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Sofa Routes USA


vendtex

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I would stay away. All they do is set up an account with a bottler and find locations for those machines. So you're paying over $1000 per machine (which isn't yours, it's the bottlers) and they locate them. 

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1 hour ago, QuikVend said:

Bottlers don't do any locating for vendors. If you have an established relationship with them, they deliver machines for you to use.

I agree the price is a little high, but not having the hassle of repairing the machines is attractive.  After all it's the profit margin on the product that brings in the revenue.   

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Most repairs are pretty basic though. I know around here, the bottlers just offer parts and not service. 

The real downfalls are that you are forced to serve one brand in the machine, so no mixing pepsi/coke etc., and you have to buy a minimum amount from them, usually at a higher price than you could get on your own. 

I've gotten a few bottle machines off Craigslist for under $500 that I gave a spit shine and located myself. I'll get my investment back fairly quickly and I'll be making money and able to expand much quicker. Plus, I also own the machine, so there is actual value if I choose to sell in the future. 

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Most repairs are pretty basic though. I know around here, the bottlers just offer parts and not service. 

The real downfalls are that you are forced to serve one brand in the machine, so no mixing pepsi/coke etc., and you have to buy a minimum amount from them, usually at a higher price than you could get on your own. 

I've gotten a few bottle machines off Craigslist for under $500 that I gave a spit shine and located myself. I'll get my investment back fairly quickly and I'll be making money and able to expand much quicker. Plus, I also own the machine, so there is actual value if I choose to sell in the future. 



I agree with what you're saying but I'd have to have a truck or access to move them or pay movers.

My hope was to get some moderately busy soda places to supplement some bulk routes. I haven't committed to anything yet. For now I need to find things that can be done on weekends because I'd lose too much taking off during the week.


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You don't have that risk if you do it yourself. You're paying $1000 for the service not the machine. If you find it yourself and it doesn't work out then you lose time and moving costs, if they find it and it doesn't work out do they offer a guarantee? If it's not performing to a certain extent will they relocate it? If not, you're out $1000. Those are good questions to ask soda routes.

Quikvend brings up imo the biggest point. For Coke/Pepsi to lend you their machines you have to agree to buy a certain amount of pop from them each month. Regardless if you sell it or not. A lot of vendors who use bottler machines have their own as well so they're able to go through as much pop as they're buying.

If that $1,000 is more valuable to you finding a location rather than buying a machine you may benefit by finding out if/how much pop you're required to buy, and if the locating service has a relocating guarantee. Good luck! If you go with soda routes please let us know what you think of them after they've placed a few for you.


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Best of luck, sounds like you are going to jump in.  Understand that when they say "per order" they are still not telling you what your quota is - I deal with 3 different bottlers and the quotas varies between 10 to 15 cases per month per machine.  I have to have a minimum order of usually 15-20 cases to get delivery; some will deliver less but add a delivery charge.   You need somewhere to accept delivery and store the product until you need it.  You will pay more for the product buying from the bottlers than at wal-mart, that is how you pay "rent" on the machines.  Contracts are great if you can enforce them - look for a venue clause that requires you to take them to court in their home city if you need to make them honor their agreement.  You may need a lawyer in another state just to make them fulfill their promises.     Not trying to sound negative, just giving you the info you asked for.... Vending is a great business, but if it were as easy as some of these bizopp clowns make it sound, everyone would be doing it! 

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On 9/27/2016 at 11:51 AM, vendtex said:

Sorry title should be Soda Routes USA 

I'm afraid you'd be better off with a Sofa route:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.  This is an old scam and charging a grand to locate a soda machine is a total ripoff because what you'll end up with is some dregs location that may or may not even cover your gas.  If you have a grand to spend, go find yourself a decent craigslist machine and locate it yourself in an Auto Body or Tire Shop.  These are never the most prime locations but then they don't cost you anything except for the moving expenses.  They won't require a snack machine and since it's now your machine you can put in the best product mix at 10% less than the bottlers will charge you to just stock their product.

