J and T Vending Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I started out with Bulk Vending in May 2013 and Full Line Vending in Feb. 2014. My first full line vending machines were placed at a private school that is about 5 miles from my home. We placed the drink and snack machines in the schools teacher lounge just earlier this year in the month of February 2014. They were originally for the teachers only, and the revenue was okay with only a 10% commission for drink machine only since snack machine wasn't selling as much. However, the school begin to let the students buy from the machines in the month of August when school started back up, and my sales went through the roof. I had to keep snack machine filled every 3-4 days to keep from being completely sold out and the drink machine was refilled every week. Well, the school provided me notification that the machines are to much of a headache to keep in the school. They stated the students are taking over, and are buying from the machines when they are not suppose to and are only to purchase from machines after school. With this in mind, I recommended that they put a security lock on the teacher lounge door and only provide pin number or key to the teachers only. They declined my recommendation, so I submitted a proposal to the board of directors in order to allow me the keep the machines in the school by increasing their commission from 10% on drink machine only to 20% for both snack and drink machine combined. I wanted to make sure the board of directors knew I always provide excellent service and my son is part of their school which means I am at the school all the time to check on things. After stopping by the school yesterday, the principal stated the board of directors still wants to take the machines out during Christmas break. She is just waiting on final confirmation. Overall, this is my first location and only location for both drink and snack machine. I felt rejected at first but I guess you win some and you lose some as well. I still have 6 bulk candy machines out on my route in addition to another snack machine in the daycare that is next door to the private school. I plan to get these machines a new home in 2015 along with the other drink machine that is in my garage. I have to stay motivated in order to succeed my goals for my vending business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Propose a timer on machines and give teachers seperate combo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Orsd has a good idea. Many newer machines have programmed built in timers for this purpose though I'm not sure if during a time when the machine is disabled that a code can be entered to allow one vend. If this can be done then that would be your solution - the machines would be disabled to anyone that doesn't have the correct code to use the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J and T Vending Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Thanks for the recommendation, I will look into it. I know the Royal 804 drink machine may have timer, but not sure on the USI 3054 Snack Machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 One thing I wouldn't do is recommend that the school PAY to have a lock installed on their door to keep the students from getting in. If they are saying that it is a hassle now, a lock is just another hassle that they clearly don't want to have to fool around with. While it sucks to lose a location that sounds like a winner now that students get in there, keep in mind that it's probably a battle that you won't win. Timers may swing things in your favor, but schools are funny creatures. You only have to piss one person off and you've lost the account to every related school. Yes, you win some and you lose some, and you'll get over this after a while. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about anything other than getting the machines out in a timely manner. At the very least, you could propose that they wait until after christmas break to remove the machines. Just tell them that all of the movers are overloaded but say they will be available after the first of the year.. that buys just a little bit of time to get yourself situated to POSSIBLY find a new home for your machines if they definitely want them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I started out with Bulk Vending in May 2013 and Full Line Vending in Feb. 2014. My first full line vending machines were placed at a private school that is about 5 miles from my home. We placed the drink and snack machines in the schools teacher lounge just earlier this year in the month of February 2014. They were originally for the teachers only, and the revenue was okay with only a 10% commission for drink machine only since snack machine wasn't selling as much. However, the school begin to let the students buy from the machines in the month of August when school started back up, and my sales went through the roof. I had to keep snack machine filled every 3-4 days to keep from being completely sold out and the drink machine was refilled every week. Well, the school provided me notification that the machines are to much of a headache to keep in the school. They stated the students are taking over, and are buying from the machines when they are not suppose to and are only to purchase from machines after school. With this in mind, I recommended that they put a security lock on the teacher lounge door and only provide pin number or key to the teachers only. They declined my recommendation, so I submitted a proposal to the board of directors in order to allow me the keep the machines in the school by increasing their commission from 10% on drink machine only to 20% for both snack and drink machine combined. I wanted to make sure the board of directors knew I always provide excellent service and my son is part of their school which means I am at the school all the time to check on things. After stopping by the school yesterday, the principal stated the board of directors still wants to take the machines out during Christmas break. She is just waiting on final confirmation. Overall, this is my first location and only location for both drink and snack machine. I felt rejected at first but I guess you win some and you lose some as well. I still have 6 bulk candy machines out on my route in addition to another snack machine in the daycare that is next door to the private school. I plan to get these machines a new home in 2015 along with the other drink machine that is in my garage. I have to stay motivated in order to succeed my goals for my vending business. I have an account in a care facility for the severely retarded and they use a door lock similar to this http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/lockey2435keylessmechanicaldigitalspringlatchdoorlock-.aspx to keep the patients out of the nurses lounge. I would propose installing one for the school at your cost - the kids should not be cruising the teacher's lounge anyway. As a quid pro quo, I'd ask to be allowed to install a couple of machines outside the lounge on a timer for the students after hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J and T Vending Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks Chris and moondog. I looked up timers in both machines manual and they both have the capabilites to set timers. I sent email to the principal about the timer capabilities which will solve the situation in hand. Hopefully they will give it a try but we will see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks Chris and moondog. I looked up timers in both machines manual and they both have the capabilites to set timers. I sent email to the principal about the timer capabilities which will solve the situation in hand. Hopefully they will give it a try but we will see. I can't see what good the machines would be if the teachers can't use them during the day - I'd rethink