lowcountry Dan Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I had a Vendstar machine pretty badly damaged by the employees in a restaurant. Granted the Vendstar is not very sturdy, but I have plenty of machines that look perfect, not even a broken door. There are college kids working at this restaurant. Maybe they decided one night after work to just break into my machine and steal the candy. The manager does not care, so I have no recourse. Do I put a good metal machine in there and try again? I have been advised that in this situation, they will trash any machine that is placed. I hate to walk away from this location, but if I put a high quality machine in there and it is damaged, I will be very upset. So, do I cut my losses or try again? Thanks for reading. lowcountry Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiana Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I don't know about that. Does this location earn enough to make purchasing another machine (or potentially several more machines in the future) worthwhile? It sounds especially concerning that the manager does not care if the employees damage your equipment; this makes me think it will almost certainly happen to you again. Unless this location is one of your top performers, I'd relocate the machine and sever ties. That's me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I had a Vendstar machine pretty badly damaged by the employees in a restaurant. Granted the Vendstar is not very sturdy, but I have plenty of machines that look perfect, not even a broken door. There are college kids working at this restaurant. Maybe they decided one night after work to just break into my machine and steal the candy. The manager does not care, so I have no recourse. Do I put a good metal machine in there and try again? I have been advised that in this situation, they will trash any machine that is placed. I hate to walk away from this location, but if I put a high quality machine in there and it is damaged, I will be very upset. So, do I cut my losses or try again? Thanks for reading. lowcountry Dan Dan, I just shut down a Full Line location that was grossing $600 a month. Same deal, the employees beat the hell out my equipment and I had some really solid machines there. The management didn't care other than to complain that the machines were broken. I always fixed them within 24 hours, which was happening about twice a week, but that didn't matter - it was my fault. To Hell With That! I very courteously pulled all three machines three weeks ago, shook my contacts hand and left. I felt bad for him as he knew the scoop but was stuck in the middle. Some accounts are just not worth it and it sounds like you've got one. I have placed 2 of the 3 machines already and just picked up an account that's grossing $2,000 a month (based on my first collections) - sometimes it seems like karma really does exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowcountry Dan Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 This location makes about $30.00 per month gross. It is my impression that this place is fairly chaotic and employees do whatever they want. I don't think management demonstrates a strong presence. I wish I could have the confidence that it will not happen again. It just seems like willful destruction rather than an accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treadmill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 If it happened once it will happen again especially if management doesn't give a darn. I hate that when that happens. I bet they wouldn't like it if you did it to something of theirs. I would pull it and not look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloudedjourney Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 It might not be helpful, but could you put a warning sticker on the machine that says something like "anyone caught willfully attempting to damage or steal from this machine will be prosecuted with willful destruction of property" Kind of like how some houses just put the alarm stickers on the front windows of their houses without actually having an alarm. Might be an empty threat, but also might make a couple people think twice about whether its worth the risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treadmill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 It might not be helpful, but could you put a warning sticker on the machine that says something like "anyone caught willfully attempting to damage or steal from this machine will be prosecuted with willful destruction of property" Kind of like how some houses just put the alarm stickers on the front windows of their houses without actually having an alarm. Might be an empty threat, but also might make a couple people think twice about whether its worth the risk. Ya but the management doesn't care and allows this type of mischief to go on. I wouldn't waste my time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priusjames Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 This location makes about $30.00 per month gross. It is my impression that this place is fairly chaotic and employees do whatever they want. I don't think management demonstrates a strong presence. I wish I could have the confidence that it will not happen again. It just seems like willful destruction rather than an accident. Let your insurance company know about it...they'll be happy to make somebody pay them back for willful damage they pay out on a claim! I'm pretty new, but I wouldn't put up with willful damage even if the account was so great it paid for itself with all the replacement machines. What's going to happen when one of the employees stick their arm through an opening and rip open a gaping wound? I'd argue (if I were a legal eagle) that you've set a precedent of allowing equipment that you know could hurt somebody, after it's reliably broken every time, to remain in place knowing it'll get broken and could injure somebody. I'm in California, in a similar situation I'll play it safe and remove equipment from places who destroy it...and I'll file small claims to get the business to pay for replacement equipment (hey, I'm pulling out...why should I be nice to this negligent business who didn't take "reasonable care" of the equipment in their custody...let alone the "prudent care" that I'd expect). Meantime, I'm pretty sure I'd pull my stuff and run. At least, that's what i *think* I'd do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treadmill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Why put in a claim for a $30 machine especially when your policy renewal will probably increase more than the machine is worth? Just walk away and don't look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiana Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Why put in a claim for a $30 machine especially when your policy renewal will probably increase more than the machine is worth? Just walk away and don't look back. Agreed. Every time a machine is (willfully) damaged it takes a month of your time and work to replace. That's not right. Imagine if you punched holes in the drywall every time you serviced the machine--they would "replace" you pretty quickly. I think you may want to consider getting your equipment out of this location just as quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newheart53 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 The only thing that comes to mind is to try to contact the owner of the business and explain what is going on. Something tells me there is probably a lot of other damage to his business, that he doesn't know about. Worse that can happen is he stands behind his people and tells you to leave. Then you'd have your answer. Another thought, put a beat up machine in the place with a sign in the canister stating that you would love to put another better machine in the location but do to criminal damage you can't take a chance. I KNOW that is not the best way to go but you could get the message across. It probably all a waste of time do to the employs anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowcountry Dan Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Thanks for the advice everybody. I should stress the fact that they broke into the machine and stole the candy. A waitress told me so. I think I will