Cans & Bottles?

[mxer518]

Are there any vendors out there that are doing a mix in one machine? I have been hearing a quite a bit about this practice but where I am located have never seen it done nor have I seen it done around the country on my travels. Just looking for some feedback on this as I may consider taking a few of my machines in my warehouse and convert them to 50/50 mix between the two.

[Poplady1]

When I did this with my machines some 10 years ago, I picked up so much business I could't keep up with it.  Of course you need to have a multi-price machine.  I had service techs that set up the machines as 5 cans and 4/5 bottles depending on the machine style.  In larger accounts most vending companies would put in a bottle machine and a can machine. Many companies think these machines really take up space and use a lot of their electric.  Our approach often suggested we could save them energy and space in their breakroom areas.

When I talk with a vending company that wants larger locations that is one of my first questions, do you do multi-price machines with a can bottle mix.  If they do I know we can work with them because there are so so so many can machines sitting out there and when we find them we have the tools to replace them.  It was a great sales tool when I ran my vending company and it is a great sales tool now that I am working as a consultant to these companies.

So my answer to your question would be yes, it is a great sales tool.

Blue Moose

[mission vending]

I've been doing that for years. It's trial and error at every location to find the right mix. Look at the location closely. In my experiences a lot of desk jockeys will prefer the bottle for the screw on top. In bottles water and juice or something like Propel or Vitamin Water will do well. So a higher % of bottles would work better here.

A warehouse breakroom will do better with primarily cans because they are limited on time and want something they finish quickly. Sports and energy drinks should do well here as well.

As a general rule I try to provide the soda selections in cans and then the water, juices, energy drinks and sports drinks as bottles. Putting in Monster instead of Mountain Dew for example that is a $2.00-$2.25 sale vs. a .65-.75 sale. 

[soco]

Yep, I agree with the other posters-I do a mixed machine when I can.  Example: in a boatyard I've got cans for the workers who want cheaper prices and bottled water, v-water and 20 oz. selections for everyone else, multi-price.  I like the DN 501E for the visuals.  Even my all can machines with single price have bottled water... whether I get $1.00 for bottled water or $.75, it's fine with me becuz the margins are so good on water.