Bulk vending not worth it anymore

[vendman0729]

As much as I like vending, I am starting to think that bulk vending is not really worth it for me anymore.  Today was a pretty bad day after servicing my route after a month.  Locations are a few miles of each other.  All in the same city..

Locating- Used locator for 5 locations.  Can't get in touch with them.  No replacements now for bad locations of 3.

Machines- 4 1800 vending machines and 1 double head seaga type

1 Month Collection

L1-Probably $15- Double head- The guy said that kids had a way of getting free skittles by turning the wheel back and forth a little.  Wheel setting I believe is on 5.  I asked them how about with the mike and ikes.  he said he think its just for the skittles.  We noticed that I think its because the hole is too big I guess for the skittles.  I think it just tends to drop down easily.  I think it is more of the candy and not really the machine it self.  I am not sure.  I will try putting PMM's in there to check and see.

L2- $10-Ok I guess but still not much money.  Don't really like to drive there for $10/month

L3- $2.50.  WOW.  The mike and ikes were stuck again due to the sun.  I tried putting in PAM spray last time and I thought it might work but it still tends to stick.  I asked the guy working there and he said the mike and ikes don't vend properly.  I moved it to another location in the store.  We will see if this helps.

L4- $15.50.  This Bar location is the only location I like and I don't have problems with it.  Worth driving for.

L5-$2.50.  WOW.  Not only does this location stink but one of the coin mechs got jammed because someone tried to put a nickel in there.  I will pull this machine out next time.  Any advice on how to take out those little coins.  I tried with my hands but it didn't work.

There is only 1 location I am happy with out of 5.  I feel like bulk vending is not really worth it any more.  The revenues are bad, the driving is not worth it,  too much of a headache and waste of time.

I have 6 drink machines.  My lowest gross sales machine probably pulls in $40/month which is more then all of my bulk machines haha.  Sounds sad but true.

I would like for people to change my mind if possible. 

[mainor5251]

I have a location that does over $100 a month, so don't give up just relocate the machines yourself or get Kickstart to do it.  For me even a bad day of vending is better than my normal 9-5.

[Bender]

L1:  If your machine is giving free vends, your wheel timing is off.  Most of the wheels have a small arrow on the gear showing where to center the wheel before installing the canister.  Then test by turning the wheels yourself before deploying.  Get to know your machines inside and out.

L2:  Now that you're getting the hang of your route, you can begin to estimate how long you can leave it out between servicing.  Be sure to explain to the location owner or manager that you will return in 6 to 8 weeks, if it's a slower location, and remind them your number is posted on the machine, and call if there is any trouble for prompt service.  As long as you don't have pest infestation, theft, or melting candy, you'll still be earning while it's out there.  I'd say 8 weeks might be a time to visit, if it's not empty, at least the machine and the location could use some cleaning, and a little relationship building with the owner.

L3:  I've read it many times, it happened to me as a rookie, so far the industry standard fix works for me.  Use a small amount of unscented Pam cooking spray to coat the candy, it prevents them from sticking.

L4:  Consider switching out flavors to test market what might sell better in your locations.

L5:  This shows why coin mechanisms with drop-through coin mechanisms for smaller coins can help immensely!  I passed on a batch of $30 Northwestern Triple Plays because they had older coin mechanisms without drop-through coin mechanisms.

Don't get discouraged, find out what sells, and offer it, and stretch out your service schedule.

Like Mainor says, if you're not happy with the location, get it moved and earning more!  I think everybody gets duds once in a while.

Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, mentioned that he would trim out the lowest performing 10% of his workforce to improve business strength.  You can do it too, and you're not firing people, you're relocating your own passive income earning machine.

Best wishes!

[mainor5251]

Well said!

[dapreachaman]

We have all had some locations and times when they are not fun.  I had one that was doing nothing and was on my list to be replaced this year.  I was about to remove it when i walked in and found 18 dollars in it and then this month it was sold out and had much more in it.  Sometimes all you need is a new person to find your machines.

Changing candy will help as well.

I have a location that was not doing much with skittles put in mike and ikes and 20 dollars worth in two weeks.  mms were doing nothing and then added some rp to the mm's and boom they are moving.  You just never know.

[sherlock]

I would like for people to change my mind if possible.  

There are a lot of wise, helpful, and experienced people on this forum.

They may do a great job of changing your mind.

But no one here can change your heart.

If your heart is not in bulk vending, don't be afraid to face-up to that and move on.

If bulk vending isn't a pleasure to you, it's better to recognize that sooner rather than later.

We all have our reasons for vending.

Re-evaluate what your purpose was when you first started bulk vending.

What was it you were looking for?

What did you hope to get out of bulk vending?

Have those priorities changed?

Is there a better way to accomplish what you hoped to do with bulk vending?

If you can do a little soul-searching, you will know what to do.

Your disenchantment with bulk vending is either a moment of weakness or reality setting in.

Those great forum members I described can help you get back on course if this is only weakness creeping into your psyche.

