Uturn Machine

[Hillbilly]

I have an option to buy an 8 way Uturn.

I have read here about not having locations that can handle 8 varieties of candy/gum. I have a few questions though.

1) Will they vend capsules and balls?

2) What is the standard configuration of wheels? How many of each?

3) Can you take the top 4 canisters off and make it a 4 selection?

4) How expensive are the coin mech's?

I was thinking about buying it and using it where I would a rack. The guy wants $100 for it. Which would be cheaper than a rack and machines.

[kai1836]

  From prices I've seen that's a reasonable deal. You can vend balls and capsules out of them, don't know about taking them apart though. If it were me I'd buy it if you had a place for it.

[sterling]

Yes you can buy capsule wheels for the U-Turn machines. You can also make it a 4 way but you would have to hacksaw the center bolt that holds the whole thing together. I'd not reccomend that. In fact I would not reccoment the U-Turn machine what so ever. Just like the Vendstars everyone has opinions. Some will like the U-Turns, myself I dislike them strongly. Here is why.

1. The coin mechs are super cheap

2. Too much candy product in one loction. I put a 3 way vendstar in a place that I had a 8-way U-Turn. Same take every month from either machine.

3. They spin. kids think they are free merry-go-rounds, ie reciepe for distaster.

4. They spin so your quarters will go flying throughout the machine and will no stay in the little coin hoppers. Making collection a pain!

5. You have to take the whole damn thing apart to get to the quarters and or to refill the product.

IMHO Buy some other kind of machine.

[antoniocinisi]

I am not a  fan of the uturn or vendstar for that matter but I own both,because differant locations need differant machines.yes in most locations the 4 select would be overkill but in very busy places it is good. the 8 way is overkill times 2 almost always.I sold off all but 2 of my 8 select I have one of each kind.the one with short canisters on top and bottom is all candy,I have a location it does well at.the one with tall canisters on top short on bottom has toys in all 4 top canisters and candy in bottom,the location it is in has room only for this machine,it is very tight in there,and that is the only way I could have gotten this location.

the capsule wheel is built well and is reliable for toys.do not sell bouncy balls out of it because they dont do well with them at least for me.maybe its the weight I dont know but I dont recomend bouncey balls with uturns.as far as quarters going everywhere put a styrofoam cube down the center rod and that will keep the coin boxes from moveing and most of your quarters in them.

[mtsoccer4]

$100 is peanuts for an 8-selection UTurn. If you have the traffic there, it might be a good option. Of course, it could be overkill (as others have mentioned) in terms of candy if that traffic isn't there, but otherwise these are fun units to have around, and the bins are smaller in the 8-selection as in others, so you need less candy per bin, if that makes sense. Getting to the quarters in the lower units is difficult when you service it, but if you put the machine in a good location you should make the $100 back in no time. I've heard of people making $75+/mo with these babies.

[JEREMYTINA]

I have an option to buy an 8 way Uturn.

I have read here about not having locations that can handle 8 varieties of candy/gum. I have a few questions though.

1) Will they vend capsules and balls?

2) What is the standard configuration of wheels? How many of each?

3) Can you take the top 4 canisters off and make it a 4 selection?

4) How expensive are the coin mech's?

I was thinking about buying it and using it where I would a rack. The guy wants $100 for it. Which would be cheaper than a rack and machines.

Hillbilly

I have taken apart these machines to clean for resale on Ebay and here is what I found.

1) They will vend balls, and I believe you can buy wheels for balls and caps

2) I believe they only come with 1 selection standard with a gumball wheel.  (The ten I have had were this way)

3) You could modify the machine to do this.  There is a threaded rod that runs through the body of the machine to the lock.  This could be cut down with a hacksaw to the proper length to change to a 4 select instead of a terminator.

4) Plastic coin mechs run $20 on Ebay (some are less).  Metal mechs are more.

As long as you have a busy location, it sure is an eyecatcher that will make you some money.  The only drawback is servicing this thing.  Unlike a double that you can set the second head on the first, you will have the top body and cannisters on the floor in order to service the lower compartments.