Davis Caroline Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 (Just need to vent...) I have (had) a rural location that is a breakroom for a very large manufacturing facility. Today I went to service the machine and a guy there says "it's all adults here and we don't need that candy and gum crap. Put some nuts in." I told him it was company policy that we did not offer nuts. I said it was due to allergen concerns and insurance reasons. He said, "well take the machine out then." I asked if we was the owner and he said he was the controller. I let him know that his employees were using the machine quite often and people seemed to really like the current selections. I also mentioned that a portion of the proceeds went to charity. He then repeated himself that I should take the machine out and added that he would "find someone else that will give him what he asks for." (In a very rude tone.) I said fine and then in the intentionally nicest way possible I told him that the charity thanks him for the time that he allowed the machine in there. Obviously I did not want to vend nuts for all the reasons discussed here. But in addition, my three year old son has a severe nut allergy and right at a year ago he was rushed to the hospital after eating some peanut butter candy at a holiday party. The doctor said he likely would have died if he had not been taken to the emergency room at that time. This guy put me in a no win situation today and I lost a big account just because of this one guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkochan Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Good locations are hard to come by. I would have put nuts in the machine to keep the account or, put in a second with nuts and other candies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 He then repeated himself that I should take the machine out and added that he would "find someone else that will give him what he asks for." (In a very rude tone.) Your reply should have been: "I'd be happy to give you what you're asking for...considering you're asking for a butt-kicking with that tone". What the heck -- you'd already lost the location anyway. Ok -- seriously, now... With the cost of nuts right now, your good location may have become a not-so-good location if you had succumbed to his request for nuts. There's no guarantee your location would have continued to earn good money if you had switched to nuts against your will. For all you know, those employees that were buying your candy don't like nuts. Anyone in this business for more than a year has seen it a dozen times: someone at a location asks for certain product, you oblige, and the product doesn't sell. If my gut feeling is right, you did right by just pulling the machine. Otherwise, you would have gone against your policy on vending nuts AND still have lost a good location when the controller was the only one buying nuts from your machine next month. Don't get too down. This happens. Move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinnJinn Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same thing Davis... Plus with having nuts around, you have the added worry, risk, and concern that your son may find the nuts and consume them. Dunno if it is true or not, but I have heard that some folks are so allergic that just the dust from the bottom of the nut can will land them in the hospital... To me, an extra $30+ a month wouldn't be worth the risk I would be taking by having nuts under the same roof as my son... Just my 2 cents worth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGCV Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 (Just need to vent...) I have (had) a rural location that is a breakroom for a very large manufacturing facility. Today I went to service the machine and a guy there says "it's all adults here and we don't need that candy and gum crap. Put some nuts in." I told him it was company policy that we did not offer nuts. I said it was due to allergen concerns and insurance reasons. He said, "well take the machine out then." I asked if we was the owner and he said he was the controller. I let him know that his employees were using the machine quite often and people seemed to really like the current selections. I also mentioned that a portion of the proceeds went to charity. He then repeated himself that I should take the machine out and added that he would "find someone else that will give him what he asks for." (In a very rude tone.) I said fine and then in the intentionally nicest way possible I told him that the charity thanks him for the time that he allowed the machine in there. Obviously I did not want to vend nuts for all the reasons discussed here. But in addition, my three year old son has a severe nut allergy and right at a year ago he was rushed to the hospital after eating some peanut butter candy at a holiday party. The doctor said he likely would have died if he had not been taken to the emergency room at that time. This guy put me in a no win situation today and I lost a big account just because of this one guy. You let him get the best of you. I would have asked him for his business card and told him I will get back to you when I hear from my supplier. Drag it out a little while. If he is the controller they must have some office personnel. Could be an opportunity for an honor box. Lastly if it was that good of an account I would buy him a bag of peanuts and put it on his desk. That's just me. Kind of my thinking going forward on PMM's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniocinisi Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I like your thinking rgcv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Lastly if it was that good of an account I would buy him a bag of peanuts and put it on his desk. That's the right way to do it. Great suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGCV Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 That's the right way to do it. Great suggestion. He can still save the account. Go back and drop that