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bspells

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Hello all,

I'm hoping to start out in full line vending here shortly.  I'm sure this has already been covered but what's the easiest way to aquire soda machines and product?  Would it be smarter to go with snacks?  I don't want to spend a lot of money as I would have to borrow from my parents (I'm a teen) and pay it back with the profit.  I'm also looking for some places to put the machines... What are some more unique ideas that are often overlooked?

 

There are some Coke and snack machines in my dad's office building and it's really close by.  Would it be feasible for me to buy the services off of that vendor?

 

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate any help you all will give.

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First off welcome to the forum. The way vending works (for the most part) is you go out and sell your services to an account and then place a drink, snack, etc machine based on their requirement and what makes sense to do. You can "buy" accounts from some vending operators but that is not real typical. You mentioned your dad's office machines and buying that service. Well that may be easier said than done. It may not be for sale, coke could control the drinks and not an independent vendor, it may not be for sale, even if it was you may not want to buy it at the price they are willing to sell it.  

 

If you don't want to spend a lot of money and not have to borrow a lot to pay back to your parents than I would suggest you look at the honor snack box business and bulk vending. Honor snack boxes are an easy and cheap way to work your way into vending machine type vending. 

 

http://www.sheridansystems.com/Qstore/c000005.htm

 

http://www.sheridansystems.com/Qstore/p000013.htm

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Hello all,

I'm hoping to start out in full line vending here shortly.  I'm sure this has already been covered but what's the easiest way to aquire soda machines and product?  Would it be smarter to go with snacks?  I don't want to spend a lot of money as I would have to borrow from my parents (I'm a teen) and pay it back with the profit.  I'm also looking for some places to put the machines... What are some more unique ideas that are often overlooked?

 

There are some Coke and snack machines in my dad's office building and it's really close by.  Would it be feasible for me to buy the services off of that vendor?

 

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate any help you all will give.

If I were in your shoes , I'd concentrate on smaller soda machine only accounts like body shops and muffler places.  The guys in these places tend to go through a lot of sodas and you'd only need to stock maybe 15 different items.  I'd avoid the snack machines unless you get bigger or more serious about growing this business.  You really need about 5 good snack accounts to avoid a lot of expired product and snack machine will require that you stock at least 40 different items.  When you buy a case of chips, the clock starts ticking and you only have so long to sell them before they expire.  With soda machines, cans have a 10 month shelf life so you can stock them and forget them. 

 

A good soda machine in a blue collar location should do $200 a month roughly and will cost about $1,000 to set up so it should pay for itself in about 10 months - after that it's gravy.

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If I were in your shoes , I'd concentrate on smaller soda machine only accounts like body shops and muffler places.  The guys in these places tend to go through a lot of sodas and you'd only need to stock maybe 15 different items.  I'd avoid the snack machines unless you get bigger or more serious about growing this business.  You really need about 5 good snack accounts to avoid a lot of expired product and snack machine will require that you stock at least 40 different items.  When you buy a case of chips, the clock starts ticking and you only have so long to sell them before they expire.  With soda machines, cans have a 10 month shelf life so you can stock them and forget them. 

 

A good soda machine in a blue collar location should do $200 a month roughly and will cost about $1,000 to set up so it should pay for itself in about 10 months - after that it's gravy.

This is probably a stupid question but do I need to do anything to vend Coke products ie license products or use their machines?  Or can I just buy the Coke and shove it in any machine?  Anything I need to do with the bottler?

 

Thank you both so much for your help; this is definitely making me rethink my snack machine idea.

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First thing you should do is buy RJT's book.  That will help answer your first 250 (or so) questions.

 

Next thing is to do some internet searches in your area and make some phone calls.  In my area, I can rent-to-own machines from a local distributor for $18/month.

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Renting to own from bottler? Pepsi use to do that but technically if they allow that then they can't dictate what products you provide. So they quit doing it. Also you wouldn't be subject to quotes. When using bottlers vendors they also want to know where the machine is located so they can do a asset verification. In the long run you are better off owning your own vendors and not have anyone in your business.

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This is probably a stupid question but do I need to do anything to vend Coke products ie license products or use their machines?  Or can I just buy the Coke and shove it in any machine?  Anything I need to do with the bottler?

 

Thank you both so much for your help; this is definitely making me rethink my snack machine idea.

Any product you buy can be put into any machine you OWN without restriction, but you must own it.

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Any product you buy can be put into any machine you OWN without restriction, but you must own it.

Ah, this is exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you very much! :)

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I own everyone of my machines, be it a single price to muti-price cold drink, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Same goes for all my snack machines.

 

It also helps, I can fix or repair my own machines.

 

cajun

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I own everyone of my machines, be it a single price to muti-price cold drink, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Same goes for all my snack machines.

 

It also helps, I can fix or repair my own machines.

 

cajun

You mean Roger can fix them  ;D  ;D  ;D

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Renting to own from bottler? Pepsi use to do that but technically if they allow that then they can't dictate what products you provide. So they quit doing it. Also you wouldn't be subject to quotes. When using bottlers vendors they also want to know where the machine is located so they can do a asset verification. In the long run you are better off owning your own vendors and not have anyone in your business.

 

7-Up does that here.  For $18 a month to start out, no product requirements, free machine moving and repair, I think it's a great option for a younger person starting out.  If he has problems, he can abandon the account and machine and not be out $1,000.

 

I definitely agree owning is better long term, but this is a good option to get your feet wet -- not the only way, but an option.

 

And they do know where the machines are because they are the ones with the headache of moving them :)

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First thing you should do is buy RJT's book.  That will help answer your first 250 (or so) questions.

 

Next thing is to do some internet searches in your area and make some phone calls.  In my area, I can rent-to-own machines from a local distributor for $18/month.

How do we buy RJT's book if it is in fact real and you are not joking

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