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Auto shop location gone bad!!!


bostonvendor27

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I was out locating today and as I was walking I came across an auto shop that had a machine in it . I noticed the machine was empty so i figured I would go in and ask about it.  I found the owner, told him about my vending business and asked him about the machine....He replied         

" Ya some guy owns it and we robbed it! If you want to put yours in we will rob yours too!!!!" I  said  "you robbed him huh.....well  thats not right. 

thanks anyways but I'll pass on putting on of my machines in here and I'll  pass on having my car serviced here as well! have a good day!.

What the hell??? Might be reconsidering targeting auto shops?:huh:

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Did the burgled machine have any contact info on it?  Maybe you should call the owner and see if he wants to press charges since you got a confession.

At least they were honest thieves, geez.

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most auto shops are sleezy  business men anyway.  They over charge  and charge labor fees when your car sits in line to be worked on next.  You have to watch them.  I try work on all my own cars/trucks  it cheaper.  My city doesn't have to many honest auto places anymore.  I would really watch an auto shop.

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I would image the guy was still kidding even if he was serious.  Maybe he was just scaring you and trying to get you to go away.  Anyways I would probably still call the vending guy up and let him know what the auto man said just to be a good samaritan.  I just got my first location even at an auto shop so hopefully nothing goes wrong in there.  I might put an older machine vendstar 3000 in there now that I think about it instead of my nice 1 800 vending machine

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Boston Vendor,

I have been doing this for about a year now and have over 400 locations. While I have definetly had theft problems at auto shops I have had even more problems at apartment buildings. But you know what I still give each new place a try unless they tell me in advance they think there will be a problem. Usually if they say they think there will be a problem then there almost always is. Good Luck!

Gerald

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O wow Gerald thats a lot of locations.  I got my first new location today as stated earlier.  I would like to know what do you usually average per month per location.  I know it varies but how much do you like to make per location in order to be satisfied.  I am wanting around $20 a month.  Less then 10 I will more then likely relocate.

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Sometimes you just need to nod your head and say, "'ll take my chances....where do you want it?" Oaks, Northwesterns and Beavers tend to be more tamper resistant than some of the other brands, plus they offer even other mechs and machines that are more tamper resistant than their stock machines, like the  NW Strong Box.

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I'm doing very good. I've been extremely busy with school and my family, but enjoying it. I've been wanting to get back on here, but haven't had much time to do so. Plus, I can easily spend too much time on here when I do start reading the posts. LOL!  

I missed my 2009 goal by 1 machine, however I am purchaseing a 12 machine route with 2-3 extra machines for $600 with the money and candy currently in the machines. I held my ground and said no last time and the seller called me back 6 months later with the new offer.  This will put me 2-3 machines away from reaching my 2010 goal already.

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I have had  Great Luck with an auto Shop. It  usually does about  20 a month running  1 inch gumballs and  Peanut  MM  The owner goes to my church . too . So  that is a plus. and it is the only one in Town .  When  I got I posted on Face book knowing that a lot of friends went there to have the their cars worked on.

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  • 1 month later...

most auto shops are sleezy  business men anyway.  They over charge   and charge labor fees when your car sits in line to be worked on next.  You have to watch them.  I try work on all my own cars/trucks  it cheaper.   My city doesn't have to many honest auto places anymore.   I would really watch an auto shop.

I thinks that's a very unfair generalisation.

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My dad has ran a garage for 20+ years. Thats a VERY fair generalization!!!!!!!

Probably 75% of garages ARE sleazebags! My dad has second generation of customers coming around now!

Merc

I thinks that's a very unfair generalisation.

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I guess we all rely on our own experiences to draw our own conclusions. Maybe those within your circles of the automotive field have caused you to think of all of us this way. I've been working in, on and around the automotive field for over 15 years now. I can only speak for myself and those I know within the industry when I say I don't think that's a fair assumption to make about all of us. 

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AMEN! I worked at a Service Station for a Year and the stories I could tell would fill up this whole web site.  I told the Owner when I left that I better not ever catch him out in public.  He stole $3,000 for me, his own employee!  That being said, I had a Auto part store/Garage with a .50 Bouncy Ball machine for Three years with no problems.  I do my own work on my car so I don't worry about getting screwed over.  Your best bet is to go to the Dealer.  At least they work only on your brand of Auto.

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Well all I can say is that the vast majority of machine tampering problems I have experienced has been done in automotive locations.  Here is a summary to make that point.

1. Goodyear - Locks broken with all money and product stolen.

2. Chevy Dealer - Coin mechs rigged with straws to get free product.

3. Cadillac Dealer - Locks picked or keyed with a duplicate and money stolen.

4. Car Wash - Coin mechs broken to give free spins - all MMP was gone.

5. Truck Repair - Locks twisted off with vice grips, lock would then turn as if key was in it.

6. I am sure there are more, just can't remember. 

Here is a funny story though.  I have a truck dealership with a bunch of good ole boys from New Jersey (like watching the Sopranos!).  As a joke they keyed my locks and took all of the MMP money and put in in the M&I head!  When I arrived, the MMP head was empty with only a few bucks in it and the M&I head was full of quarters.  A number of them were watching (and snickering) as I serviced the machine.  No harm done, just a practical joke.  But I changed the locks any way.  One thing is for sure, those motor heads know how to pick locks!  Always put metal machines with metal mechs with strong locks in automotive locations.

How many times have you gone in for a simple oil change and you end up with a $400 estimate of other "problems"?  How about the $99 advertised brake job that really cost $500?  What about the garages that hire inexperienced kids and the work is not done properly and you have to go back 2 or 3 times to get it right?  What about those that say they use genuine parts, but really use 3rd party or used parts?  I commend you Jeremiah for being an honest auto guy, but you are in the minority based on my experiences as both a vendor and a customer.

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