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Newbie and His Trials

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Route pruchase and future growth.

Well I just bought another route last week added 11 stops to my route got a pretty good deal for 12 locations and also 5 extra machines parts and a nice electric coin counter. I gave the guy a lowball offer he countered and met in the middle way lower then he wanted for the route. I told him you only have documentation for a pull every 2-4 months and if you put that average out you not making much. Unless you have deposit records This is the amont I will pay see you later. Must of needed ca

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Well Picking up more machines Tomorrow

Well another member on the board here is moving and had a bunch of machines for sale. I will pick them up tomorrow after my car club meeting. I am getting at ruff count around 45 1" heads Mostly Oak and NW with a couple AA and eagles thown in for good mesure. Along with various stands and parts, double, and triple plates. All will need a good cleaning some will need to get refinished new locks. I will probably need to order some gumball wheels for a few f them. I have some for the ealge

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Well I made it into another month of vending.

Well I made it into another month One more month and I will hit the 6 month mark. I did my Route 1st time for Fremont and Blair. I also had some added stops in Omaha. I ended up with 100.00 clear after last month after candy. This month I ended up with 275 after Candy Gas and a couple of lunches. The route was good Fremont Did good to great on 4 stops ok on 2 and 2 sucked. Will probaby swap a couple of machines around and see what happens. Maybe some candy changes and lables on a coupl

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Working with Excel

I have just recently got the wife a new laptop and also purchased MS office home and student edition. I was playing around setting up some spreadsheets moving some from the Open Office program I was using to excel. In the process I separated out the two areas I have been running now into their own routes. Moved Omaha Council Bluffs into one sheet and Fremont, Blair into another. I will probably build a new master sheet for quarterly reports on what my stops do, but for now I just made it work

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Big Reds Rambling

Well The I chatted with the guy he does in person locating apperantly has around 20 locations set up in the Omaha area. 40 bucks a spot and he will do in bundles of 10. I might give it a try end of October. I am debating between that and going with First Choice again for 4-6 locations this next month. Will probably run the route again the 28-1st of Oct. Looking to see how it dose. The 8 spots I just got in fremont will have about 6-7 weeks on it and the rest will have about 5 when I run it. I

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Worked on Marketing materials Today

Well worked on my Tri-Fold flyer today some. This is one to promote placing some racks as I will have a couple ready here soon. I will probably order some more products the end of the month as well as some coin mechs to get them ready. I have enough to do a few. I should have 1- 5 way 2-2" 3-1" machines on a rack 1- 4 way 4-1" machines on a rack 1- 3 way 1-2" 2-1" machines and a tattoo sticker machine to place were ever there is room. I had the wife go over my flier (she is a newspaper ed

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Growing a business

For some of you This might be old news but for the new guys it is something to think about. I have been doing this for about 3 months and am getting a idea on how to run the route and keep up on stuff. I been keeping track on some spread sheets and what I have been spending. Just opened up a account for the vending route now that I am starting to have a more positive cash-flow at the end of the month. I worked on a route book so I can keep track on product levels and how each one dose at vari

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Some machine work today Locating tomorrow

Well I got the Tattoo machine repainted today and got another machine I am giving to a buddy ready to paint. I am doing working on doing a Hawkeye Themed NW 60 for his game room. I am also going out an try to locate a couple of GB machines and maybe my small 4 way rack. I have scoped out a few places to try. I also got the 2" capsule machine on one of my small racks. thought about doing the 2" on top and 2 1" on the bottom. I have enough product to fill two of them without any proble

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Long weekend and the Route

[indent]Well We have a long weekend coming up I plan on doing some stuff to get a couple of machines prepped up for the route. I have two route masters I need to break into (I have No Keys) cleaned up and ready to place. I also have 2 vendstars I need to do some stuff to and get ready to relocate. I also need to get the Tattoo and Sticker machine repainted and order a lock for it. I am thinking of ordering some more capsule wheels from NW for my 60's and setting up one of my other 4 way rack

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Route building

As Some of you know I am the new kid on the block in this business. I just started in May bought some old vendstars off of Ebay got around 80 bucks in each with a re-key on each machine. Been using locators to start locating them. I have worked on keeping things as Tight as I can. Started g with trying to get machines placed in my home town. 25,000 is the Population. I have a couple of ok spots out of the 1st five of them 3 have worked out ok. One I pulled one I replaced with a single GB It did

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Finished the route

Well I did get the route Finished up on Monday. I did swap out two vendstars for single GB in two stops. I my per machine average was still the same had several accounts that were down from last month. Hair salon 4 of my 6 check cashing spots were also down 30-40% from last month. I still did ok though I did pulls on 18 stops and made 240 The Break down is this I placed my first machines in May did my fist pull end of June June 7 stops 91.00 July 12 stops 131.25 Augus

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Finish up the route tomorrow.

