Looking to buy my first machine

[emt1581]

I did a little digging looking at different machines and I want to give it a shot.  But I do have a few questions and I was hoping some here would be kind enough to help me out with some information/experience.

First off, a vendor I spoke to mentioned that used machines could be had in the $2K range.  However, on craigslist I found a lot of them, supposedly in great condition, for well under $1K. 

Here are some examples...(Ignore the crank machines, I read they are pure garbage)

http://reading.craigslist.org/for/4529098620.htmlhttp://

http://http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bfs/4522688075.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/bfs/4523027215.html

http://http://lancaster.craigslist.org/bfs/4512853387.html

So what is the difference between a $500-$1K machine and one that costs $2K+ in your experience? Either way I definitely want a setup that takes bills. 

I know when the vendor and I spoke, he said snacks were generally more popular (or was it profitable?).  So to start with one machine would you suggest a combo or a snack only machine? 

As far as repairs, I'm a quick learner and I do some of the work on my vehicles (brakes, fluids, wheels, some engine work, etc.).  I'm wondering if repairs and replacement of parts is something I should be able to handle on my own?  If not, how do I find someone good for repairs?

I called my insurance company and they said they wouldn't be able to insure the vending machines by themselves (even though they still insure my hot dog cart).  What company do you suggest using for a single machine or maybe two down the road?  (I'm in eastern PA by the way)

How do you figure out what to stock in the machines at a given location?  Lets say it's in a public area, and not restricted to a set group of employees....how do you do it?  Is there a generic list of snacks that sells the best?

The vendor had mentioned Global Vending in regard to getting a machine and a referral to a company that can give me a location.  Any ideas on those companies that you'd be able to refer me to?  Plus when I do talk to the company, what terms do I want to use to let them know that I'd like a high foot-traffic/public spot?  I figure high-traffic and public will hopefully yield $100-$200 a week.  That's my goal for now. 

As for taxes, it is all cash.  I'm wondering if it's something to report or is it pretty much off the books? 

Any licenses/inspections required? (again, eastern PA)

Aside from the cost of the machine, initial cost of snacks/drinks, change, insurance, and paying the company for a location...what are the other start-up costs? 

Aside from the snacks/drinks, what are the weekly/monthly costs?  In other words are there any fees for being at a location or maybe common parts that frequently need replacing?

Again, thanks for your time and sharing your thoughts.  I greatly appreciate it!

 

-Emt1581

[orsd]

Start with single price soda, snack actually has lower sales and more stale items

There are plenty of techs on her who will walk you thru repairs

For insurance only get liability with product rider, not worth it to cover machines themselves

Also pay your taxes , check with you state

A vendor on here got bit pretty bad before by taxes

[orsd]

As for machines, use

Soda:

Dixie narco: single price, t series, e series, p series, bevmax1,3,4

Vendo: non Lowering shelf single price, univendor, vmax, v21, don't use sales manager or workplace vendor

Royal vendors: all machines

Snack:

AP: 430, 4/6/7000, 6/7600, 1xx, studio, lcm

Ams: all machines

Crane/national : anything with model numbers 144 or greater

Rowe: 4900,5900,6xxx

Usi: very spotty record , too many goods and bads to list

[emt1581]

Start with single price soda, snack actually has lower sales and more stale items

There are plenty of techs on her who will walk you thru repairs

For insurance only get liability with product rider, not worth it to cover machines themselves

Also pay your taxes , check with you state

A vendor on here got bit pretty bad before by taxes

 

 

Thanks for the reply! 

 

That makes sense.  Soda lasts for a year or so, whereas snacks spoil much quicker.  Still I'd like to graduate up to doing both.

 

This afternoon I actually got an idea that I want to look is putting gumball/candy/or toy/ball machines in the private practice I work at as well as two other pediatrition offices that refer clients to me.  I figure three individual or even 2-3 head machines should do pretty well in those locations.  Just doing some homework/shopping at this point but I'l talk to the owners/office managers next week. 

 

Thanks!

 

-Emt1581

[moondog]

I did a little digging looking at different machines and I want to give it a shot.  But I do have a few questions and I was hoping some here would be kind enough to help me out with some information/experience.

First off, a vendor I spoke to mentioned that used machines could be had in the $2K range.  However, on craigslist I found a lot of them, supposedly in great condition, for well under $1K. 

Here are some examples...(Ignore the crank machines, I read they are pure garbage)

http://reading.craigslist.org/for/4529098620.htmlhttp://

http://http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bfs/4522688075.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/bfs/4523027215.html

http://http://lancaster.craigslist.org/bfs/4512853387.html

So what is the difference between a $500-$1K machine and one that costs $2K+ in your experience? Either way I definitely want a setup that takes bills. 

