Placing machines from different manufacturers

[Jay33]

I currently have three Rhino doubles placed. A guy locally has some triples from a different company for sale, and I'll probably pick up three. Besides the obvious minor hassles of running machines from different companies, like keys and parts, are there any major drawbacks to getting my equipment piecemeal, and not all from the same maker?

Thanks,

Jason

[nam]

Jason,

Of course there are drawbacks and you've listed some yourself in your post. I've bought several different brands of machines myself. Wish they were all top quality single brand machines with the same key. But then the drawback would be alot of cash needed. That's the biggest drawback so I'm just gonna deal with the problems of buying my good deal machines from different companies as they come along. If you want to get the most machines on the street making quarters then you gotta do what you gotta do. Later after you're making more money from those machines start buying better quality and sell off the cheapies if you like.

nam

[nepavend]

As hard as you may try to stick with one company, this is not a one size fits all business, if you try this approach you will miss out on a ton of opportunities.  You will need singles and doubles for smaller entry level spots or good spots that just can't fit anything else.  You will need some triples (vendstar-like) for an occasional good candy location or as an upgrade to a good double.  4-ways are another upgrade possibility for a double or triple and even an entry level machine for a higher-end location.  Then after that you have racks and sticker machines, or even racks with sticker machines on them.  All this can be quite confusing but the name of the game is profit.

Believe me, even all of that is simpler than some of our full-time jobs and professions out there.

[T BIRD]

Jay........I have changed locks on 90% of them. Different manufacturers with the same lock and key.

[davidsurvz]

I have around 8 to 10 different types of machines. Mainly because I have tried to just get the absolute best deals on machines I can. I have picked up used machines and used in like new condition and even some that needed a lot of clean up / refurbishing. I have done well with this approach because I have saved hundreds of dollars on machine cost. It is worth it to me to have several different keys, machines, etc. to save all of that money. It is really a matter of preference, but for me the savings were huge and it was totally worth any of the disadvantages.