machine in the breakroom(don't ask just do it) and drop off a release form for the controller to sign along with his bag of peanuts. Tell him it is from the charity and they appreciate all the support xyz has given the charity and they would love to continue as long as they aren't liable for any allergic reactions and the machine will be labeled with a warning but they can't sell nuts without a release. Also let him know the better option would be an honor box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis Caroline Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 I think the bag of peanuts idea is a good one, but after a day I am not upset that I lost this account. I stuck with my business plan and I did not let one person drive me a different direction. While it is good to listen to your customers, there is a reason why McDonald's, Walmart and other companies don't just react to one person's wishes or demands. Those companies know what works for them and they push forward while adapting as needed. It is said that 20% of your customers create 80% of your problems. I'm happy not to have to deal with the guy at this location anymore. In addition, I had the same exact machine placed at a new location (hair salon) within an hour. It may not do the same amount of revenue, but I have one less headache and I stuck with my business plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mage Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Is the allergy specific to all nuts, or just peanuts? I know peanut allergies can be very severe. But if it is a specific allergy, you could find a nut your son may not be allergic to. Personally I would have got a single head, placed whatever nut I knew my son was not allergic to, and set the price accordingly, even if it meant 75¢ or $1.00 per handful. If he complains again, it sounds like he never specifically stated peanuts, and in fact peanuts are not actually nuts. (They are legumes if anyone cares.) Although telling him this may not make him too happy. There is one more possibility. While it is your son that is allergic, I do not think it is wrong to tell people you are severely allergic yourself, and cannot make contact with nuts. (Or peanuts.) While I generally try to be as honest as possible, in this case I would find it morally acceptable, plus the fact that it isn't anybody's business that your son has the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulkvendingwizard Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Well... In my own opinon i would have catered to the clients needs... even if you just did it for a month or two and then switched the product out... I think a uturn machine is something that the location is wanting.... reason being 8 head uturns offer 8 selections of candies gum ect... i think that if you would have catered to his cashew request you could of also snuck in a couple more machines. I would of said hey no problem. Since this is a small rack ill have to bring in one that is a little bigger to accomidate your request. That gives you a way to bring in a 6 head rack with 6 types of products. Then i would have stated that I will have to put some warning labels on the machine which wont be a problem but other then that ill make it happen soon. If it was a good location i would of done whatever it took to get the product but whenever you get a request for a new product you should cater to it as it gives you and excuse to upgrade to a bigger rack or stand... JUST MY OPINION Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniocinisi Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 EVEN IF YOU FOUND A NEW LOCATION FOR THE MACHINE YOU SHOULD STILL TRY TO GET IT BACK NOW THAT YOU KNOW HOW.REMEMBER IT WAS YOUR 3RD BEST LOCATION,YOU WILL 2 REGULAR ONES TO REPLACE IT.sry caps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendman0729 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I can understand why it is so important to you as this involves your sons situation with the peanut allergys. I have recently started vending chocalate raisins in my machine and they are delicious. I feel like as the Mage said that there might be a nut or two that your son might not be allergic to. It would be really nice if you found something feasable for the controller at the location to be happy with while your son would be ok with the same product being around in the house. However finding out what nuts hes not allergic to might also might be a bad test procedure as his allergys can be severe and anything can happen including god forbid death. You said you got a hair salon in 1 hour. Obviously you have experience in locating so it seems like for you it wont be long before you get another awsome location. Keep up the good work. I don't know why people have to be rude. I personally would have takin out the machine and said go screw yourself haha but your better then I am and still thanked the guy. Although is this also the same guy that let you put the machine in the first place? I probably doubt it after his attitude because he would probably also be the same rude guy that would normally say no way NO WE DONT WANT A CANY MACHNE. I hate this golpher even though I have never seen him haha. If it makes you happy nuts are not very good for your machines anyways . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGCV Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I like your thinking rgcv another option would have been to sell the location to another vendor who can sell nuts. I don't like leaving money on the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniocinisi Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 That's why I urged to go get his location back. Dealing with asshors sometimes is part of the game.I could see if the location was average but a good one puts money in the bank wich tends to make me forget about the ahole but I am greedy I've been told and canhandle aholes usually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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