Quality vs. Price

[T BIRD]

I want to bring this topic up for discussion because I think it is a very important issue to discuss, especially for the new vendor starting out buying equipment.  It's been talked about before on this site but IMO needs continuing discussion.

New vendors seem to always be looking for a bargain when starting out.  What is the least expensive machine, where do I buy the least expensive racks, who do I deal with for the least expensive product. 

The bulk vending machine is the bread and butter of any vendor's operation right?  It makes the money, it holds the product, it gets used over and over and over continually while placed at a location. So it takes the abuse every day.  When you think of that in those terms, the new vendor's thoughts should be on what is the best quality machine for the money out on the market.  What machine is going to be able to with stand the rigors of daily use on location and not break down very often.  There are plenty of choices to be made in the marketplace on where to buy a vending machine.  Lots of companies sell them.  All different kinds and brands and names.  Made in America, Taiwan, China etc etc.  Prices can range from the mid $40 range up to and over $75 per bulk machine. ( not the larger toy machines which are more ) 

So..........the new vendor needs to make an educated decision on which machine to start out with and continue to use as they grow their company.  All new vendors go thru this in terms of making the right decision.  I sure did.  Even though I chose A&A as my machine brand, I wound up trying a bunch of other cheaper machines.  It did not work out for me at all.  Cheaper and less expensive was not the way to go for me and I learned that after paying out the money for them.  Too many breakdowns.  The coin mechs were too inferior in quality to with stand the usage on a daily basis etc.

[zanygames]

Hi,

From reading post here I decided to try used NW super 60's and bought 11 used.  I also bought vendesign machines used.  I like the construction of both and the used price for both.  I am going to try and stay with NW items so I can keep aprts on hand and get one set of keys.  I am sure I will pick up other machines as I grow, and will try them out.  But for now the plan is to stay with NW.

The Vendesigns are nice also, but they only do bulk candy and not 1" gumballs.  I think Gumballs and toys and bouncy balls are higher profit and I have enought Vendesigns now that I really just want to expand with NW doubles right now.

Steve

ZanyGames

[alyssamma]

LOL, T-Bird is bringing up an old, and very much opinionated topic

For me, Vendstars - cheap and cheap - have worked great. I don't know many people here (who post at least) who have *used* Vendstars and have had problems with them.

There are, of course, some locations where you'll need a heavy duty machine. But for most locs, a $20 Vendstar will work fine.

For the record, I've never had a coin mech break on a Vendstar. I've had the chute break on maybe 2 or 3. Otherwise, no problems from breaking.

I've had one machine stolen, and a couple vandalized. Since the machines were so inexpensive, it didn't bother me much. Actually, for the stolen machine, the cost of the candy was more than the cost of the machine.

YMMV of course, but for many here Vendstars have been great.

Kevin

[JPVendCo.]

I've got a bunch of them. I have only had one bad coin mech, i have had about 10 chute doors broken, 1 stolen, 2 spill trays broke and most recently the owner of a business was moving it while they were polishing the floors at his dealership. the base slipped off the top, the dude tripped over the base and smashed the machine by dropping it on his way to the floor himself. the spill tray was broken, one canister was cracked, and ONE of the locks were damaged on the top lid. I just replaced it and moved on. I might not have, but I make $40 a month from this location, and I paid on average $50 a piece for my Vendstars.

I also have NW, LYPC, and oak's. Vendstars are easy to work with (and cheap), NW are top notch for quality and looks.

[tooldini]

JPvend I was picturing that in my head and I hope he didn't get hurt cause it sounds like it would have been funny to see I have 1 vendstar which I like the way it is made although it is cheaply made it seems to work fine it is at a slow location though. I also really love my 1800 machines are made excellent and look better than any triple head out there sexy looking as I call them. Metal coin mech seems to be really strong. And again very very sexy

[JPVendCo.]

the removable canisters are what I really like about them, everything is interchangeable, and things can be swapped out quickly....

[tooldini]

Yes that to me is the most important part removable canisters. Also the light weight of the vendstars is nice even when half filled you can carry them with one arm fairly easy

[cavity]

We have NW's, Beaver's, 1 800's.  Each work very well.

[The Mage]

You always have to be careful of how much money you invest into a business.  Starting out cheap, and reinvesting the money into bigger and better things is the way to go.  Sure there are going to be break downs and problems more often, but that is the trade off for a lower investment.  The sweat equity.

For me, it looks like I am going to make 2 purchases that will not be funded fully from my vending profits, but once these are done, I plan on using 100% of all future purchases to come only from the business.  It is important to have the business begin paying for itself asap.

Also starting out with the cheap machines will make me appreciate the good ones later.

[Mercury]

It is NOT always better to go "cheap" if you have to buy parts and keep replacing them! Parts are NOT cheap, nor is your time. Time is money!

The best thing to do is find quality machines, but used and in good condition, at a decent price. Then you get the best of ALL worlds.

Merc

You always have to be careful of how much money you invest into a business.  Starting out cheap, and reinvesting the money into bigger and better things is the way to go.  Sure there are going to be break downs and problems more often, but that is the trade off for a lower investment.  The sweat equity.

For me, it looks like I am going to make 2 purchases that will not be funded fully from my vending profits, but once these are done, I plan on using 100% of all future purchases to come only from the business.  It is important to have the business begin paying for itself asap.

Also starting out with the cheap machines will make me appreciate the good ones later.

[The Mage]

Who said it was always better?  Anyway you can be cheap, and still get quality.  It is harder though.

Although I have no problem using a Vendstar, and even plan on buying some just to use for parts.  (Cheaper then buying the parts separately.)  Most often it would only add a couple of minutes to a service on these machines.

But I will be keeping my eyes open for the used NW's, Beavers, and the Monkey Paw Elites that I can buy at a decent price, and upgrade certain locations when I can.  And as my time becomes more valuable, I will cut out the machines that require too much attention.

I should point out that I won't just buy any machine because it is cheap.