Gumball Machine Factory Step-Stand

[sherlock]

Steel 4 Unit Step-Stand - $44.99
From Gumball Machine Factory: http://www.gumballmachinefactory.com/product/1058.html

Received my stands this week and was thoroughly impressed.
They are easy to assemble and are very attractively priced.
I find them to be very sturdy, too.

There were no written instructions for assembly of the stands included.
However, if you have even average common sense, you will be fine.
Use the picture on the website as guidance if you must…but chances are you will not have to.
All the holes lined up perfectly and there was no problem putting these together.

I mounted different combos of Oak Vistas, A&A PO89’s, and 3 column A&A/Advance flat vend machines on these. All went on without incident and the stands remained sturdy under all stages of added weight.

I considered stands from other places but found none could come even close to the pricing for these.
Hint: If you are ordering more than a couple of these stands, DO NOT go by the shipping calculated in the website’s shopping cart. That would be EXPENSIVE.
Instead, contact Gumball Machine Factory and have them provide you with a more acceptably priced shipping quote. It made a huge difference for me.

I am unsure as to their longevity, but will try to remember to follow-up on this post once these stands get some mileage on them. As for appearance, stability, and material quality at the starting point – I am very satisfied.

Thanks to Vendiscuss members who have recommended these on this forum.
It was their assurances that helped me take a chance on these rather than go with the more expensive stands from “name-brand” companies.

[Profits]

I just got finished assembling an LYPC 6 Unit Step Stand, and I have to say I'm not impressed at all.  The Northwestern Silver Sentinel is like a tank compared to this.  This unit is chintzy in comparison.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that mine is missing the X-Brace.  This is basically what brings this thing into shape, otherwise you end up with angles that are not quite 90 degrees.  It will lean slightly one way or another, and it's next to impossible to make stand correctly without the brace.

I emailed LYPC with a request for the X-Brace.  Hopefully they'll get it to me quickly.

[sherlock]

I just got finished assembling an LYPC 6 Unit Step Stand, and I have to say I'm not impressed at all.  The Northwestern Silver Sentinel is like a tank compared to this.  This unit is chintzy in comparison.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that mine is missing the X-Brace.  This is basically what brings this thing into shape, otherwise you end up with angles that are not quite 90 degrees.  It will lean slightly one way or another, and it's next to impossible to make stand correctly without the brace.

The brackets will do a lot for the stand's stability.

Your opinion on its stability may be premature.

You may not find it as chintzy once it's complete.

The silver sentinels are more tank-like.

But the sentinel is 3 times the price of the stand in your post, so they'd better be.

No one would argue against their stability.

Having said that...the stand in your pic is a quality stand when complete.

Vendors with many years experience have found it to be route worthy.

And I personally have them in some rough wear-n-tear locations with no issues.

They are a great value and can be counted on.

[Profits]

I'm primarily interested in the savings, while maintaining the level of machine quality with the NW heads.  But operating in terms of saving money is going to drive me bat-golpher insane if it continues like this.

I just hope the brackets fix my problem.

[T BIRD]

I just got finished assembling an LYPC 6 Unit Step Stand, and I have to say I'm not impressed at all.  The Northwestern Silver Sentinel is like a tank compared to this.  This unit is chintzy in comparison.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that mine is missing the X-Brace.  This is basically what brings this thing into shape, otherwise you end up with angles that are not quite 90 degrees.  It will lean slightly one way or another, and it's next to impossible to make stand correctly without the brace.

I emailed LYPC with a request for the X-Brace.  Hopefully they'll get it to me quickly.

Can casters be attached to this stand?

[Profits]

Can casters be attached to this stand?

Yes, it appears casters can be attached... although LYPC themselves don't appear to offer them.  It has standard screw-in-style leveling feet, adjustable for uneven surfaces.  It should be easy to find casters that have a similar type of screw-in attachment.  Oh, and it's a good thing it came with leveling feet because this stand isn't straight whatsoever.  All feet being adjusted the same, one corner has about a half inch gap above the floor.