try to contact the owner and let him know. He should know he has petty thieves working for him. I don't wish to stir up trouble, but I'd like to get paid something for the damage. I'm happy to say this is the first time it's ever happened to me. I have 50 to 55 machines out there at any given time. I've had 2 machines stolen in 3 years, but never a break in to steal candy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treadmill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I've had it happen twice. Once to a uturn and another time to a 1800. Just picked up machine and said thanks for the support and the kids will be disappointed. Never looked back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GagesVending Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 If management doesn't care, that means not only will you face having a second machine beaten up in this destructive environment, but also he/she wouldn't care if someone stole it. If you had like an extra old Oak,Eagle,Northwestern or AA (any old, but solid metal, tried and true) machine that you chain up, maybe it might be worth it. A VendStar simply can't take a beating, but one of those solid metal machines can and since management was okay with having a VendStar, then they are certainly okay with having a scratched up old Oak. Bottom line: if you need the quantity of locations, put a junky old metal machine chained up in its place, if not move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musser Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Maybe we should have a thread on things that jerks have done to our machines. I had a double head in a laundry once chained a big steel pipe (6") I got a call from the local police, some kids ran a chain from a 4 wheel drive truck into the laundry and tried to pull the machine out. The pipe stand was almost bent into a U shape. Then there is always the call "the ganrty just fell off the crane'. Or the places that use my bulk racks to dry thier wet salty floor mats on, (I am in snow country) I think vending machines like salt water. Anyway get used to it. Yea, it can make you mad but just part of dealing with the public. Look at it this way, idots will never be competitors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allsnax Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Id say it depends. Did they get in through the lock or the coin mech. If its just opening the lock switch to barrel lock and use metal machine & keep location if you feel its good. Make sure it wasnt a defect with the machine giving free vends, that happened to me once. If they forced the coin mech for free vends leave because by now all his buddies will know how to get free product. I never had vendstars but I had uturns and you could do a force vend through those pretty easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowcountry Dan Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 I have an update. I talked to the manager and plead my case about my machine. She was actually very understanding and told me this would not happen again. I put my machine back in the restaurant. I checked on it yesterday, and it is doing fine. I suppose it's worth the time to find the right person to contact. Fortunately for me, I spent many years in sales. I believe my experience helped me in this case. We all know it's tough out there. Stay strong and sometimes things will go your way. Thanks for all the responses and advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazenevenson Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Get rid of the location, if your machine is being damaged by staff and managment doesn't care it will certainly keep happening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bctexas Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have several U-Turn 4 select machines in the laundry rooms of several apartment complexes. Most of these locations have no problems but at a couple of locations the canisters have been broken and the candy stolen which I knew was a risk. I have a large supply of canisters that I got cheap so replacing the canisters costs me almost nothing. When I replaced the canisters I also created a sticker using a simple avery shipping label and printed the following message on the sticker which went on top of the machine. Though Shalt Not Steal (even candy) It has been several months now and no more problems. Some of these machines generate $50 to $60 per month. Give it a try if you are willing to risk another machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazenevenson Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have recently done something similar, I had two locks drilled out, after this I placed additional markings on the machine stating that a percentage of each sale goes to charity I haven't had any other issues since. Bctexas I like your label I might have to use that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmiller Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I had a Vendstar machine pretty badly damaged by the employees in a restaurant. Granted the Vendstar is not very sturdy, but I have plenty of machines that look perfect, not even a broken door. There are college kids working at this restaurant. Maybe they decided one night after work to just break into my machine and steal the candy. The manager does not care, so I have no recourse. Do I put a good metal machine in there and try again? I have been advised that in this situation, they will trash any machine that is placed. I hate to walk away from this location, but if I put a high quality machine in there and it is damaged, I will be very upset. So, do I cut my losses or try again? Thanks for reading. lowcountry Dan Dan, It is a judgement and one based on presnt and future value. Does the owner have only one location ? If so, is there an opportunity to place machines there ? Does he value his percentage enough to lose your business ? You could remind him of the lost revenue from the loss of the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discount Vending Store Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Welcome to the club. This is a question that every vendor will ask at some point in their vending carrier. I wouldn't put a really expensive machine in there as it can get damaged just the same. If your location is profiting enough to replace the cost of the machine within a couple of months, then I would try putting in another cheap machine. Most of my Vendstar machines on my route I buy used for about $25 a piece and I can recoup this cost within a month or two so it's worth it. However, if you buy a new U-turn machine for $500 and get it damaged or worse- stolen, then I wouldn't replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bctexas Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Feel free to email me at EMAIL REMOVED and I will simply email you my MS Word template. I have some other labels that I have put on machines as well that I am happy to email over to you as well. These templates are set up for use with Avery 8164 and 5264 labels which are the 3 1/3 X 4 inch shipping labels. On 3/28/2013 at 8:48 PM, hazenevenson said: I have recently done something similar, I had two locks drilled out, after this I placed additional markings on the machine stating that a percentage of each sale goes to charity I haven't had any other issues since. Bctexas I like your label I might have to use that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazenevenson Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 On 4/1/2013 at 9:14 PM, bctexas said: Feel free to email me at EMAIL REMOVED and I will simply email you my MS Word template. I have some other labels that I have put on machines as well that I am happy to email over to you as well. These templates are set up for use with Avery 8164 and 5264 labels which are the 3 1/3 X 4 inch shipping labels. Thank you very much I will email you today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
massalonvending Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 If it was me, I'd walk out with my broken machine and never go back there again. BTW, I see you live in the Lowcountry also, where at, so I know to never put my machine there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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