Super Sleuth Fieldwork

[Hillbilly]

So I see this lady that I know works at the hardware store a few miles away.

  I start talking gumball machines to her and ask who I would have to talk to to place a machine there.  She gives me the name and then she tells me that there is a 2 headed machine that was abandoned there about 4 years ago.

I am going to stop and see her tommorrow about placing one there. Should I bring up the subject of the abandoned machine or just see if she does?  Could be freebies here.

Hillbilly

[Faith Vending]

If it has been 4 years I don't think they are coming back for it. Legally, I don't know who owns the machine. If I were to remove it for the business owner I would leave a contact name and number so the original owner could contact me to get it back if they ever came looking for it.

[will.vend]

4 yrs seems long enough, if she doesnt bring it back up wait until a couple of service cycles then ask about them.

[Big Mike]

We came across this same situation the other day. We told him we would be happy to place our equipment and service it monthly but I would not take the machines that were left there. I offered to show him how to remove the locks and what to ask for them on ebay. Its just bad karma. In most cases the machine haven't been sitting there even close to the time stated.

Mike

[G-Vending]

If it has been 4 years I don't think they are coming back for it. Legally, I don't know who owns the machine. If I were to remove it for the business owner I would leave a contact name and number so the original owner could contact me to get it back if they ever came looking for it.

I was giving 2 1800 machines by a location that had been there for over 2 years

And was giving a double with nice stand by another that had been there 3 years.

Was over 100 cash in all the machines   

[Mettle]

wow, I would be all over that situation, tactfully of course. If there is a number on it give it a call, you might get lucky with other abandoned machines. Because a machine hasn't been serviced for a while might make it really easy for you to get your machine in that location.

[T BIRD]

We came across this same situation the other day. We told him we would be happy to place our equipment and service it monthly but I would not take the machines that were left there. I offered to show him how to remove the locks and what to ask for them on ebay. Its just bad karma. In most cases the machine haven't been sitting there even close to the time stated.

Mike

I am with Mike.  Bad Karma.  Its not your machine to begin with.  So my advice is to leave it to the owner to throw it out or whatever they want to do.  But you should not take it even if they offer it to you.

[Big Mike]

  Not being superstitious myself, I would offer to dispose of the machine after several service cycles.

"Dispose of"  By that you mean keep the money and put the machines on location? Superstitious or not it isn't the right thing to do. How long is long enough? Anyone that does this is walking a very blurry line. It is easy to cross to the thief side of that line. I'm going to steer clear of it all together. If you plan to keep your integrity you should too.

Mike

[sherlock]

If it has been 4 years I don't think they are coming back for it. Legally, I don't know who owns the machine. If I were to remove it for the business owner I would leave a contact name and number so the original owner could contact me to get it back if they ever came looking for it.

Do this, then YOU would have to store the machine...and that would bring up other issues.

How long do YOU store it for? The location owner has already given the vendor 4 yrs.

Why would you want this machine in your storage? Most of us hardly have enough room for our OWN stuff.

I wouldn't remove it even at the location owner's request.

That just puts you in charge of equipment that does not belong to you.

I'd just explain to the location owner that I can not take something that does not belong to me.

If they can't respect that -- maybe I shouldn't be doing business with them in the first place.

If the location owner wants the machine gone and you want to help - offer to help move it into the location's storage room, not your own storage room.

[Faith Vending]

Who said anything about storing the machine? Like I said, legally I don't know who the owner is. Is there a statue of limitations here? 4 years is a long time. I think I would look at this situation as I would be buying the machine from a seller, in this case the business owner. I have a location with a obviously abandoned VendStar for over a year with money in it and no product whatsoever. Management says the guy has not been seen in 2 years and take it if you want it. I don't do VendStar's so really it is of no use to me, so I have left it there. What would you do?

[sherlock]

Who said anything about storing the machine? Like I said, legally I don't know who the owner is. Is there a statue of limitations here? 4 years is a long time. I think I would look at this situation as I would be buying the machine from a seller, in this case the business owner. I have a location with a obviously abandoned VendStar for over a year with money in it and no product whatsoever. Management says the guy has not been seen in 2 years and take it if you want it. I don't do VendStar's so really it is of no use to me, so I have left it there. What would you do?

Regarding the Vendstar situation - I would do just as you're doing and leave it.

No way I'm taking it with me.

The reason I mentioned you storing the machine is that you posted this:

"If I were to remove it for the business owner I would leave a contact name and number so the original owner could contact me to get it back if they ever came looking for it."

