Movers for equipment(who,where,should I move myself)

[Billy121168]

Please share your experiences around getting full size soda and snack machines to there locations.What have all of you done.I live in Windham, Connecticut .I am not finding any moving companies to even ask.Suggestions,tips and costs involved would be greatly appreciated.This is my last and most important obstacle to overcome so I may start my new business B & T Vending. Thanks for your input, and recommendations.

[AZVendor]

I did a google search for "vending repair windham,ct" and "vending windham,ct" and found 3 consistent returns. They are Berkshire Food, Inc., Crystal Rock, and O'Bryan Vending. O'Bryan advertises that they repair other people's machines. Any large and some small vending companies move their own machines and will sometimes move them for others as well. The only drawback to another vendor moving your machines is can you trust them to not solicit your accounts?

Your best bet would be to find a distributor of new machines that also does service and repair, or an independent vending repairman such as myself to move machines for you as they would not have a conflict of interest. I have no idea what major metro areas you are near, but Betson Distributing covers the northeast for several manufacturers and sells parts and new machines. They also do service work out of some of their branches. The cost to move a machine will run from $50 per machine to whatever someone wants to charge. Around here it's 50-69 per machine, but when you pay someone you are paying for their experience in moving vending machines.

Now if you're thinking of moving your own machines there will be plenty of others that should be chiming in as to how they move their stuff.

Me, I have always had a liftgate on my pickup since I began in 1985. You move a soda machine with a Harper, Stevens or Dutro Brawny Brute (which I use). These are tilt back dollies with 4 wheels to support the tipped machine. Snack machines can be moved with a combination of 24" wide pallet jack and a 4 wheel piano dolly with 4-5" wheels so the snack legs are off the ground when the dolly is under the machine. Then to transport machines you will need a lifting trailer like Trailervator, a liftgate on a pickup or a trailer with a ramp (fun to roll a machine up onto). Some people lay the machines down in the back of a truck or trailer, but these machines are heavy and it's not good for a machine to lay down. A soda machine has to sit upright for 6+ hours after being laid down before starting the compressor. This allows the oil to drain back down into the compressor.

[moondog]

While I will often move a snack machine I'm buying in the back of my van, I never move a soda machine this way (don't like to lay them down).

My liability insurance doesn't cover machine moving to locations so I always hire it out.

Unfortunately, the method AZ posted - while correct, will cost beaucoup bucks in equipment and is therefore not feasible for anybody just starting out.

You might check out appliance movers - they usually have the correct equipment to move soda and snack machines.

....... And don't forget, these suckers are heavy - you should never attempt to move one by yourself.

[Billy121168]

Thanks for the responses I have done the search still not finding mover yet but have gotten several potential leads