Disappointed in Prodesign

[BluePlate]

I own a Prodesign Sports Zone gumball/bouncy ball pinbal machine.  I really like it.  I think it is superior to the U-Turn Sportblaster.  I now have a Sports Zone and a Sportsblaster in the field.  I decided I would call Prodesign and order another one.

Prodesign told me they have a new machine and sent me a picture.  To my surprise is was just a Sprotsblaster!  They are just reselling the Sportsblaster for $200 more then U-Turn!

Anyways, I'm in the market for an interactive vending machine.  Any thoughts?  Any experience?

 

 

[nam]

Blue,

I don't believe the Sportsblaster is made by U Turn or even owned by U Turn. I think Sportsblaster is a seperate company owned by US Vending Technology. It seems most of the interactive machines come out of Utah and Idaho for some reason. There are companies there that design and build different machines. Companies that you and I don't know. These companies then design and try to sell their ideas and machines to other companies or distributors that promote and sell the machines. I believe this is the case with the Sportsblaster. I do not think it is built, owned or whatever by U Turn. I think they are just selling the machines. I do believe U Turn builds the U Turn machines but don't think they even build the Wowie Zowies even though they now are supposed to have bought the company. I think they are built in Salt Lake City by a different company and U Turn bought the rights to sell them. Not 100% sure on this but maybe 75% correct. This is just sorta what I've gathered from various sources.

nam

[BluePlate]

Nam,

I was told by someone at some point that U-Turn bought Sportsblaster.  I called Sportsblaster the other day.  They answered the phone "U-Turn Vending".  When they put me on help, the message said, "Thank you for calling U-Turn Vending - We appreciate your call, a representitive will be with you soon."

I got the number from www.sportsblaster.com - really want one of the old Sports Zones, I think they were a good machine.

[nam]

Blue,

Yes, I get sort of the same thing when calling U Turn about Wowies. The people that answwer the phone are with U Turn and admit they don't know much of anything about the Wowies so then trasfer me to someone or somewhere else. The parts come from Salt Lake City. I think U Turn makes the machines there at their facility but only acts as a distributor or sales agent for the other machines even if they truly own those other companies. I think they bought "Wacky Fun Factory" who was the company selling all the Wowie Zowie machines. I believe another company actually designed the Wowie Zowie, made the machine and Wacky Fun Factory was an exclusive distributor for selling them. This may not be exactly right but I think it is close. I was up in this area last year after going to Yellowstone National Park. Wish I had taken the time to check these companies out while there. Maybe this coming summer I'll do just that. I think there is one main company with one main guy that designs alot of these interactive machines and they actually build the machines and not who we think is building them. This person company sells the rights to the machines to sales organization companies. Again - not fact but I believe a good assumption.

nam

[dperry]

Nam,

I was told by someone at some point that U-Turn bought Sportsblaster.  I called Sportsblaster the other day.  They answered the phone "U-Turn Vending".  When they put me on help, the message said, "Thank you for calling U-Turn Vending - We appreciate your call, a representitive will be with you soon."

I got the number from http://www.sportsblaster.com - really want one of the old Sports Zones, I think they were a good machine.

Wow! Thanks Nam, it looks like the sportsblaster.com page also shows that they also sell the Mega Toy venders.  Those look like the ones that I recently purchased used.  I was told that the company had gone out of business.  Now it look like they may have just been sold to U-Turn.  I wonder if I can still get part through U-Turn.