant machine, seller asking 75, this time with keys! Going to look at thursday, but it looks good from The photos. While sitting a CPE for work (continuing professional education) i find The Lady next to me used to be a Controller for a coin operated air business. She said it WAS lucrative, she then proceeded to suggest I get into bathroom Vending (condums, fantasy kits). hmmmm we'll see. But then again, The Lady sold air, maybe i could sell studded cherry flavored....... Now I wait.

Greetings! Writing from iphone so forgive syntax. Day 2 Busy day: LLC articles filed with Texas (along with $300 fee ) obtained EIN at no charge from irs and opened a wells Fargo business checking account w/ 300 min deposit. The fees were waived with avg mínimum balance of 300 and online statement delivery. After searching craigslist, went and looked at: A 30 macine 1800vending bulk route, owner had poor records preventing a discounted cash flow model valuation, as such, valued using net asset approach. In The end, feel like he was asking too much, so i May buy some of his garage machines, but nothing more. 2 giant Gumball machines- used, no keys, but in good shape, 5ft tall, green and red, got seller to meet me halfway and decided to purchase at 50 each 20 GMW millenia double head used- asking 45 each, still considering

So what your saying, is sucker Adventure! You're not getting in Wal-Mart or Regal Cinemas for that matter!

I recently purchased two giant gumball machines from craigslist. They were too good of a deal for me to pass up, plus, I wanted to see the look on my girlfriends face when I brought them home. Can those with more experience please detail what I should have considered before purchasing old machines (as in, no gum residue) that I would like to put back in service. Specifically: Can this be done with tools? Where is the best place to get new barrel keys? What are the costs associated with re-keying? Have you found any cross usage of keys among brands? Is replacment with barrel keys always the way to go?

http://www.savingsbonds.gov/indiv/planning/plan_gifts.htm Here is more information on the savings bonds as commissions. Note that you will have to give the financial institution your social, but they do not appear on the face of the bond, (only the last 5).

I was looking at Wal Mart machines one day a while back, and I noticed that each machine had some sort of Wal-Mart approved vendor sticker. Does anyone know if Wal-Mart auctions these, sells these, has its own machines, as well as how can one get started. I know these stores are large, but they are HIGH VOLUME, and there's no sense in not trying to reach for the moon. Every machine that gets on location is because someone asked, and someone else said yes. Regardless of the scale.