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4 hours ago, Southeast Treats said:

Best of luck, sounds like you are going to jump in.  Understand that when they say "per order" they are still not telling you what your quota is - I deal with 3 different bottlers and the quotas varies between 10 to 15 cases per month per machine.  I have to have a minimum order of usually 15-20 cases to get delivery; some will deliver less but add a delivery charge.   You need somewhere to accept delivery and store the product until you need it.  You will pay more for the product buying from the bottlers than at wal-mart, that is how you pay "rent" on the machines.  Contracts are great if you can enforce them - look for a venue clause that requires you to take them to court in their home city if you need to make them honor their agreement.  You may need a lawyer in another state just to make them fulfill their promises.     Not trying to sound negative, just giving you the info you asked for.... Vending is a great business, but if it were as easy as some of these bizopp clowns make it sound, everyone would be doing it! 

I haven't decided for sure yet.  It'll be a few months before I'd do that anyway.  More immediately I am trying to get a few bulk accounts going.  

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2 hours ago, moondog said:

I'm afraid you'd be better off with a Sofa route:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.  This is an old scam and charging a grand to locate a soda machine is a total ripoff because what you'll end up with is some dregs location that may or may not even cover your gas.  If you have a grand to spend, go find yourself a decent craigslist machine and locate it yourself in an Auto Body or Tire Shop.  These are never the most prime locations but then they don't cost you anything except for the moving expenses.  They won't require a snack machine and since it's now your machine you can put in the best product mix at 10% less than the bottlers will charge you to just stock their product.

The hassle of the repairs is part of my concern with craigslist machines.  Do you think all locators are shams?  It seems like many charge in the $5-700 range, but then I'd have the additional expense of the machines.  My though was this would be a chance to have new machines that are located for me.  I don't think it's possible for this business to come close to over producing my full time job, and I'm not looking for that so it isn't as big a deal to me if they are prime locations.

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1 hour ago, vendtex said:

The hassle of the repairs is part of my concern with craigslist machines.  Do you think all locators are shams?  It seems like many charge in the $5-700 range, but then I'd have the additional expense of the machines.  My though was this would be a chance to have new machines that are located for me.  I don't think it's possible for this business to come close to over producing my full time job, and I'm not looking for that so it isn't as big a deal to me if they are prime locations.

I run 100% Royal vendors and the only repairs I ever have is occasionally swapping out a coin mech or validator.  Vendos have weak motors and switches and most Dixies require shims (like the Vendos) but tend to have better motor and switch controls.  Soda machines in general don't really require that many repairs and if you're going to do this you really must learn to swap out the mechs and validators.  Bottlers may tell you they;ll handle the repairs but they won't tell you when (which can take up to 3 three weeks)

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8 hours ago, moondog said:

I run 100% Royal vendors and the only repairs I ever have is occasionally swapping out a coin mech or validator.  Vendos have weak motors and switches and most Dixies require shims (like the Vendos) but tend to have better motor and switch controls.  Soda machines in general don't really require that many repairs and if you're going to do this you really must learn to swap out the mechs and validators.  Bottlers may tell you they;ll handle the repairs but they won't tell you when (which can take up to 3 three weeks)

Do Royal vendors have any shims are are they like vendo 721 where we just need to adjust product depth.

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12 hours ago, vendtex said:

I haven't decided for sure yet.  It'll be a few months before I'd do that anyway.  More immediately I am trying to get a few bulk accounts going.  

That's probably a good start.  Spend some time locating a vending repair shop in your area and see what information they can offer.  A good shop may be able to connect you with vendors who will help with moving, can help you find good used machines, and get you on the road to confidence in repairs.  Vending machines are built to be parts swapped anyway; if a validator or changer needs attention you swap in another one and take the bad one to the shop... nothing technical about it (just remember to always power off before connecting or disconnecting powered plugs).   Even compressors are made to be swapped in the field, just a little more effort and grime.... you are correct about small scale vending not replacing your full time income, but it can be a good supplement.

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3 hours ago, putrevus said:

Do Royal vendors have any shims are are they like vendo 721 where we just need to adjust product depth.

No shims in the Royals just an adjustment rod at the bottom for wider products and you need to program the machine for one or two deep and set your rear spacers correctly.

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