adamtheboss Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Hello everyone, I just have a quick question. Has anyone ever built their own vending machine? With an elevator delivery system? If so, how? why? Price to build? Just trying to get a feel. Thank You Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feral Vending Mechanic Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Adam, This type of question has been asked many times before and the same answer applies. We are in the operating business, not the manufacturing business. There are plenty of well designed machines already on the market and vending operators do not need to build their own. There are zero advantages to that and if your idea was to fill a void, there isn't one. Not to mention that every new manufacturer that has come on the scene in the last 20-25 years has gone belly up or just disappeared. There is not enough volume in new machine sales for any new manufacturer to be viable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Ok, Thank you, I am not trying to become a manufacture, I am just trying to get a vending machine to do and act the way I want. I guess, maybe I have asked the wrong question, or in the wrong forum. AZVendor, I appreciate your response and let me ask you a question as you seem to know what you are talking about. I am looking for a machine that A) has an elevator type delivery system accepts credit cards C) is controlled with touch screen, that manages inventory and so on. That is where the question of building one stemmed from. Is there a machine that does those 3 main objectives? Thank You. Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 The most common elevator machines are dedicated drink machines like those from Dixie Narco, Vendo and Royal Vendors. If you need a snack machine with an elevator then those are available from USI and perhaps from Crane Merchandising Systems. These are all US based manufacturers of commercial/professional vending machines. The touch screen is also available from Crane and perhaps USI as well. The elevator style snack machines are designed to meet the latest ADA requirements. Be prepared to spend $4000 to $5000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 To build a machine yourself with parts already available, it will probably cost you far more than to buy a machine that already does MOST of that. I don't know about managing inventory. Most vending machines use software that is managed from a different source such as a personal computer. You simply won't build something for a cheap price. Even if you do, and even if it works, it won't work as well as one that you could buy. For what you want, you may be better off with a Crane snack machine with a touch screen added on. I am not sure if the USI models have touch screens available. By the way, touch screens tend to cost a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feral Vending Mechanic Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 By the way, touch screens tend to cost a lot. And break a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 2, 2014 Author Share Posted December 2, 2014 AngryChris, Thank you for your response. I feel that a normal off the shelf vending machine such as the Crane snack machine you suggested have certain features that I am looking for. The shelving and delivery system, but as I am selling products that I dont want to drop, me being over careful, I would like something with an elevator system. Would putting an elevator system in a Crane snack machine be a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venddoctor Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 USI does manufacture a touchscreen version of their Elevator machine that will take credit cards. http://www.uselectit.com/Video/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 I have looked at that machine and called them. I have a feeling that that is going to be an ungodly amount of money. But it does look promising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Sorry, I had forgotten about the elevator when I mentioned the Crane snack machine. However, I think USI's Alpine can be modified to use a touch screen as venddoctor mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 The Alpine ST5000 comes with a touch screen integrated into it. That thing is a pretty amazing machine, from someone who is a newbie into the vending machine business,. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 One thing to keep in mind with the fancy fronted new machines is whether it will be located where it can be abused. Since you're looking at a school location and presuming the machine is for the students use, you will get abuse. I would not recommend the touch screens in that type of location. The elevator won't be an issue because it's internal to the machine but anything exposed to students will become an expensive repair. If you are concerned about needing cashless payments then you can install a card reader and/or a Payrange device which can gather payments from a phone using an installed Payrange app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 AZVendor, That is a very good point. I hadnt put a lot of thought into vandalism. Is vandalism bad in schools? That payrange app is pretty cool looking. Do you have that deployed on any machines? If so, does it work good, prove its worth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Vandalism in schools is at the top of the list, competing with apartment complexes, vandalism wise. I am not an operator but a repair tech and the Payrange is the newest cashless device on the market. It is a pretty seamless addition to any late model machine and the younger phone-centric customers will be most likely to use it. Most students don't actually have a debit or credit card but they all have cell phones. The app is downloaded to each phone and cash is then added to the app for later use. They then can make secure purchases at any machine that has a Payrange in it. One strong advantage over card readers is that Payrange is cheaper to purchase and then there are no monthly fees, just a 3.95% fee on each transaction that's deducted from your selling price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 most are caged, if they werent there would probably be tipped mahines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 Sounds like it is best to stay out of schools. Damn. I work as a District Technology Director for a school, but we are small so we rarely see problems like this. But the payrange makes a lot of sense, so if you hook up all your machines with it, it makes that one person have an easier time to buy their drinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Sounds like it is best to stay out of schools. Damn. I work as a District Technology Director for a school, but we are small so we rarely see problems like this. But the payrange makes a lot of sense, so if you hook up all your machines with it, it makes that one person have an easier time to buy their drinks. if you work for a district most use competitive bidding so there could be a conflict of interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtheboss Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 No, I dont plan on putting one in our school. We have a direct contract with pepsi, but we dont allow vending machines on our campus. So that wont be a big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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