But, if this is reality setting in (the reality that bulk vending isn't for you), NO ONE here can turn that around by just telling you how to fix problems at your locations.

The advice I just gave applies to pretty much anything in life.

Get some thinking time set aside alone a.s.a.p.

You may even find your issues aren't with bulk vending, but maybe something you are letting creep into your vending dreams.

If nothing else, you still have full-line vending that you seem to be ok with.

Best of luck to you.

[agrantha]

Well said Sherlock  O0

[West Coast Vend LLC]

Thanks Sherlock. You said a mouth full.

[West Coast Vend LLC]

Preacherman, how are the Buzz Bites doing?

Gary

[sherlock]

Thanks folks.

Didn't mean to get so "deep", but people who are miserable doing what they do to earn a living is a bit of a sore spot for me.

I spent too many years of my life in a job that ate at my happiness.

If effected my thirst for life, my time with my family, and my enthusiasm to follow dreams.

No more. The day I quit was like removing a 100lbs weight from around my neck.

I should have quit a lot sooner...but, I didn't because the pay & benefits were great.

I realize now that I should not have sold my happiness to my employer for so many years.

Despite the great pay & benefits, I was selling my happiness far too cheap.

Sorry for the  hijack, but I'm hoping this leads into vendman's needs too.

We shouldn't be doing ANYTHING for a living that doesn't make us happy.

[mainor5251]

Think we just found are resident vending shrink.  Don't know how deep your willing to go Sherlock but I don't think I was held enough as a kid and I have an overwhelming desire to gain acceptance from my A&A's which has now manifested it self into my addictive vendiscuss behavior.

[matt-attack]

      “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."

[lisa vending group]

hi kelly, i was wondering if you or anyone would be interested in any wiz kid machines. they are used but in good condition  i cant seem to post this on bulk vending  ron

[vendman0729]

thanks guys for all the incouraging words

i will take a plan of action for everything that went wrong and i will try to fix it

i think in a way i have a habit of giving up easily

i know this isn't the first time i have gotten discouraged in vending

i will move some machines around

maybe try different products or whatever it takes

i might call kickstart

i know they will treat me better

but after fixing my bulk vending route, i think i will stick more to full line as i feel like the drive is more worth it to collect $75-$100 then $10 from a candy machine

[sterling]

You also may want to steer away from candy. There is a place for candy once you find good locations. Toys sell way better. My average per machine has gone up 5x in the last year since I've been adding toys. If you calculate the average machine pull toys vs candy, toys do about 10 to 1!  TOYS, TOYS TOYS TOYS!!!! It gets worth it and fun again!

[amc-vending]

I agree with sterling.  Al of my locations except for 3 are candy - the toy locations do so much better and I dont have to worry about the 130 degree heat melting the candy before I can get to the location

I have decided that all new locations with be toy locations, except for te machines I still have that only will do candy (and may sell most of them off)

I have orders at Brand and A&A waiting on product.

[sterling]

Toys don't melt!

I too have started selling off candy machines and replacing them with toy only. It's really hard to place a candy machine knowing that it may do $20 if it is a decent location when you know a toy machine very likely will do $100 in that location. Bye bye candy machines.

[antoniocinisi]

I have orders at Brand and A&A waiting on product.

what i a and a out of?

[amc-vending]

the yoyo sticky balls - everything else had in stock

[amc-vending]

sterling - toys might melt in here in Phoenix , when it is 150 degrees during the day and 400 degrees in the van  lol

but hold up better then the PMM

[tooldini]

Vendman the guys are right about toys they are awesome and if needed you can go less often but you probably won't wanna wait. There is less clean up and they don't go bad. Read what the guys on here say and pretty much copy them thats what I am doing. My biggest location got me 49.00 in gumballs not always but usually near $30.00. Try and get machines that have drop thru coin mechs. I get pennys,dimes and nickels. I use kickstart for my locations, sometimes slow but usually brings good results. Good luck and don't bail till you really feel its not for you like sherlock said

[Mrbigshot2008]

are you referring to the whiz kid spiral machines? Do you still have them?

[Agapevending]

Don't give up on it unless  your  hearts not in it.  You have to love working for your self.

Or you could be like my bro in law. By to machines  put them out and then get mad at the locator and   not like it. Then sit the machines in the shed  sell on eaby lose money. then  let the other one sit. then  when your Bro in law comes and ask you what you want to do  with it.  Tell him  you can have it. then   find out your wife wants to sell it or keep it for the kids.  When you could make  at least 40 bucks off it selling it to your bro in law.   Any way you gotta love it or it won't work for you.

[Guest ontheballvending]

If you are vending any type of Bulk Candy, try putting a pinch of Corn Starch in the bottom of the Canister, before you put the candy inside.  This works very well on Nuts, Mike & Ikes, & Hot Tamales, etc.

Also, if you go out of business, call me, and I will buy your machines.  Thanks!  Scot

[dperry]

Is it bad to put ant and roach bait traps inside the coinbox?