Whoever welded this thing together was a complete idiot.

I'm on the fence as to whether I'll actually order another one of these stands.  One of the machine mounting holes was drilled about 1/4" out of place, resulting in needing to put the bolt in at an angle or else it wouldn't go in... making my far left head point inward, rubbing the head next to it.  Little problems like that annoy the hell out of me.

And the machine mounting bolts are so short, I'm going to have to run to Home Depot tomorrow to get longer bolts to attach the NW80 machines.  The ones they included have approximately 1 thread for the nut to hang onto.

[dperry]

If it is suppose to have the cross braces, why did you have to order them separately.  Don't they come with the unit?

[Profits]

If it is suppose to have the cross braces, why did you have to order them separately.  Don't they come with the unit?

The stand is missing parts.  The email I sent them is to request the parts that should have been in the box to begin with.

[BorderJerry]

You should consider these, they are the original that LYPC copied:

http://www.superiorwholesalesupply.com/stand.php

I have not ordered any since Eagle was bought by EMC at the beginning of the year, but was told they are the same. The wood front panel works to hold the sides parallel; no need for the brackets on back. With the wood, I think it looks nicer, especially for restaurants. We have about 80 some of these out, a handful have been on the job for 15 years. And there is the option to have casters added at a good price. The only places we do not use this stand type is in groceries as the A&A step stand's sides will protect your machines from shopping cart dings...

Jerry

[Profits]

I'm not sure I will order any more of these.  They way they fit together leaves too many opportunities for machines being misaligned.  The Silver Sentinel on the other hand went together without a hitch and all the machines line up perfectly.

One of the mounting holes is about a quarter of an inch misaligned, leaving my far left machine cocked inward.  It looks goofy, and there's no way to fix it.  I'm not sure it's worth spending $25 to send it back.

I've just got a bad taste in my mouth after realizing what paying $50 for a stand actually buys.  It makes me realize that perhaps it's not such a bad deal to fork over the premium Northwestern wants for stands that won't have these sorts of quality problems.

[sherlock]

You should consider these, they are the original that LYPC copied:

http://www.superiorwholesalesupply.com/stand.php

I have not ordered any since Eagle was bought by EMC at the beginning of the year, but was told they are the same. The wood front panel works to hold the sides parallel; no need for the brackets on back. With the wood, I think it looks nicer, especially for restaurants. We have about 80 some of these out, a handful have been on the job for 15 years. And there is the option to have casters added at a good price. The only places we do not use this stand type is in groceries as the A&A step stand's sides will protect your machines from shopping cart dings...

Jerry

I've reviewed that website in the past and have seen some of those stands in person.

They are not bad looking.

What's the price range for those Jerry? -- If you don't mind.

[BorderJerry]

The only tricky part I have found is in making sure the two cross bars are level with each other. I have never had a stand with miss-aligned holes. These guys are in socal so if you are close you can go look and check it out in person.

Sherlock, I don't know what the current prices are, we used to get the '8 way' for $68, I think (with casters). Oh and that was with a 10% quantity discount...but with the new owners I don't know what the prices are now. I talked to them today but forgot to ask about prices, oops...But I called them up just to make sure the specs on the stand had not changed. The company that owns Eagle now is the company that used to do the powder coating for Superior (Eagle vending operating company).

Eagle got big about 13 years ago when Sam's club had their machines on the shelves. But it made most of the bulk operators (charity especially) mad as the restaurant owners bought the machines to put out themselves. When we started here most of the independent restaurants already had candy/gum machines of their own so we went in and told them we would sell toys and leave the 'food' items to them.

Good luck,

Jerry

[sherlock]

Thanks for the info Jerry.

I appreciate it.

[Profits]

This should give you a better idea of the problem I'm referring to.

http://www.321vending.com/photos/LYPC/IMG_5726.jpg[/img]

http://www.321vending.com/photos/LYPC/IMG_5725.jpg[/img]

http://www.321vending.com/photos/LYPC/IMG_5727.jpg[/img]

[Hillbilly]

I'm right there with you Profits on that one. It would be like stapling a bunch of papers that are not stacked straight. Absolutely no way I could accept that.  Just me though.

