joebob051977 Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I have 2 locations that are consistently $6-$8 performers and another one that might be. As a matter of fact, I only have 1 machine making more than this. These are doubles and triples. I certainly would like to make more than $6-$8 per location. It seems like a waste of a perfectly good machine, but this seems to be the story for my locations. I can get locations, but I can't seem to get a decent performing location. Do you relocate these, or keep the location and try to find used budget-friendly machines for these locations (ie. Vendstar) and service them every other month. I haven't used a locator yet, and would prefer not to, but the $12-$15/mo guarantee from Midwest is double what these locations are earning. It is very tempting! I still have 2 locations that I haven't checked yet. One is a not so busy restaurant, and the other is a T-shirt/logo print shop which is only promising since it is practically on the U of Illinois campus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BudLeiser Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Do what you think will work best for you. Personally id like to be 100% located and then relocate just 1 at a time. But that might not be best for you. As for me turns out im good at buying machines and less good at locating im paying $70 a mo to store a bunch of machines. 6-8per mo would be better then -$70 per mo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarola Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I have 2 locations that are consistently $6-$8 performers and another one that might be. As a matter of fact, I only have 1 machine making more than this. These are doubles and triples. I certainly would like to make more than $6-$8 per location. It seems like a waste of a perfectly good machine, but this seems to be the story for my locations. I can get locations, but I can't seem to get a decent performing location. Do you relocate these, or keep the location and try to find used budget-friendly machines for these locations (ie. Vendstar) and service them every other month. I haven't used a locator yet, and would prefer not to, but the $12-$15/mo guarantee from Midwest is double what these locations are earning. It is very tempting! I still have 2 locations that I haven't checked yet. One is a not so busy restaurant, and the other is a T-shirt/logo print shop which is only promising since it is practically on the U of Illinois campus. Hi Joebob: First let me remind you that I am in no way an expert at this, having only one machine placed and another on the verge so far, but my feelings are simple here. You've still got some machines that need to be placed, according to your signature. So those are bringing in $0. Get those placed first, then start looking for better locations for your poor performers. Locations can be hard to come by, so I'd be reluctant to let go of a location completely, but perhaps the lowest performers can only support a single-head machine... By the way, it's never too late to join my October Challenge. It's simple enough, set your own goal and work toward it throughout the month. Something I guess we all should be doing every day anyway, but it's helping to keep me focused and motivated. Regards, Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dperry Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I would suggest changing up your product to see if that helps. I know you have triples which are predisposed to candy, but maybe you can add a 1" toy or superball mix or something like that and see if that helps. I'm finding that in most cases, switching out gumballs for 1" toys is increasing sales by about 50% on average. As always,it's location location location that makes the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebob051977 Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 I've been contemplating doing bouncy balls or other toys for sometime now. It sounds like something worth trying at these locations. You can't argue with a testimony. Bouncy balls do sound like an excellent idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurtsman Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Try midwest or kickstart for locating one of your machines. See how well it does. I found the average for their locations beats the average for my locations. Combine that with the guarantees and it is far more practical for me to purchase locations. IMO, a good locator is worth his price. A bad locator is not. That's why we have the review section to keep people honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Vending Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Do kids frequent these locs? If so change the product to capture their business...toys,gb's, bouncy balls. If no kids you could change out candy but I usually don't wait long. How many people are exposed to your machine and can possibly use it? The expense and mental anguish of a non-producer can get to you IMO. Having machines in your garage is a great motivator to find a good loc. Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebob051977 Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 My $6-$8 locations are a Humane Society, a tire shop, and a dentist's breakroom. I have already tried switching out candy. It is all too frustrating. I hate to give up a location, but I hate to leave a machine at a location that isn't getting at $12-$15/mo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mage Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 I forget who said it, but one of the members said that it is normal to have to pull 30% - 40% of located machines to find better profits. But, as said before on these forums, get the new location before pulling out the old one, and get your machines that need to be located before you relocate one that is performing badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Snacks Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Are you vending the "right" or popular products? Are you matching the products to the demographics? Are you vending a fair quantity? Are your machines professionally labeled? Are your machines clean looking? Are your machines reliable and not "eating" quarters? All of those are factors. As well as any seasonal trends that effect your area. I usually wait 6 months before pulling the plug - unless I need that particular machine somewhere else. Vending can be a very long sorting and tuning