Selectivend bulk candy machines good or bad

[Ciesla Family Vending]

Hey everyone, I'm relatively new to the vending business. I have 4 Vendstar 3000s I got brand new pretty cheap off Craigslist. I have them all on location and I like them well enough because of the easy maintenance and ease of swapping out candy, but now that I've been in business about 6 months and I know vending is something that I want to do and expand my route I need to think long term meaning more metal machines instead of plastic. So I like the set up of the vendstar and was doing some research into the Selectivend candy machines you can get from bjs and Sams club, but I'm having a hard time getting information on them, whether or not they have interchangeable canisters for candy and things like that. So does anyone out there own one who can give me some insight, or is it even worth my time and if not are there any metal alternatives to the vendstar that still have the same basic set up with inter changeable canisters. Thanks, Phill

[PerformaVending]

Hello!

 

The Selectivend is a very common triple-style machine, and there are a lot of them out there. From the venerable Northwestern Triple Play to the maligned Seaga TV3000, they're all pretty much the same, mechanically speaking.

 

To start, they do NOT have canisters. Swapping out candy, gum, or toys is a chore, especially on models that have small chutes to empty product.

 

The machines are, generally, very hardy and reliable- barring the coin mechanisms which are almost always junk that needs to be replaced. They're also easy to get used from Craigslist, eBay, etc. The wheels inside are sized to Northwestern machines, so you can vend caps and gumballs on a more limited scale. I usually use these as "starters" in locations to get a feel for them, and as the candy machines in rougher spots. I've got a couple Northwestern Triple Plays that have been through hell in a couple laundromats, and they're still going strong.

 

If you are buying new though, check out THIS thread, it may prove useful to you.

 

Whatever you do, good luck!

[CJvend]

My first machines were these types of machines that I received used. I already want to replace them with AA/Northwestern singles. My plan with them now is like performa says, they are cheap and I got them used and refurbished  them. So for the price of less than 1 new single they are good to put out as feelers. I also think I will keep them at my break room locations since I feel the candy may move a little better in those spots especially the ones without full line vending in the room already. The biggest hinderance I agree is the non removable canisters. I really wish there was an easy way to switch out the candy for another one. To me, the mechs do not seem like junk. Maybe they just haven't been used enough but they seem of similar build to the northwestern/AA mechs.