How do you move your machines around?

[lurtsman]

I'm consider picking up a drink machine since Ethical found a drink location in my area. I can't fathom how to move the thing around though, and that could create a large liability for me. If I did get a drink machine, I don't know how to move it, which licenses would be needed for it, or how to repair it if something stops working. Is it worth getting into drink machines for only one location?

[mxer518]

have to start somewhere, unless you are planing on jumping into it and going to get a bunch more locations I would do one of the following, Hire a moving company, or rent a nice dolly with the kickout wheels. If you are planning on getting into full line and have some extra cash to spend buying a nice dolly with the kickout wheels would be a wise investment.

[mission vending]

I started out using moving companies, eventually bought my own equipment and then after a few years realized I did not want to mess with it anymore and went back to paying someone to do it.

[soco]

Trying a bev machine loc is an easy way to enter into full line and see if you like it.  Just do cans and if you look out for deals on 12 can paks (Hess gas stations, etc.) you don't have to worry about juggling cases yet.  The account will help you decide which types of soda, and just monitor it for a few months to see what sells and adjust accordingly.  With summer coming you'll get the seasonal uptick pretty soon.  It's not all that different from bulk in a way...    Sounds like you're going to try it.  Let us know how you feel about it in a couple of months.

[lurtsman]

If you pay someone to move it in, what do you do if you get booted? I'd rather not risk having to pay someone to move it to my garage, and then to move it again to a new location...

I wasn't planning on getting into full line--was considering telling a friend to do it if I can get him to move out here. Would you use the same type of Dolly to move cranes? I was considering getting into cranes in a year or two--depending on what locations ask for. This year was supposed to be about the move into commission accounts from charity. I honestly had dismissed any thoughts about entering full line until this came up. Having the location ready means RoI begins instantly--as long as product sells. Of course I'd make sure both things were negotiated simultaneously. Only buying the machine if the location approved of it. The last thing I want is a soda machine sitting in my garage.

How many legal hassles did you have to jump through? (Permits, sales tax, etc)

PS. Could I get a link to the kind of dolly I would be using to get a feel for the look, use, and price of such a unit?  If you do use the dolly, do you have vans that the machine fits in? I'm operating out of a Tacoma with a camper on the back--which would be an incredible amount of work to remove due to the liner which encompasses the entire inside of the back. Regardless of if I get into full line now, or two years from now, it behooves me to begin learning the business.

[mission vending]

If you pay someone to move it in, what do you do if you get booted? I'd rather not risk having to pay someone to move it to my garage, and then to move it again to a new location...

I wasn't planning on getting into full line--was considering telling a friend to do it if I can get him to move out here. Would you use the same type of Dolly to move cranes? I was considering getting into cranes in a year or two--depending on what locations ask for. This year was supposed to be about the move into commission accounts from charity. I honestly had dismissed any thoughts about entering full line until this came up. Having the location ready means RoI begins instantly--as long as product sells. Of course I'd make sure both things were negotiated simultaneously. Only buying the machine if the location approved of it. The last thing I want is a soda machine sitting in my garage.

How many legal hassles did you have to jump through? (Permits, sales tax, etc)

PS. Could I get a link to the kind of dolly I would be using to get a feel for the look, use, and price of such a unit?  If you do use the dolly, do you have vans that the machine fits in? I'm operating out of a Tacoma with a camper on the back--which would be an incredible amount of work to remove due to the liner which encompasses the entire inside of the back. Regardless of if I get into full line now, or two years from now, it behooves me to begin learning the business.

If you are paying someone to move it then paying to move it from location to garage and again from garage to new location is a possibility. The idea though is do a good enough job that you don't get tossed out.

Moving drink machines ought to be done while upright, so you ought to look at a liftgate pick up or box van with 6-7ft inside height. You can lay them down in the truck but you risk losing a compressor if you don't let it sit upright for several hours before starting it up.

If the hand truck can handle a drink machine a crane should not be a problem

[vendingpartsguy]

If and when I get any larger that I need to move my own equipment easily im going to get me a jlg drop deck trailer and dolly.

Would be VERY handy for most people I would think.

http://www.jlg.com/en-US/Products.html

That being said, what brand dolly does everyone use?