I know when the vendor and I spoke, he said snacks were generally more popular (or was it profitable?).  So to start with one machine would you suggest a combo or a snack only machine? 

As far as repairs, I'm a quick learner and I do some of the work on my vehicles (brakes, fluids, wheels, some engine work, etc.).  I'm wondering if repairs and replacement of parts is something I should be able to handle on my own?  If not, how do I find someone good for repairs?

I called my insurance company and they said they wouldn't be able to insure the vending machines by themselves (even though they still insure my hot dog cart).  What company do you suggest using for a single machine or maybe two down the road?  (I'm in eastern PA by the way)

How do you figure out what to stock in the machines at a given location?  Lets say it's in a public area, and not restricted to a set group of employees....how do you do it?  Is there a generic list of snacks that sells the best?

The vendor had mentioned Global Vending in regard to getting a machine and a referral to a company that can give me a location.  Any ideas on those companies that you'd be able to refer me to?  Plus when I do talk to the company, what terms do I want to use to let them know that I'd like a high foot-traffic/public spot?  I figure high-traffic and public will hopefully yield $100-$200 a week.  That's my goal for now. 

As for taxes, it is all cash.  I'm wondering if it's something to report or is it pretty much off the books? 

Any licenses/inspections required? (again, eastern PA)

Aside from the cost of the machine, initial cost of snacks/drinks, change, insurance, and paying the company for a location...what are the other start-up costs? 

Aside from the snacks/drinks, what are the weekly/monthly costs?  In other words are there any fees for being at a location or maybe common parts that frequently need replacing?

Again, thanks for your time and sharing your thoughts.  I greatly appreciate it!

 

-Emt1581

What you don't ever want to do is start with a snack machine only.  Operating one snack machine is like swimming upstream as you'd need several machines to space out your inventory or get killed by expired product.  Soda machines are usually much more profitable and have far less expiration issues - this is the best way to start if you're looking at just one machine to begin with.

 

Those $2,000 machines your friend was talking about are usually $500 refurbished units that a pro refurbisher has cleaned up - it does take some time and money to do this and they have to make a profit.  That said, you can save some money by cleaning up working CL machines yourself.

[emt1581]

A buddy of mine told me today that there's no money to be made in vending anymore and that the market dropped a few years back.  Now I know some/most on here would call him stupid/crazy, but is there any truth to what he's saying?

 

Thanks

 

-Emt1581

[sherlock]

How many locations does he have in his route?

[Feral Vending Mechanic]

A buddy of mine told me today that there's no money to be made in vending anymore and that the market dropped a few years back.  Now I know some/most on here would call him stupid/crazy, but is there any truth to what he's saying?

 

Thanks

 

-Emt1581

 

People have been foretelling the doom of vending for lo these many years. And yet, we endure. And C an teeen continues to ****** up companies left and right.

[mojorhino]

A buddy of mine told me today that there's no money to be made in vending anymore and that the market dropped a few years back.  Now I know some/most on here would call him stupid/crazy, but is there any truth to what he's saying?

 

Thanks

 

-Emt1581

This wouldn't happen to be your buddy would it?

 

If so don't listen to a word of what he is saying, both I & Mission posted responses (on youtube) to his stupidity & he must have deleted them because they are no longer there.

 

Here is a thread that discusses his stupidly & should answer your question as to weather vending is dead or not.

 

What you don't ever want to do is start with a snack machine only.  Operating one snack machine is like swimming upstream as you'd need several machines to space out your inventory or get killed by expired product.  Soda machines are usually much more profitable and have far less expiration issues - this is the best way to start if you're looking at just one machine to begin with.

 

Those $2,000 machines your friend was talking about are usually $500 refurbished units that a pro refurbisher has cleaned up - it does take some time and money to do this and they have to make a profit.  That said, you can save some money by cleaning up working CL machines yourself.

This is good advice.  . . .  To elaborate a bit more here is how I would recommend getting started.  Find a couple of working single price name brand can soda machines (Dixie Narco, Royal or Vendo) on ebay or craigslist & play with them till you understand how they work. Then find somewhere to put them.

 

I started off by buying 2 Dixie Narco 440's (off of ebay for $900 for both) then I borrowed a friends trailer & went & picked them up.  I parked them in my garage & played around with them till I figured out how they worked.  After that I found a place for the first one & kept the 2nd one in my garage for parts. . . .  fast forward about 3 years & now I have somewhere around 35 machines.  

 

The good thing about doing it this way is you aren't out a large investment & you can find out if you really want to do vending full time.  If you like it & can make money then buy more machines & expand & if you find out its not for you then you should be able to unload the machines for what you paid for them.