Well I will finish up the stops on the route tomorrow and will post some figures on how it is doing. I did do 3 of the First choice stops they did real well. Compared to the rest of the route. everything was down from last month. I did swap one Triple out for a single GB. Will do another one tomorrow depending on how the location dose. I also moved the machines to another spot in the store to see if I can get a little more revenue out of each one. I have 9 stops to run. I will also

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Running the Route tomorrow

Well I got the car and the cooler all ready to go. I also loaded up a couple of GB machines to swap out two vendstars in a couple of my check cashing places. With what they did last month I will hold out and see but Thinking a swap might be in order. For 6.25 and 10.50 I figure I would try a single and see what happens. I hope to do 6 tomorrow after work and that will leave 13 for Monday. I have worked on some route sheets and put together a route book so I can keep track of stuff on

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Located a stop today

Well got my last stop from LRU today a Nail Salon In Town where I live. With the route I purchased In town I am up to 12 stops now in Fremont. I have 16 In Omaha for a total of 28 My per machine average has been 13 a stop. I have pulled one machine for non performing and relocated it. I also pulled one vendstar and replaced it with a single GB. Will probably let it sit for 2 months this time and see what it dose. I am hoping to get a little Higher average with a couple of spots I got

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Well I am going to get some more stops

Well did the route purchase today 8 stops total paid about an average of just over 60 a stop. Looks like all should average 15-20 One should do a around 40. All vendstars will work on changing locks in them the next week or so. One of them is a route pro. Seaga three way. Going to pickup his Blair run Will need to update 3 machines there the old vendesign style plastic with the metal coin mechs. I will probably put in some Vendstars or some of my new NW I got. I still also Have a

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

New Route purchased

Well I did it I bought my First route. I got 8 local stops to add to the route. That will make things just about even between Omaha and Fremont. 12 in Fremont now and 15 in Omaha. I need to get locks ordered so I can change them out as needed. I need to come up with a couple of extra tops and back doors it would make the job a lot easier. 2 he didn't have keys for so I need to run out today and place some of the extra locks that I have here in them to get by with until my new ones arrive.

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

New machines

Well I just called and will be on my way shortly to pick up a few new NW 60's with stands. 9 of them NIB so that should be a great thing. The seller knows at least Three are gumball machines I hope for 4-5 are GB when it is all said and done. Well we are on are way now. If the deal happens on Monday I will have 26 he also has 4 more that are kind of out of his way he wants to sell will le mt know after his first service in a couple of weeks. . I could even do a 4 way or two if needed. eno

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

A chance to grow.

Well I got a chance to pick up some more stops. 300 bucks all vendstar 14-20 dollar accounts. That are up for sale. If figures 42 dollars a stop. All in my home town. That would bring me up to 11 here in Fremont. Will talk with the guy on Monday at about 10:00 am. Saturday I get my next batch of NW from my local source. Grabbing 9 machines with stands NIB for 50 each. Getting excited about running the route on the 27th. If i get these 7 next week that will put all the service set up for

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

No luck

Well no luck today. I did have some interest from a quick lube place. I will stop back later this week when the proper people are in. Now that the weather is cooler I will probably keep a set up or two in the car so I can hit a spot or two on the way home. Next week have to take the dog into the vet. After that I will probably try to hit Blair and see what I can place there. Small town I should get a couple of machines placed.

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Making flyers etc...

Well tomorrow I go out for my first real day of locating some machines. I have 3 Gumball machines I am going to try to find a home for. I also have a 4 way toy rack that is ready to go and needs a good home. I have a few places I plan on targeting tomorrow. When I get this batch of stuff located I have lined up 9 more singles to continue the process. Made up some business cards and worked on a new Flyer. Wife being a journalist did a little editing. Being married to a newspaper edit

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Working On Machines

Well I got some time on Monday to get some stuff done. I didn't get out to do any Locating. My Dog was sick and the battery Died on the car. I did get three eagles ready to place as GB machines. I also repainted and changed one of my NW to a Gumball machine. Turned out good. I thing I will swap out a few of the vendstars for the eagles on the next running of the route In a couple of spots. 2-3 of my Check cashing places. I am hoping to get some locating done next week. No sick do

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Good day today

Well I dropped off two more machines today put a double at a Dry Cleaners GB/Runts from Locators R Us. I figured stuff with a long shelf life. Did another corp break room from First Choice. No other candy or pop machine. They barely had room for my little triple in there. MM, Hot Tamales, and Runts. The manager on duty seemed grateful about it. I talked with Phil Nice guy got a couple of extra stands his Girlfriend has. Made a deal to by the rest of her singles in two weeks all N

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

New Locations tomorrow

Well got a couple of locations to place tomorrow. Another corp break room from first choice and also a dry-cleaners/Laundry. Found a couple of stands from a guy I bought some NW from for 50 bucks still new in the box. Also ordered a couple 6 gumballs wheels and risers from Eagle for a few of my machines and a few stands. That is about the only thing I am short on is a few stands. I hope to get a few GB machines ready to place next week. I go back to having Sunday and Monday off so time get

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Getting Ready

Well picked up a vendstar. Melted MM's replaced it with a single GB. Worked on prepping some machines I got a 4 way rack painted this week so got that put together. Also put another double together. 4 way Gumball 1 candy 3, Double Candy/Gumball, Double candy/candy and one single Gumball ready to go and a 4 way loaded with toys. We have a new Mexican Restaurant going in and will try to land it there. I will also try to work a couple other places also. I also have 2 single stan

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

Growing the Route

Well I added 4 stops today I need to lose 2 so I will gain 2 out the deal. One did a whopping 2.50 and was put in front of the window so the MM's are melted. I will probably run and grab it tomorrow. The other one is a garage. I did 6 bucks last month I don't have high hopes for it on Monday when I check it. Was up last night until 1:00 am prepping machines to place today. Placed 4 machines today. A single at an old lady hair salon. MM's One double at a small bar. A vendstar triple

BigRedvender

BigRedvender

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