McMEnterpr

The route I took was to not really provide a lot of detail about the business and start placing machines and learning the ropes of the business. I didn't involve her at all in the beginning (this is what worked for me... it doesn't mean it's the best choice). About 6 months later, when I started earning a material amount of money, I offered to take her out while I service the machines. After seeing what I do, the fun parts, the challenges, and the $$ after servicing the route, she has been onboard. I'm getting ready to train her to start helping me out when I need to travel for my full-time job.

Hello Jacob, I always wear a dress shirt and khaki dress pants when serving accounts. I also keep a log of who I interact with at each location and review it before I go into a location so I remember the names of the owners and key employees so I can chat with them if the opportunity affords it. It's important to balance the need to service the account quickly (dressing well of course) with having some time to talk and network if it looks like a good time to do so. A solid handshake (if the owner isn't walking around with lots of pizza boxes, etc.) seems to go along way and a sincere hello/thank you. I've gotten a lot of follow-on business, bigger racks, lower commission, and assorted other perks from doing these things. Regards, Brian

Hello Shawn, I've sent you a PM. Thanks

Hello everyone, I spoke with A&A this week and was told that they don't sell a PO89 50 cent mechanism. I was really surprised. Where are you buying your 50 cent mechanisms for this type of machine? Thank you.

Hello everyone, Alex, Jackie's son, gave me a call today and gave me my first location. I refused it because it was a poor location that I have already had a vending machine in, but Mid-West didn't know that. No problem there. The procedure was different than I'm used to. Alex kept calling my phone until I picked up instead of calling once and leaving me a message (-1). I was surprised, from the phone conversation I had about the location, that they didn't pick up that this would be a poor location since its in an office building that closes at 2 pm everyday and their sales are very low (-1). On a positive note, they agreed right away to find a new location once I refused this one and the location was found 3 weeks early (+1). I don't believe Alex was the same person locating racks before Mid-West's recent purchase by Jackie. Am I wrong? I am concerned that they would want to locate a toy and gum rack in an office building. Thanks.

Does anyone know if KS locates racks? If so, have you had success with this particular service? Thanks, Brian

I just placed an order with the "new" Midwest. I will provide an update once I get a location. Regards, Brian

I wonder if young people would get tuition assistance for college by volunteering or some other form of remuneration for their time? Regards, Brian

Just to follow up on this-- I called EZCount and left a message with their director of sales over a week ago. I still haven't received a call back from the company about their products. Maybe they are going out of business? Does anyone have any recommendations for looking at other technologies like EZCount? Regards, Brian

Blueplate, That is an excellent suggestion. I hadn't thought of that. I used to work as a legal assistant and, while nothing I say should be construed as legal advice, having pictures of your machines is really a great starting point for having a defense against any suits involving toppling over machines, etc.

I have actually had some terrible service from A&A. Orders didn't arrive for more than a week, they couldn't find the parts I ordered, said they would call me when items arrive, etc. On the flip side, I have also had some wonderful service. It seems that it can be quite variable depending on who your contact is. Regards, Brian

Hello everyone, I've got a number of break rooms and have always stocked candy in them. Logic would suggest that superballs/toys wouldn't do well in this environment because workers are going to the break room for lunch and adults wouldn't want to buy toys (unless its for their children to get later). I'm thinking of stocking a couple break rooms with superballs to see how they do. Has anyone tried this out before and how did it go? Regards, Brian

Has anyone has any luck contacting EZCount? I sent a detailed request for pricing and technical info via the form on their site two weeks ago and have not yet been contacted. Regards, Brian

Hello everyone, What a day servicing the route! I usually have one customer service-related issue per 3-4 months. Today, I had an issue at each stop on my route! Everything worked out ok, with the exception of having to pull out of one location. That's when things started to become comical. I'm in a large parking lot and have about 100 2" superballs in a cardboard box. Suddenly, the bottom of the box breaks and all hundred balls come out of the box and start bouncing into the street and throughout the parking lot. It caused cars to stop and see why the parking lot and grass, etc. looked multicolored. I will remember it forever. Anyone else have a memorable vending story to tell? Regards. Brian

Hello all, Your thoughts on how to keep 1" blisters stationary in a P089 machine or similar ones is appreciated. Do they sell display holders for these machines or are you just using tape? I could just buying inferior quality tape that doesn't do the trick. Thanks, Brian

Hello all, Thanks for your replies. How about 1" capsule machines? Specifically, how do you keep your blisters still in P089 or similar machines? Regards, Brian

I haven't tried it, but the shipping from China can be extremely expensive, FYI, depending on the weight of the product. Regards, Brian

Johnny, How did your rack placements go? Regards, Brian

I agree 100% with Gabe. Evaluate what you gain from that extra time spent with the baggies. Regards, Brian

I do things a bit differently. I have two bags-- one that I bring in stores and the other I leave in the car. If I have 3 different products, I rank them to know which product made the most money and dump all three into the same bag. I don't count coins in stores unless I need to for a commission. As I am traveling between locations, I remove coins from the first bag and put them into the second bag. I record the totals at traffic lights, etc. When the second bag gets heavy enough, I drop off the coins at my local bank. I use their count to verify my own. Thanks, Brian

Jesse, That sounds like a great idea, however, there is a couple draw backs. In particular, if you are paying a commission, the location owner would get paid less frequently and may be bothered by this enough to want to replace you. Also, you would get paid less frequently. However, your idea does seem to resolve a lot of the employee trust issues. Brian

Hello everyone, I called up A&A today and was told that they do not selling triple bars to place three single heads on a stand. They do sell double bars, however. Has anyone bought triple bars? Thanks, Brian

Hello all, Wasn't a problem at all Thanks for the input. Regards, Brian

Ernie, Business owners have never asked me about liability insurance. However, it does give you wonderful peace of mind, as you said. Regards, Brian

Jeff, The best thing to do is to call each township that you want to place vending machines in and ask the business tax department or tax collector if they have an "amusement tax." Many tax collectors know immediately what you mean. If they don't, let them know that you want to place a vending machine in a business in their township. Frequently you will have to clarify what type of equipment you are placing. 25 cent mechs are frequently excluded from their taxing structure. [Disclaimer: I am not an expert on the subject of business taxes by any means.. this is just what I have found to work well in my experience] Regards, Brian