Where do I get my first machines?

[Arqangel13]

Hello eveyone:

 

I have been looking on Ebay and Craigslist to find my first "used" machines.  I would love to find two or three triple headed machines to start with.  The problem that I find is that many of the sellers on Ebay will not deliver; they say "local pickup" only.  It is no use to get a good price, and then have to fly or drive to the location to pick up the machine.  Kind of defetes the purpose of buying used.  Might as well buy new.  Also, Craigslist is not really much help. One vendor has listed his routes a bunch of times.  There aren't too many bulk vending machines for sale in S. Florida and I'm not ready to buy a full route yet.  Could be very expensive.  So my question is  where could I get a couple or three triple headed (or more heads) machines cheaply?  I would love to get some machines to experiment with before locating them, but I am trying to stay away from the "inferior" machines listed in the "Ultimate Bulk Vending Guide."  Any suggestions? Thanks. Mario

[adog]

Honestly Craigslist is the best place. You know they will be local and can see them first and avoid shipping fees. You have to have patience alot with Craigslist and eBay. Seems like when ever you need something it is t up and when ever you don't its for sale. If you need new just call AA or eagle or oak. Cheaper than north western and beaver but still great quality.

[adog]

Another thought though is honestly buying a small starter route isn't a bad idea either. Haut don't get to eager but 5-20 machines is so etching very daily manageable that would give you a good taste of what your getting into. Expenses add up fast as most of us could vouch for.

[Arqangel13]

Honestly Craigslist is the best place. You know they will be local and can see them first and avoid shipping fees. You have to have patience alot with Craigslist and eBay. Seems like when ever you need something it is t up and when ever you don't its for sale. If you need new just call AA or eagle or oak. Cheaper than north western and beaver but still great quality.

 

 

Another thought though is honestly buying a small starter route isn't a bad idea either. Haut don't get to eager but 5-20 machines is so etching very daily manageable that would give you a good taste of what your getting into. Expenses add up fast as most of us could vouch for.

Thanks Adog.  I am not sure if I could go new to start off with, but I appreciate knowing where to start.  I will look into AA, Eagle and Oak.  I have found some vending routes on Craigslist, but it was fairly large and the owner wanted too much for it. About 10 machines would be good for me to start with.   I will keep looking, I'm sure something will come my way.  Are there any other buying sites I should visit or avoid?  Take care. Mario

[GagesVending]

Craigslist is the way to go!  A common mistake when shopping on Craigslist is being too specific or not trying enough search options.  Craigslist isn't as smart as eBay, so if you type in "Triple head candy machine" you'll have to hope that that's what the seller titled it as.  Search more general.

 

I use:

 

gumball machine, gumball machines, candy machine, candy machines, vending machine, vending machines, gum machine, gum machines, quarter machine, quarter machines.

 

The point is that if you try multiple searches when you shop, you'll find more...which is how you find the deals!  Use plural and singular and try all jargon you can think of.  I found one of my best purchases of all time under "bubble gum machines."  You just never know what you'll find, you just have to put in that extra time and effort.  Good luck!

[Arqangel13]

Craigslist is the way to go!  A common mistake when shopping on Craigslist is being too specific or not trying enough search options.  Craigslist isn't as smart as eBay, so if you type in "Triple head candy machine" you'll have to hope that that's what the seller titled it as.  Search more general.

 

I use:

 

gumball machine, gumball machines, candy machine, candy machines, vending machine, vending machines, gum machine, gum machines, quarter machine, quarter machines.

 

The point is that if you try multiple searches when you shop, you'll find more...which is how you find the deals!  Use plural and singular and try all jargon you can think of.  I found one of my best purchases of all time under "bubble gum machines."  You just never know what you'll find, you just have to put in that extra time and effort.  Good luck!

Thanks. I've just been putting in Vending machines, Vending and vending route.  I will try your suggestions to see if it makes any sense.  I would like to be able to get a few machines, hopefully three heads (like the 1800's) to start with. I am not sure how many I should go for. Maybe at least one or two machines.  After learning how they function, I guess locating would be the next big obstacle.  I will take it one step at a time.  Maybe I could find those people who bought as a business opportunity and have become disenchanted. They might want to sell cheap, just to get out of the business.  Also, there may be some people who are leaving bulk vending for full service vending and they will want to sell their machines.  I will keep looking. Craigslist seems to be the favorite.  Anyone else have any other ideas.  Thanks. Mario

[jerry1973]

if you search craigslist fairly often then ive found that just searching for the keyword "machine" will find about all vending machines. Of course it will also find every other machine but if you search at least 2 times per week, it don't take long to weed through the listings.

[Arqangel13]

I did put in machine, but I got a bunch of other types of machines as well.  I think vending seems to be a better search term.  I am checking the Craigslist often, but haven't had a chance to this last week as I am still away on business. Thanks for the help. Mario

[RobertInPhilly]

If you have an iPhone just download cPro+. This saves your searches on Craigslist. You can also set your searches for certain towns, zip code and nearby towns. You can hide unwanted results so when you come back the next time it's hidden so you don't see it again, this also hides it in your other seached areas.

It works great for me.

[Arqangel13]

If you have an iPhone just download cPro+. This saves your searches on Craigslist. You can also set your searches for certain towns, zip code and nearby towns. You can hide unwanted results so when you come back the next time it's hidden so you don't see it again, this also hides it in your other seached areas.

It works great for me.

I don't have an I-phone, I have an android.  Maybe there is an app for this on the android market?  In any case, I will keep looking through Google and through the forum.  I already have a couple of good leads, just from this forum alone.  It really is good to be a part of this place.

[RobertInPhilly]

http://www.escargotstudios.com/craigspro/

[Arqangel13]

http://www.escargotstudios.com/craigspro/

Thank you Robert.  Will look into that app as soon as I get back and have the time to fiddle with it.  Take care. Mario

[jerry1973]

I did put in machine, but I got a bunch of other types of machines as well.  I think vending seems to be a better search term.  I am checking the Craigslist often, but haven't had a chance to this last week as I am still away on business. Thanks for the help. Mario

the trouble with using "vending" as a search term, you lose listings such as gumball machine, candy machine, pop machine, snack machine etc etc. I realize that you will get a bunch of old worthless sewing machines and every other machine under the sun, but its the only true search term that ive found that will pretty much find all vending machines. I do however use the word vending also just to make sure that im seeing everything.