Planet Antares Refreshment Center

[VendingExperts]

I was wondering if anyone had any information or advice on the Antares mechanical machines?

Thanks

[CajunCandy]

There very good paper weights!

 

[mission vending]

There very good paper weights!

That's about right.... Not heavy enough for boat anchors lol

[VendingExperts]

So even a brand new one would not be worth $500? I figured that with them being mechanical and no electronics, they would do ok.

What is a reliable mechanical snack and drink combo? Or are all mechanical machines crap? What machine would you try to find on the used market? What machine would you recommend new?

[treadmill]

Obviously you have not done any research on this topic otherwise I think you would have your answer.

That's about right.... Not heavy enough for boat anchors lol

Just add some concrete. Problem solved.

[VendingExperts]

Well for starters I do bulk vending and just looking at snack and drink vending from a distance. I saw a guy selling 4 new in box machines with changer for $500 each or $1200 for 4. Which would be a lot easier than the $3000 for a new machine made by someone else.

I have browsed the drink and snack vending section and all I see are people's mechanical issues with machines, I went through 2 or 3 pages of posts.

So that makes me leery of all the machines on CL and other places, am I buying someone else's problem, how do I know what all to look at when buying used?

Isn't asking questions part of doing research?

[mission vending]

?

Isn't asking questions part of doing research?

It certainly is. Antares is out of business. Even a mechanical machine will need parts and your only source is to cannabalize other machines.

[FrCorey]

What are they worth?

Depends how much product is in them

[moondog]

Well for starters I do bulk vending and just looking at snack and drink vending from a distance. I saw a guy selling 4 new in box machines with changer for $500 each or $1200 for 4. Which would be a lot easier than the $3000 for a new machine made by someone else.

I have browsed the drink and snack vending section and all I see are people's mechanical issues with machines, I went through 2 or 3 pages of posts.

So that makes me leery of all the machines on CL and other places, am I buying someone else's problem, how do I know what all to look at when buying used?

Isn't asking questions part of doing research?

We don't like combo machines in general because they don't hold enough product to make any money during a normal service cycle.  Anybody who is making a fair amount of money from one will be servicing it twice a week.  Combos are best suited as satellite machines on larger accounts, where you aren't making a special trip to service them, or as an "in-house" machine that is owner operated.

 

We especially don't like the mechanical combos, or any of the Chinese machines for that matter, as they're extremely poorly made, tech support is almost non existent and parts are very expensive when you can find them.

 

If you're looking to branch off into some full line vending,  consider getting a good multipriced soda machine as servicing is easy and can fit into your existing service schedule.  Snacks are much more involved as you have many short life products and really need at least five machines placed to avoid all the stales.

[moondog]

Obviously you have not done any research on this topic otherwise I think you would have your answer.

Just add some concrete. Problem solved.

or maybe forget the machine and just use concrete

[mission vending]

If you are dead set on doing this then go 300 ea. That's about what the bill changers are worth so when you get sick of dealing with these machines you can get your money back out.

[AZVendor]

Well for starters I do bulk vending and just looking at snack and drink vending from a distance. I saw a guy selling 4 new in box machines with changer for $500 each or $1200 for 4. Which would be a lot easier than the $3000 for a new machine made by someone else.

I have browsed the drink and snack vending section and all I see are people's mechanical issues with machines, I went through 2 or 3 pages of posts.

So that makes me leery of all the machines on CL and other places, am I buying someone else's problem, how do I know what all to look at when buying used?

Isn't asking questions part of doing research?

Besides the issues raised above about mechanical machines, the cooling systems use freon lines inside the cabinet walls as a condenser and when they leak, and they do, you can't find the leak.  The bill changers hold less than $100 in tubes you have to fill manually and the bill acceptor is virtually impossible to find if it fails.

 

Sometimes you will be buying someones problems on CL.  But until you begin familiarizing yourself with what to look for in the type of machine you want to buy, you might get a lemon.  That is what we are here for.  When you find a CL ad you're interested in, post the link and we can identify the machine(s) and give advice as to value and reliability.  If you start with just soda machines, you will always be able to repair a Dixie Narco, Vendo or Royal machine.  They are built and supported that well, and everyone on here uses them.

 

Full line vending equipment is not as simple as bulk equipment is and you have to have a different mindset about what kind of full line equipment is considered professional.  Start looking - you'll do fine.

[VendingExperts]

Thanks for all the advice on this topic. I would rather stay away from these as I am looking to buy machines that I can build from. I will keep doing my homework.

I guess there is a reason that this guy has new 2007 machines. Cause you need them for parts eventually or they are crap and no one wants it placed in their location. Personally I thought they were cool! They use a Frigidaire refrigerator, therefore I thought parts would be in good supply and everything else was mechanical. But I see they have a list of issues of their own!

[FrCorey]

I do like those seaga deli sattilite machines. each unit connects to the computer/changer unit. so you can only use the moduals you need. easy to take apart and move too.

[SeaTurtle Vending]

I have a few of these on location. The biggest issue is they do not hold alot. However, I used that to my benefit. I have a couple slooooow accounts that I can use these machines at and I will hit them on the way when needed during my route run. I usually pull in $140 or more from the machines and when all is said and done, after expenses I made $70 for for about 30 min to an hour.

 

Like stated above, when you get a leak, the maching is toast. I cannibalize it for parts and take it to the scrap yard. As a matter of fact, i am dropping one off tomorrow.

 

You will not get rich off of them, but one thing they are is tough. Those mechanisms do not break often. You can get into accounts that everyone else will overlook cause they are too "slow". Personally, I am ok with making $70 + an hour profit.

 

I would not buy one used as it probably has a cooant leak. Only a NIB which are rare nowadays. At this point I more than made my money back on them. I have a location that was doing about $700 month with these. I am replacing them Wednesday with a AP 6600 and DN 501E. This location should see considerable improvement due to the DBV making life easier on change. In addition, with these mechanical machines you really want to stay with only quarters. Therefore, your pricing will be low on some items and high on others.

 

In short, they have their place if you can get them NIB and for dirt cheap. If you pick them up for $300 each you will make that money back in less than a year easy, probably 4 - 6 months. Keep in mind though that they are not loved for a reason. They have limitations as described. I am keeping my 2 extras as backups for when another goes down. Eventually, I will have to try another plan as I won't buy used ones.

 

If I could get NIB for $300 I would take it. PM if you want to chat more.

 

FYI- for combos, I have been moving over to the AP LCM4. I love that machine it is just significantly more expenive.

[SeaTurtle Vending]

To update on this. I just had one go down, so I am replacing it with one of those being pulled from the location tomorrow. It is nice to have backups. WIll update you on how much I get for scrapping this one today.