Tattoo Revolt!

[Jax Snacks]

Well I had my first tattoo revolt with the Lower Back Tattoos.  A restaurant manager called (after calling the owners) and demanded that the "Tramp Stamps" (her words!) be removed.  She said they do not fit the family image that the restaurant wants to project.  The entire display  was covered with an out-of-order sign much like some magazines in a convenience store!  She was upset that I did not ask for permission to place them in an existing rack.  So it was not a machine slam, just different products in an existing spot on the rack.  I almost never ask for "permission" when simply changing products around.

However she seemed to take this very personally as if she really has a big problem with all tattoos in general.  My question is, do some women get really worked up over these tattoos - especially the lower back ones?  Do they feel that these are degrading to women?  I had another waitress in another location refer to them as "Tramp Stamps for Kids".

Now I must admit that I personally am turned off when I see a person covered head to toe with tattoos and piercings.  But it's a free country and I certainly don't demand that tattoo parlors be closed down.  Many years ago, a former conservative mayor put a moratorium on all new tattoo parlors in the downtown area since "we have too many of them".   I guess I will haved to be more sensitive to certain tattoos.  But these tramp stamps sell really well and I will continue to offer them.

I replaced the tramp stamps with Disney stuff and all was well again!

Jax

[sterling]

Good post.

I personally will never put a tattoo on and wouldn't date anyone with a tattoo. However people can do what ever they want. I am have machines in smoke shops and tattoo places. I don't judge them and we all get along. I also have lower back tattoos and others. I always try to find out what kind of tattoos/stickers the place would want so to try to also find out what would be inappropriat. I'm putting some tattoos/and lower back in a sports bar next week. The owner thinks it is a good fit.

I was at a yogurt shop next to a high school that wanted to kick out a vendor for his "dark/dimented" sticker selection. He changed them out. If someone thinks something is inappropriate take it out vending is a service industry as well as a product. Keep the customers/location happy.

When I was a kid I got tattoos out of crackerjack boxes and "smoked/ate" candy cigarettes. I've never touched a cigarette or had a tattoo. I think if someone is going to do something they will. A peice of candy or a temporary tattoo will not turn them into a "tramp". We have free will.

[Jax Snacks]

Yea, I think I hit a hot button with this lady and she just freaked out!

Jax

[Quarter Master]

Lessons learned the hard way. I agree with Sterling and Jax on their opinions.However,it is a good idea to speak to the owner/manager about the products in the machines at time of placement to avoid this type of situation.Sounds like no harm done,but now Jax, you have possibly a small blemish on your clean record with these people.I always review the product(s) beforehand and have never had a problem.

[deee_z]

you outta ask this lady, if she has any tattoos.

[lurtsman]

I call them tramp stamps, or butt hats, myself. The librarians were happy to see them and agreed it would probably do well in that area particularly in summer because we are next to a pool.

My wife even decided after looking for a little while that she thought the tattoos were cute. I've seen mothers, who I respected, buying them for their 6 year old daughters. Clearly this shows the power of context. To some they seem degrading, to others they are fashionable.

[havending]

I havent had any issues with the (tramp stamps) They sell really well. I think somthing happened with that lady and she took it out on you. I looks at products closely before I buy them I dont biy anything with guns in it and I havent bought the satire sticker either.

[Smiley]

Lessons learned the hard way. I agree with Sterling and Jax on their opinions.However,it is a good idea to speak to the owner/manager about the products in the machines at time of placement to avoid this type of situation.Sounds like no harm done,but now Jax, you have possibly a small blemish on your clean record with these people.I always review the product(s) beforehand and have never had a problem.

Really? You have to speak to all the owners and managers every time you change a product? Or only if it's 'potentially offensive'? And what does that encompass? Skulls? Guns? Scantilly clad women?

What about blockheads if the manager's  kid has a weird shaped head?

Seems like a tremendous waste of time. It's not like the OP lost the location. In my experience, no matter how loony they are they always give you a change to change the product. No harm, no foul.

[Jax Snacks]

If I recall, a restaurant owner in West Virginia was offended with Hillbilly Teeth another vendor had out! So you just never know when it can happen. Yea Smiley, I was there in 24 hours to swap out the product so no harm should have been done.

Jax

[BudLeiser]

lol@lurtsman "butt hats" thats so goofy and funny.

Actually I've gone around telling friends and family about the tramp stamps for kids once I found out about them. I don't know what lower back tattoos mean to most people, but for us (middle age friends and family) it means an easy lay. So the fact that ToysRUs puts them in their vending machines is just too funny. I've been expecting to hear about complaints and such. Someday there might even be a local news story trying to blow it out of proportion.

[shvend]

Jax,

All I can say is some folks are idoits!

[West Coast Vend LLC]

I think if they are really distributing someone that much you should remove the "lower-back" tattoos. There are so many other tattoo's and stickers you could replace them with. Is it really worth causing issues by leaving them there?

I had a customer complain about "Homies" in a store. She said that the account was promoting gang violence by having them in front of her kids. She said she was going to call a news station and have them come down to the store. I removed them from that store and put something that sold even better in place of them.

The vending community is constantly under attack for one thing or another. Why let them find something else to complain about.

Gary

 

[Jax Snacks]

Had another vendor tell me that an Asian or Indian location once asked him to remove the rubber snakes from a reptile toy mix.  I once has an Indian restaurant review the ingredients of Skittles and rejected them since they had a gelatin coating derived from animals (they claimed) - not kosher!  Wow!  Sometimes you just want to say, "Get a LIfe"!

How about the diabetes that these sugar laden candies can cause? Or the cavities that these gumballs can cause? Or selling an Ohio State mini helmet in Michigan? Or selling trailer park figures in low income areas? Or selling a Cleveland sticker in a Steeler bar?  The list could go on and on...

But is is really practical to get "permission" for every product in every location?

Jax

[shvend]

You can't please eveyone with the product you place in your machines. As long as the management seems happy all is good. I do keep a close eye on the type of place I am in to see what kind of product I think should go in there. If I see a lot of religous materials on the walls I will keep the product pretty clean not alot wild tattoos to get them looking really hard. But the majority of people will never say anything about the products you put in your machines.

You were talking about the skittles and the snakes, that reminds me of something I ran across. I have a small mom and pop drug store and there was a lady in there so afraid of snakes she made me remove them all from the toy mix I had. I told her I would to the best of my ability but I may miss one or two. I have several machines to work in this are and only a little time to spend. I went through the toys pretty quick and got what I fell like was all of them. 6 weeks later when I showed back up she had taken what seemed like a whole roll of packing tape and some paper and covered the whold machine because there was one of those snakes on top of the product. I thought she had lost her mind but I just smiled removed the tape with a jackhammer and removed the snake and she was happy.

You will always be dealing with one or two wacko's in your vending career just smile and say to yourself you have got to be kidding me!

[sharleeruby]

well you did have your snake in two different cages I dont think it could get out. thats just too funny you could have had on sticking out of your pocket while you serviced the mach you might have to pick her up off the floor rofl

[shvend]

very true john, now that would have been funny!

[joebob051977]

I read something interesting several years ago that where poplulations are hispanic, who are stereotypically Catholic, that there were religious icon stickers, like the Pope and Saints, and they were selling like crazy.