You leaving your number implies you are just holding the machine for the owner. If you're not putting the machine in storage, what ARE you going to do with that machine you don't own?

[Hillbilly]

There is good advice in all of these posts.  While I am not superstitious, I think the right thing to do if she offers the machine is to refuse until I see if I can contact the owner.  I love a good deal but do not wish to be labeled a crook or thief. If I can contact them I will offer to purchase it. If it is worth anything. Unless they just tell me to dispose of it.

I want to maintain my honesty and integrity. And hopefully she will see that. Didn't get time to do it today. Will go there Saturday morning.

Thanks

Hillbilly

[Faith Vending]

I believe I am the owner for either paying a fair price or providing a service for the machine. The deal has to make sense; either I use it for parts or have a location I want to place it in. The business owner is off the hook and can refer the guy to me IF he ever returns. I won't ever just take something that does not belong to me; here I think all the bases are covered.

[Hillbilly]

If the owner told you to take it out of there,you would actually be honoring her wishes wouldn't you? Taking care of her needs. Providing a service. I wonder if the owner would assume that it is now hers because of "squatters rights"?

[Faith Vending]

I assume she has the right to get rid of the machine at some point. So does that make it hers?

[Hillbilly]

If it was done to me, I would probably consider it mine.  I wouldn't store it forever.

[mainor5251]

If a vendor abandoned a machine (a year or more) then why would you assume he should have any rights to it. When he placed the machine he agreed to provide a service to the company's employees and customers and not only did he not live up to his obligation his machine has become a burden for the store owner. I have never been in this situation before but if I ever do end up in this situation you can go ahead a chaulk it up for one more machine for Gulf Vending.

[JEREMYTINA]

Perhaps taking it to the police station as abandoned property?  After a period of time if no one claims it, you can go back and pick it up. Legally it would be yours.  I think that would be the right thing to do.  Otherwise, just recomend the store throw it away. 

[will.vend]

someone posted that the store owner always says its been there longer than it actually has been, if the store owner says its been 4 years then check the money inside the machine and verify the dates... in this case the most recent quarter would be 2006...and after that let your conscience guide you, it's a moral dilema for me...if it feels wrong it usually is...

[Big Mike]

If a vendor abandoned a machine (a year or more) then why would you assume he should have any rights to it.

Because the person that placed it bought it? I just know I dont have a right to it. To each his own I guess.

Mike

[mainor5251]

Because the person that placed it bought it? I just know I don't have a right to it. To each his own I guess.

Mike

If a mother abandoned her child for a year do you think she should have rights to that child? Just wondering.

[sherlock]

If a mother abandoned her child for a year do you think she should have rights to that child? Just wondering.

My answer may get this thread going in the wrong direction, but you asked - so I'll answer.

Yes...SOMETIMES.

The courts give children back to their parents after they have abandoned their kids for a year ( or more even).

I know one amazing young lady that was given back to her mom TWICE.

Each time mom had left her for over a year.

She had just left her -- as if she didn't exist.

And she's not the only child that has gone through something like that.

Fortunately for this young lady -- it actually all worked out well for mom and child the second time.

[s.weir]

If the number is on the machine...I would do the owner a favor and give them a call.  Who knows maybe they owned 100 machines, got out of the business and just forgot about one.  If thats the case they will probably say it's yours or get rid of it to you for like $20.  Its definitely more complicated if there is not a number and it has ACTUALLY been there unserviced for over like 2 years... At this point personally I am thinking, "What the heck is this vendor doing?".  I think this making an attempt to reunite the machine with its owner (without going too much out of your way) is what separates thievery and simply being given a piece of abandoned equipment. 

[Big Mike]

If a mother abandoned her child for a year do you think she should have rights to that child? Just wondering.

Really? Your going to compare a gumball machine to a child? I'm just going to ignore that silly argument.This isn't a complicated issue. No matter who placed the machine or how long it has been there it isn't yours! I know YOU think your not stealing and IM not saying your are. The guy who owns the machine and the police might disagree with you.

Mike

[jmac]

If a vendor abandoned a machine (a year or more) then why would you assume he should have any rights to it. When he placed the machine he agreed to provide a service to the company's employees and customers and not only did he not live up to his obligation his machine has become a burden for the store owner. I have never been in this situation before but if I ever do end up in this situation you can go ahead a chaulk it up for one more machine for Gulf Vending.

My opinion also