caserri Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I thought this debate already had a thread but maybe the opinions were always just attached to other topics. So I thought I'd open this up for discussion. It should prove educational and entertaining. I posted my opinions of cans vs bottles in another thread as a side note to a comment made by another member. I figured it deserved it's own thread so here is a copy of my post. Please cast your vote above and tell us why below. "I actually prefer to vend only cans. At 0.75 a can, my profit margin is greater than bottles. Cans also illicit many more repeat vends as they are not resealable and "saveable" (if that's a word). Also, they are easier to store, easier to transport, last longer in storage, and are recyclable forever. Plastic bottles can only be recycled once. Plus, the product just plain tastes better." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplady1 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Its been my experience that vendors wanting larger accounts just can't break away from the bottles. Normally a larger account wants a can machine, a bottle and now a machine just for bottled water. Then add a snack, a coffee and a frozen food and you better get a good 3 year automatic renewable contract. Many of the larger spots now want a bulk changer set up to dispense only dollar coin. Also I always run a current credit report on any large account wanting this much equipment. I check last years workers compensation employee count against the current number of employees. In todays market you need to be sure the business will be around long enough to make back your investment. Bev Blue Moose Vending Management www.bluemoosevendmgt.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserri Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Great point Bev. I guess it depends on the type of accounts you are after. For my own reasons, I have no interest in those larger accounts but I can see where one may be forced to offer bottles. (and maybe even a kiss on the tush ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxer518 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Cans are great but they have their place in the market, I have a few larger accounts that require bottle machines and there is no way to ever go back to cans once a locations has a bottle machine, they love the fact they can cap it and put it somewhere for later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserri Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 They love the fact they can cap it and put it somewhere for later. Exactly my point. Each time that happens, it would cost me a sale. I think I am going to start a campaign. "Just say NO to bottles!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxer518 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I agree 100% but when its an account selling 25 cases a week and I got that account because I was the only vendor they found to do bottles it makes me LOVE bottle machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Ringo Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I was at Sam's Club, today, and noticed that only Coke and Diet Coke were available in 20 oz bottles. Where do you get your product if you vend bottles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxer518 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I get everything from a local distributor or the bottlers themselves. You will pay a lot more for bottles but it the price per vend makes up for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDERSONVENDING Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I prefer to vend cans for the same reason Casseri stated but tomorrow I am setting up my first account that wants both.I guess I'll find out whether I like to vend bottles.By the way if you buy Pepsi products from Sams in 24oz they are only 62 cents each compared to Coke thats 88 cents for a 20oz, so you can sell Pepsi for 1.25 and still double your cost .By the way its a factory with 92 to 98 employees that will grow to over 150 by 2010 (thats what they said anyway) John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soco Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My accounts have known what they want, even if I try to steer them toward cans, so cans vs. bottles? Well, the customer is always right. Personally I like cans for the portion control. BTW, I have a local small grocery nearby and I asked him if I could piggy back 20 oz. orders with him for sodas other then coke and DC which I can get at BJ's. He takes a tiny cut on my order and I have complete choice w/o having to do a minimum order with a bottler or distributor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Vending Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I do cans if for any reason i had to do bottles it would be 16.9 or 24 that you can get at Sam's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplady1 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 If any of you have a Vistar near by they also sell bottles too. Some vendors can call larger vending companies in their area to make arrangements to purchase bottles from their warehouse. They appreciate the business to meet their min. order requirements. Sometimes they may add a little to cover handling but it allows you the ability to offer a wider variety of products. Some of them may bite your head off for asking but many of them (especially any of them selling refurbished machines) will let you purchase from them too. Again work within your vending community. You will find it pays off when they get a call for an account that is not quite the right size for them, they will send it your way too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbishop Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 BTW, I have a local small grocery nearby and I asked him if I could piggy back 20 oz. orders with him for sodas other then coke and DC which I can get at BJ's. He takes a tiny cut on my order and I have complete choice w/o having to do a minimum order with a bottler or distributor. That is an exlient idea! Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbishop Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 The sams near me to not sell 20oz bottles, they only sell 16.9oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxer518 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 200z bottles for the most part are not offered for sale to the general public for this reason, I have to get 100% of my 20 oz from the distributor but that's in my best interest since all of the bottle machines I use are 3rd party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imperialv Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I live in Alabama and the distributors here are trying to force out the can market you can only buy 20 oz bottles from Coke and Pepsi most of my machines are in salons and barber shops and they have limited space so can machines are perfect. I am all about cans and I have recycle bins that come with all my accounts so I can cash in on recycled cans at .50 per pound thats double dipping to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbishop Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 sounds like making green whiles going green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soco Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I've always place a recycling bin with my installations, but customers seem to be more thrifty here in MA and take their empties home, becuz it takes a long time for those bins to get anywhere near full, and I'm not seeing it in the trash cans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserri Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 customers seem to be more thrifty here in MA soco, Howdy neighbor. Where in MA are you? There are a couple others here from MA as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soco Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Hi Caserri, Soco...southcoast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbicfl Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 For all of you having a hard time finding a place to buy 20 ounce bottles of Coke or pepsi. There is another community that sells these bottles like a us. privately owned convenience stores. In most metropolitan areas, there are usually a few small wholesalers that sell them. Not including vistar. Go to a small convenience store, and ask them who their wholesaler is for bottle sodas. In orlando, I was stunned. 99 % of my fellow vending operators didnt know this. There were companies that have been doing this for quite some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxer518 Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 For all of you having a hard time finding a place to buy 20 ounce bottles of Coke or pepsi. There is another community that sells these bottles like a us. privately owned convenience stores. In most metropolitan areas, there are usually a few small wholesalers that sell them. Not including vistar. Go to a small convenience store, and ask them who their wholesaler is for bottle sodas. In orlando, I was stunned. 99 % of my fellow vending operators didnt know this. There were companies that have been doing this for quite some time. the great majority of the time they are buying direct from coke and Pepsi, the only thing that you may be able to work out is buying from them at the cost they are paying from coke and Pepsi but even then it might be more of a hassle than its worth... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplady1 Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I have heard that you can somtimes work out a better price from these stores. You just need to be sure they are not involved in transhipping and I have no idea how you can confirm that unless you use that little known Texas law that requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed. http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/texas Blue Moose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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