ifishli Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 So I understand with bulk 2-3 heads is usually about right. What about sticker machine columns ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I've been considering flat vending for a while. The advice others on this forum have given me is to go with AT LEAST 3 columns. This way I have one column for each: 1 for boys, 1 for girls, and 1 gender-nuetral sticker/tattoo. Sounds like good advice to me. I've noticed others doing this in their machines as I come across sticker/tattoo machines on location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPVendCo. Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 So I understand with bulk 2-3 heads is usually about right. What about sticker machine columns ? now that I have like 300 triples, i would say two is about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Snacks Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 One thing I have learned over the years is that more (selection) is usually not better in bulk vending. Too many selections can create too many inventory problems and diminishing returns when products compete against each other. Having said that, I like having just 2 flat selections to start with. I had a few locations that had 4, but I have cut it back to 2 - and the revenue is still the same! Jax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifishli Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 What should I pay for a used 2 or 3 column machine with stand ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhawk22 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I would recommend to do at least 4 columns. I use these in smaller locations & 6 columns in my movie theatres & Pizza Huts. I would also recommend putting them on a combo stand with 1" caps on the bottom. I usually run 3 tattoos & 1 sticker in my 4 columns. Tattoo sales destroy sticker sales. It isn't even close. You also need to be careful who you buy your flat from. Flatline owns flat vending. I buy over 90% of my flat from them & I currently run over 200 sticker machines. You can usually find cheap sticker machines on ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I would recommend to do at least 4 columns. I use these in smaller locations & 6 columns in my movie theatres & Pizza Huts. I would also recommend putting them on a combo stand with 1" caps on the bottom. I usually run 3 tattoos & 1 sticker in my 4 columns. Tattoo sales destroy sticker sales. It isn't even close. You also need to be careful who you buy your flat from. Flatline owns flat vending. I buy over 90% of my flat from them & I currently run over 200 sticker machines. You can usually find cheap sticker machines on ebay. Jayhawk22, What's your recommended brand of machine? With over 200, I'm guessing you've just about owned them all. I'm currently looking at Brand and A&A (I think it's actually a model by Advance that A&A sells). The NW flatvending machine would be nice, but it only comes in 2 column form so that maybe takes it out of the running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhawk22 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I currently run Peninsula (PVI), All Star, Cutting Edge, Brand & Advance. My personal favorite is either All Star or Peninsula. The old Peninsulas are tanks! I'm not sure how good their newer ones are. Cutting Edge are probably my least favorite although I like that they are front load. They are harder to work on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dperry Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Flatline owns flat vending. Really? I always thought that VSI was the best place to buy flats. How would you rank Flatline and VSI with one another? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhawk22 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 VSI is a mess now. They have been sold numerous times recently & they have had a ton of staff turnover. Their tattoo line is still ok but their sticker lineup sucks. Like I said on another thread I run over 90% of Flatlines stuff. Their tattoos are awesome & they have a solid sticker lineup. The only time I order elsewhere is when VSI has a good sale or NFL stickers go on sale at A & A or Five Star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks for all the great info Jay. What's pricing for product and shipping like through Flatline? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhawk22 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I get pretty aggressive pricing since I order so much from them. I think their typical pricing is around $27-$28 a box. Shipping from them to me in KS is about $24 a box. They are in Wisconsin. Including shipping my cost per sticker/tattoo from them is less than 10 cents each! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I get pretty aggressive pricing since I order so much from them. I think their typical pricing is around $27-$28 a box. Shipping from them to me in KS is about $24 a box. They are in Wisconsin. Including shipping my cost per sticker/tattoo from them is less than 10 cents each! On the shipping cost of $24 per box, do you mean $24 per case? Or is it really $24 per box of 300 stickers/tattoos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurtsman Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 On the shipping cost of $24 per box, do you mean $24 per case? Or is it really $24 per box of 300 stickers/tattoos? Since he said it's under 10 cents per sticker, I'd have to assume 24$ shipping for a case. How many stickers to a case? Which tattoos and stickers do you particularly recommend? I've got a huge pizza account that I will be changing the stickers at soon, and adding another sticker machine. 4 columns in total. Which products would you recommend for those 4 columns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhawk22 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Sorry.......$24 a case......Plus Flatline can put 11 boxes in their cases. Pet Shop 6 is a great family safe sticker. They have a ton of good tats! Their Sugar series always sells well. They also have gold plated tats & liquid metal tats. Just check out their website to see what all they have. HO2 is a good seller for locations that you can put edgier stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks again Jay. You are a great help. Here's the FLATLINE link in case anyone needs it: http://www.2flatline.com/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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