abandon machines

[F J Vending]

I have a bulk machine at a manufacturing facility.  This facility has 2 full size snack machines (2 break rooms) that have been empty and unplugged since I placed my bulk machine in 2013.  Management at the facility attempted multiple times to contact the guy.  I got his number and also left multiple messages that I was willing to buy these machines.  No return calls at any time.  I finally spoke to the guys wife, she said her husband works out of state and doesn't have time to service them.  I again said I was willing to buy and to have her husband call.  I tried to get his direct number but she refused, she refused to give her name or his name.  Another 3 months with 4 attempts to contact by me with no return call.  Finally the number is disconnected.  The facility had no contract with the guy, not even a name - just the one number.

Here we are almost 4 years later and nothing has changed.  There is someone that services the 2 soda machines but not sure why no one has done anything with the snack machines.  Every time I service my bulk machine I get 2-3 employees asking about the snack machine.  I see some potential based on 30-40 employees and closest store/restaurant is 10 minutes away so these guys don't leave the facility.  My bulk machines (2) do about $35 monthly  combined. 

I have thought about approaching the facility management, offer to pay for the machines locks to replaced and I would service the machine.  I would not assume ownership, just service them.  If they ever want the keys for whatever reason or the original owner returned I would remove the inventory and money and turn the keys over.  The employees will be happy and maybe I can make a little money without the expense of buying machines.   I have a little  experience with full line as I had snack/soda machines for about 2 years in the 90's but decided to just stick with bulk.  I have been doing bulk for 22 years. 

Appreciate any thoughts.  

 

      

[CapitalCityVendingLLC]

As many have said on here before, having only a few amount of snack machines is hard due to product stales.  You need 10ish machines to be able to roll your close dated snacks.  If you just have 2 machines, it is hard to buy food for it and avoid having things go out of date.  That will be your biggest bump in the road.  

 

I don't see any flaw in your plan other than that.  A lawyer may say otherwise, but I am not a lawyer.  We had an account call us years ago saying the man who worked their snack machine stopped coming around.  Long story short, we ended up tracking the owner down, or his wife at least.  The guy passed away. She said she wanted nothing to do with the machine.  We picked it up, kept her info in case she ever contacted us again.  She hasn't.   

[gumball guy]

2 full size snack machines for a place that size sounds like over kill. If you do it I would go with just one machine. The stale issue is a real concern but it sounds to me like this place isn't very demanding since they have been sitting on 2 empty machines for 4 years. You can start out with very limited mainstream selections to help reduce/control stales and slowly adjust inventory. I am guessing if it was a great location the original guy wouldn't have just walked away. If the location is good with your plan and they aren't expecting any commission what do you have to lose except for having to deal with the occasional repair.