process. Jax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidsurvz Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 This business is a numbers game. In the same way that you may hear several "no's" to hear a "yes" when locating you sometimes have to go through several "duds" to hit a "jackpot." I would try a locator with a couple of machines and see how that works out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetstop Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 I have tripled sales in a couple of my locs just by trial and error getting the right candy in there. I had one that I put reeses in place of mm plain and sales sky rocketed because one of the workers loves the things. Be patient and work the location before you pull it. Candy machines in a dentists office? I haven't tried that angle yet, haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarola Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 My mother will be the first to tell you that her teeth are in terrible shape. She'll also be happy to tell stories about how when she was a kid, every trip to the dentist ended with a coupon for free ice cream at a local grocery store. I've never been able to find a dentist who is that obvious about drumming up more business for himself, so I'd be reluctant to put candy or gum in their breakroom, but perhaps breath mints??? That might be a win-win situation. something they'd be willing to spend their quarters on, and a service to the patients they hover over after lunch. LOL Regards, Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebob051977 Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 I have to admit that the Dentist's office breakroom is a little ironic for a location. I have seriousely considered a Dentyne Ice there. My Humane Society location was my first location, but the folks who work there aren't regulars. They are convicts who are have to do community service for their sentence. PMM were my worst seller there, next to gumballs. Bonz sell okay, and Skittles do a little bit better. I haven't been able to find a true winner there except for Skittles. I must admit, I haven't been very good at switching up the candy selection. I have been finding a winning combination and not changing it. I think that could help some since it will be something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPVendCo. Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 chicklets, or polar mint gum would probably do well at the dentist. my personal method as far as pulling and placing machines goes like this. if it is making under 5$ and has done so for 2-3 months, its pulled. if it makes over 5$, its on "the program" i try different products over the next 3 months, I talk to people at the location, tell them I am trying new product, and see if anything changes. I have changed some locations from "what a POS this stop is" to damn near a gravy lounge loc. some dont change at all, they get pulled. ABL-always be locating! if you find a location, you can always pull one of those dogs to see how the new place will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timberframe50 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 joebob051977, I would change the triple to a double and place a single at another location. One of my first locations i placed a triple and for months it did about $15 every 4 weeks. Not bad but it was driving me crazy switching product trying to drive up sales. No matter what I put it it did $15. So I bought a cheap TPico double for $20 and put RP & HT, this location does at $14 now. The triple I pulled is doing $35 at another location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dperry Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I have changed some locations from "what a POS this stop is" to damn near a gravy lounge loc. some dont change at all, they get pulled. I have one location that is a vietnamese tea house. I had a double in there at one time selling gumballs and 1" toys. The owner wanted toys for the kids cuz she said she had lots of kids in there. This was my first attempt at selling toys. I had some gumballs and A&A's 1" round myster mix in there. This place did so bad that I pulled the machines. I was making maybe $8 for both heads in a 8 week cycle.About a year later, when I'm now doing more 1" toys and now selling 2" toys, I go back and ask to try again. She says yes. I thought I'd try again because I figured this is really a good toy location and now I have more better toys to throw at it. So I now have a 5-way in there with 2 2" toys and 3 1" toys. I've serviced it twice now and both times it grossed ~$100 in 8 weeks. So yeah, they can change and get better with the right mix of products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbishop Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I bought a route with 110 machines. In my situation if I pulled every machine doing under $8 per month, I'd be pulling about 20 machines. I have changed out some options, and started servicing them every 2 months. I do not need 20 machines sitting in the garage. My goal is to collect a min of $12 per servicing. I have picked up a few that were doing $.25 to $2 per month. In your case, you only have 6 machines. Your choice may be different. It is best to find new locations first. You have candy in those machines. Leave them there and service them every 2 months or untill you find a new location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebob051977 Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Wow, there are some really interesting ideas here. My wife would like me to keep the highest of the locations. I just collected today and it got $8.75 from it. While it isn't horrible, it isn't great either. I think it might be a good candidate for some tinkering, and perhaps some 1" toys in the near future. Plus, I really like the people at the location. It is always a joy to go there and talk to them. I am going to relocate the worse performing one which made $6.75 in 30 days (after I relocate the one that made $3.75). My 1st relocation ever went well. It was a $1.50/mo location, the new location brought in almost $25.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbishop Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 My 1st relocation ever went well. It was a $1.50/mo location, the new location brought in almost $25.00. It is just a numbers game! keep locating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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