[antoniocinisi]

I have had the same issue with these stands along with the paint job being done by a blind monkey it seems.usually a drill will take care of the issue.besides these minor inconveniences the stands are sturdy and will fit in place a comparable square deal wont and are cheap. this is all I will use unless I get a grocery store

[antoniocinisi]

When will you be ready for that grocery store? Next week?

might need a rack placed in a few more weeks.need to check some leads my food rep gave me on potential locations(if I get time)

[lurtsman]

In factories overseas for sewing pants....

Management is allowed to take pants from a slower worker and beat them with the pants.

In theory, when the object being worked on goes from pants to a rack stand..... shouldn't that increase the motivation to do it right?

[Action Vending]

The only tricky part I have found is in making sure the two cross bars are level with each other. I have never had a stand with miss-aligned holes. These guys are in socal so if you are close you can go look and check it out in person.

Sherlock, I don't know what the current prices are, we used to get the '8 way' for $68, I think (with casters). Oh and that was with a 10% quantity discount...but with the new owners I don't know what the prices are now. I talked to them today but forgot to ask about prices, oops...But I called them up just to make sure the specs on the stand had not changed. The company that owns Eagle now is the company that used to do the powder coating for Superior (Eagle vending operating company).

Eagle got big about 13 years ago when Sam's club had their machines on the shelves. But it made most of the bulk operators (charity especially) mad as the restaurant owners bought the machines to put out themselves. When we started here most of the independent restaurants already had candy/gum machines of their own so we went in and told them we would sell toys and leave the 'food' items to them.

Good luck,

Jerry

How many did you have to get to get the quanity discount? Do you have their phone number, i tried two different ones online that both didnt work.

[timberframe50]

1-847-437-7879

I never buy in qty, but I do like they have change to made in USA.

[Action Vending]

1-847-437-7879

I never buy in qty, but I do like they have change to made in USA.

This is for the gumball machine factory correct? I called them and they dont have any 4 head racks and they are low on 6 head racks. Eagle makes 4,6,8,10 head racks or at least they use to.

[sherlock]

This is for the gumball machine factory correct? I called them and they dont have any 4 head racks and they are low on 6 head racks.

I noticed the 4-way stands are not on their site any more.

Did they mention if they are no longer going to carry the 4-way or are they just out at the moment?

For what it's worth, it's now been a couple of years since my original post/review on this thread and these step-stands have held up VERY WELL.

I still have no complaints. Some of these racks have gotten heavy use in some locations and I've had ZERO problems.

I also have several of their 6-way stands and those are holding up just as well as the 4-ways have.

[timberframe50]

This is for the gumball machine factory correct? I called them and they dont have any 4 head racks and they are low on 6 head racks. Eagle makes 4,6,8,10 head racks or at least they use to.

Yes, http://www.gumballmachinefactory.com/Stands.html

The have 2,4,6,8 also their old style 6 (china)

[Action Vending]

I noticed the 4-way stands are not on their site any more.

Did they mention if they are no longer going to carry the 4-way or are they just out at the moment?

For what it's worth, it's now been a couple of years since my original post/review on this thread and these step-stands have held up VERY WELL.

I still have no complaints. Some of these racks have gotten heavy use in some locations and I've had ZERO problems.

I also have several of their 6-way stands and those are holding up just as well as the 4-ways have.

I ordered the last six head racks they had this morning. They said they didnt have any of the four head racks and they were not going to have any more of any size of that style rack. Now they are all the AA style ones.

[sherlock]

I ordered the last six head racks they had this morning. They said they didnt have any of the four head racks and they were not going to have any more of any size of that style rack. Now they are all the AA style ones.

Thanks for the info.

But, dang, that's really bad news.

I like the A&A stands and use plenty of them on my route...but, I can't say they are worth the extra money over the step stands we're discussing.

These lower cost stands we're discussing have held up just as well as any other stand I own (and I own some expensive ones).