this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris1953 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 The best solution would be to purchase a timer that has several on/off features. Most machine timers only have maybe 4 on/off times. By getting a timer that has maybe 8 you are able to turn the machines off at passing periods and only allow it to operate when the students are in class. In conjunction with a timer you can also install a key switch that would allow it to be turned on manually anytime. I have had to get pretty creative with timers at times. Another thing I would refrain from using E-Mail to communicate with this principle. It is to easy for them just to say no. 1 on 1 is always the best then you can see their faces and them yours. These machines could also be used as a reward for their students for good behavior and accomplishments. Vending isn't always bad sometimes it is a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcron Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I can't see what good the machines would be if the teachers can't use them during the day - I'd rethink this one. I was going to say the same thing. If you're time-locking out the students, you are the teachers as well. Tough situation. When I took over my route, I had a high school with separate machines for teachers and students. Long story short, which still gets me hot when I think about it, I ended up losing the school for other reasons. It does sting, but I'm sure you'll be able to re-work your route and get back to what you were making before this decision was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valoworx Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Stay positve, i am sure you will find a great location this year! All the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J and T Vending Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Thanks, I am moving machines out today. I'm excited to hit the streets and find another location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venderman15 Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hi, Remember that they may want the machines back after they realize what they lost, so be nice and professional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J and T Vending Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 Yes Sir!!! Always professional and polite with all customers. Thanks for the encouragement!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Though I'm pretty late to post on this topic I'd like to do so anyhow. My first account with more than two machines was at the service and training facility of a computer company in the Chicago suburbs. I won't identify the company but they've either been absorbed or gone defunct, but most people over 40 would recognize the name. Anyhow - this was an account with three machines. Candy/snack, large Pepsi can vendor (provided by Pepsi), and a Seeburg Marquis III hot beverage with a capacity of at least 1000 cups and the account needed that capacity. Somewhere I have my old route collection book with the weekly collections; I don't have it at hand but I recall I was taking about $250 per week out of those three machines. Coffee was 20 cents for an 8.25 oz cup (fresh brew), pop was maybe 35 cents, candy was 15 cents. $250 a week at those prices meant I was selling some significant units. Commission was a fixed $75 per month and the check was payable directly to the man who managed the facility. (Guess where that was going?) They planned an expansion, a doubling of size and were going to want additional equipment, which I assured them I could provide. My machines were kept clean, filled and working; there were no complaints. Then I got notified that they were switching to a different vendor and they wanted me to take my machines out. I tried repeatedly to get in to see the manager of the facility but either he was 'not in today' or otherwise couldn't see me. I wanted to know what I could do to retain the account. Figure $1100 a month in sales minus $75 commission was $1025 and I was probably making $300 profit. I didn't want to lose it. I never got to see the man, I just ended up having to take out my machines. I can only suspect the same thing I did 40 years ago, which is that when the subject of vending for the new facility came up, if someone asked what kind of commission the current vendor was paying, he couldn't admit that any had been paid since he'd been pocketing it. (The check endorsements showed them going into his own bank account from what I could tell.) My guess is that he told them I hadn't paid any commission and at that point the decided to give the business to a company that may have already made them an offer with an official commission percentage. At the time I was 18 or 19 years old; I had a good work ethic but I've never been much the salesman-type so while I could properly support what business I had, I wasn't much good at wanting to go out knocking on doors. Losing that account was a real death blow to my business; I was left with just another few pieces of equipment at a few small places but combined those few probably made me less than $200 a month. Even then, that wasn't a lot of money. I struggled along for a while just barely making my car and truck payments. After a couple of small flare-ups, like a truck stop cigarette machine I serviced 1x a week a mile from my home that made me $30-35 profit, I devoted my efforts in vending to working for other vending companies - and I have to admit it was nice not having to worry about losing my accounts ever again. Good luck to the OP and I hope he finds a good place for those machines he had to pull. I understand how frustrating it can be to lose a good piece of business and you can't even get a decent explanation of 'why'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J and T Vending Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks for the encouragement Russ. I have been working on building up my bulk machine route. I have added six locations since Feb. In addition, I am trying to find another location for the drink and snack machine I pulled out of the school. There is an industrial park near my home and I have went by all 15-25 locations that have 20 -300 people and they already have come or pepsi machine in their locations. I will continue to search but I am seeing it is going to be hard to find locations that do not already have machines by coke or pepsi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks for the encouragement Russ. I have been working on building up my bulk machine route. I have added six locations since Feb. In addition, I am trying to find another location for the drink and snack machine I pulled out of the school. There is an industrial park near my home and I have went by all 15-25 locations that have 20 -300 people and they already have come or pepsi machine in their locations. I will continue to search but I am seeing it is going to be hard to find locations that do not already have machines by coke or pepsi. What they don't have is snack machines - that's one of the reasons that Coke and Pepsi are easy boots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 What they don't have is snack machines - that's one of the reasons that Coke and Pepsi are easy boots. How do those Coke and Pepsi machines work nowadays? Can a regular vendor take them over and service them with that brand's product? Or does the local bottler insist on keeping control? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 bring your own machines and let coke pick theirs up and some places let you do third party which is you use coke or pepsi s machines and fill with their stuff the deals and restrictions can be from really good (usually with independent 7 up bottlers) to bend over and get shafted (strict bottlers, usually pepsi or coke) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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