Thanks

Nathan

[spdydre]

If you are beginning I would just pay someone to move it or if you have any vending contacts have another vending friend thats been in the business move it for you.  My first machine was already on location but the rest I have a guy moving them for $50 a move.  I would rather pay that $50 then try to hassle it with some friends and the machine topples over or worse.  Once I get large enough to use a Truck with liftgate I will consider moving it on my own but until then I would rather just pay someone to do it and focus on providing good service and getting the machine in order at the location.

[s.weir]

I have been in the full line vending industry for a few years and some how I have not had to move too many myself, but I plan on purchasing one of these http://www.powermate.info/ as well as a Ford 450 cube truck.

[qualityvs]

Where you getting your machine from? You could have it delivered to your account. The dolly with the kick out wheels works good for most all full size machines. I dont know what name brands there are but there not that special. I believe they are also called appliance moving carts, but you will want one with kick out wheels.

[sprint54fan]

When I first started I was having another local vending company move my machines for me.. he only had a pickup with no decals on it so I paid him and he helped me..but now since I have became bigger and bigger I bought a 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup..it has tool boxes down the sides and headache racks and I had a liftgate installed..now I can move my own machines..makes it alot easier..

[WillisNYC]

I am less than a year in the business with a total of 22 machines placed.  Of those coke placed 5 of their own in a third party deal, no cost to me.  13 were purchased used from dealers who refurbish in my area and deliver for free.  The remaining 4 were purchased by me and moved by the same dealers who refurb the machines at a cost of $50 or $75 depending on which one I used.  Coke picked up one machine for me and I moved one that I had already placed for a total delivery cost of $325 for 22 machines placed.  Until I get MUCH larger I have no plans to move them myself.  Too much of a capital investment in the moving equipment, let alone hiring someone each time to help!  I will continue to happily pay $50 for someone else to wrestle these monsters into and out of spots for the foreseeable future.  Invest in machines that can make your money back rather than equipment that you will hopefully rarely need. 

[s.weir]

You can lay them down in the truck but you risk losing a compressor if you don't let it sit upright for several hours before starting it up.

 

Really?  Wow good to know, so as long as you leave it sitting upright for an hour or so (which works well if you need to load it anyhow) then it should be fine?  I agree with the others though, I am just going to keep paying $50 every time I need one moved until the amount of machines I am placing warrants I move them myself.

[vend777]

Being a small vendor, new in the business with several combo machines on site I have to pay a moving company to move them. It runs a little under $200 to have them moved and I priced four or five movers to find one that low. This is one reason I'm going to switch to bulk vending. I can handle the machines myself. Plus bulk machines are less complicated--no refrigeration units, electrical boards to go haywire, etc.

[s.weir]

Yeah I love full line so I am not switching lol, but yeah it's going to be around $150 per move, which is kind of expensive, but that's okay. 

[spdydre]

I have a question a little off topic.  Once you move a soda machine to the location is it a good thing to let it sit for a few hours instead of plugging it right in or does it not matter unless the machine was laid down?

[ANDERSONVENDING]

As long as it wasn't laid down you can plug it in right away.I have my machine plugged in before I move it to get the inside of machine cold that way the sodas get cold faster.

John

[s.weir]

So Anderson you fill the machines prior to moving them to the locations? huh never thought of doing this, doesn't the pop get all out of place when moving?

[snack dude]

I have been moving my own for about 11 years now. I have a Chev G3500 box truck with no lift gate and it is not tall enough to stand a machine up inside it and we lay them down in the back of it all the time. I am lucky enough to have two teenage boys who take it as a challenge to try to throw full size bottle machines around. I also have a cart with the kick out back wheels and those little sliders you can get at the hardware store really do work. I buy a new set for every move cost about $10.00 bucks. I have slid glassfront machines by myself across breakrooms carpet or tile with those things. What we do is get everything ready to go lay the machine in the truck drive straight to the location and set it back up. in most cases no more than 30 minutes.

Then I unplug the compressor and plug in the machine and fill it, program it, test all the columns and the coin and so on. Then I usally setup and fill the snack machine and get that going then the last thing I do when leaving is plug in the compressor wait a couple of minutes to make sure we are getting cold air and close the door. To my knowledge I have not lost a compressor due to this unless it takes six months to a year to show up.