Being new and going where someone else is?

[vvs1man]

Being new to vending do you put your machines where someone is already at. Lets just say they have a gumball machine somewhere and you think a toy or candy would work there also would you talk to the owner/operator about letting you put your machine there also. And how do you feel when or if someone does that to you? Is this common practice or do I have to worry about my machine being vandalized or missing?

[lurtsman]

I actually enjoy grouping up with other operators. Having other people there usually means that the business owner / manager are happy to have the machines and enjoy the service. I try to vend different products so we don't hurt each others sales. If you're both selling PMM, that's not a good situation. Try to work around what they are selling and create a system where everyone can profit. I've been doing this for about 18 months and had zero problems with other operators. You just figure out what you can do well, and focus on that part. Other vendors generally don't mind my machines because I treat it as an opportunity for the group as a whole. If I see my competitors machine is empty, I give them a call and tell them the location and product they are out of, and how high the levels are on the other product. They are usually shocked that I'm calling since they had seen me as a competitor, but I don't want their machines running out. I want the management to be happy with all of us. They offer me other kinds of security as well. More machines reduces the odds of my machine being vandalized. It means more traffic coming through, and more potential victims. There is such thing as too many machines, but if there are just a few you can think of it as your machine having friends.

[agrantha]

I second that Lurtsman 

[mizugori]

wow that's a really interesting idea lurtsman, I'm going to keep that in mind if I run into any competition.

[sherlock]

I actually enjoy grouping up with other operators. Having other people there usually means that the business owner / manager are happy to have the machines and enjoy the service. I try to vend different products so we don't hurt each others sales. If you're both selling PMM, that's not a good situation. Try to work around what they are selling and create a system where everyone can profit. I've been doing this for about 18 months and had zero problems with other operators. You just figure out what you can do well, and focus on that part. Other vendors generally don't mind my machines because I treat it as an opportunity for the group as a whole. If I see my competitors machine is empty, I give them a call and tell them the location and product they are out of, and how high the levels are on the other product. They are usually shocked that I'm calling since they had seen me as a competitor, but I don't want their machines running out. I want the management to be happy with all of us. They offer me other kinds of security as well. More machines reduces the odds of my machine being vandalized. It means more traffic coming through, and more potential victims. There is such thing as too many machines, but if there are just a few you can think of it as your machine having friends.

GREAT post Lurts...very well put.

Tell the decision maker at the location that you're not trying to replace the vendor they have if they're happy with him. And let them know you will try to offer products other than what the other vendors provide.

This way, you are giving the location's employees and customers more selection.

[bostonvendor27]

I agree with all. The only problem i have run into is a commission war  with the owner playing me and the other vendor against eachother. I also contacted the other vendor and asked him what he was paying in commission and found out the owner was lying to us.

[havending]

I actually enjoy grouping up with other operators. Having other people there usually means that the business owner / manager are happy to have the machines and enjoy the service. I try to vend different products so we don't hurt each others sales. If you're both selling PMM, that's not a good situation. Try to work around what they are selling and create a system where everyone can profit. I've been doing this for about 18 months and had zero problems with other operators. You just figure out what you can do well, and focus on that part. Other vendors generally don't mind my machines because I treat it as an opportunity for the group as a whole. If I see my competitors machine is empty, I give them a call and tell them the location and product they are out of, and how high the levels are on the other product. They are usually shocked that I'm calling since they had seen me as a competitor, but I don't want their machines running out. I want the management to be happy with all of us. They offer me other kinds of security as well. More machines reduces the odds of my machine being vandalized. It means more traffic coming through, and more potential victims. There is such thing as too many machines, but if there are just a few you can think of it as your machine having friends.

You are way too nice.  It sounds to me like you are maybe giving in to the operators in your area and just happy to be in the location.  Maybe thats how charitys operators operate i dont know.  Is that why my oil change place has like 10 triples on the corner.  This is a business Does walmart give target pointers. Will the ceo or burger king swing by his local mcdonalds and help the manager run their shift better NO they wont.  think of every locations vending as a pie.  do you want the whole pie or a fourth or a eighth.  well i love pie and i want the whole thing.  Now thats not to say i wont share locations but when i do i will not help out the other operator and i will do everthing in my power to work a deal with the owner to only allow me in.  Now networking with others or as you called ir grouping up is a good thing.  I have many operator friends but there is only one that i will not go and take his locations and he will not mine. for all the others they are my friends but at the end of the day its still a business. 

[sherlock]

I have many operator friends but there is only one that i will not go and take his locations and he will not mine. for all the others they are my friends but at the end of the day its still a business. 

It appears my definition of "friend" is very different from what "friend" means to you.

On that basis alone, I realize that you and I could never operate in the same manner...in life or business.

[havending]

I guess the rest of this thread will be jump on havend.

My point was that this is a business treat it as such.  Only one of my friends and i operate in the same area. 

[sherlock]

I guess the rest of this thread will be jump on havend.

I sure hope that's not what this thread becomes.

I was not trying to jump on you...I respect your input here and value your experience in the industry.

I simply tried to illustrate a point about different views.

My point was that this is a business treat it as such.

Your point is clearly stated and understood by most of us, I'm sure.

My point is that, although this is a business, there are many ways to run a business.

A business is usually an extension of the leader's personality.

As business owners have varied personalities from one to another, so too will their businesses.

You're comment about vending being a business "treat it as such" leads me to believe that you understand there is only one way to run a successful business...and that is not true.

Lurtsman's attitude is no less likely to succeed in business than yours is.

There are plenty of businesses out there proving that your attitude AND Lurtsman's attitude can both succeed.

[caserri]

Being new to vending do you put your machines where someone is already at.

Here is a complimenting poll question about this topic. It seems that almost half of us have no problem sharing a location.

http://VENDiscuss.com/forum/index.php?topic=1275.0

[dperry]

Lurtsman's attitude is no less likely to succeed in business than yours is.

There are plenty of businesses out there proving that your attitude AND Lurtsman's attitude can both succeed.

It all depends if this is a business or a hobby.  As much as I like to call this a business, it only really amounts to a hobby to me.  It gives me something to do that keeps me happy and occupied.  Is it my sole source of income?  Nope.  I have a 9 to 5 to pay my rent.  Since I have a full time job, many of my poor performing locations don't get upgraded to better locations.  It's easier to just keep the machine where a location will allow it rather than try to compete for the biggest share of the pie.

[sherlock]

It all depends if this is a business or a hobby.  As much as I like to call this a business, it only really amounts to a hobby to me.  It gives me something to do that keeps me happy and occupied.  Is it my sole source of income?  Nope.  I have a 9 to 5 to pay my rent.  Since I have a full time job, many of my poor performing locations don't get upgraded to better locations.  It's easier to just keep the machine where a location will allow it rather than try to compete for the biggest share of the pie.

If this were truly a hobby, you would do it for something other than money.

Anyone here thinking their vending activity is a hobby should ask themselves this:

"If I were losing money in vending, would I still do it simply because I enjoy it?"

Your answer will dictate whether vending, for you, is either a hobby or a business.

Not many of us here would vend at a loss for very long just for the enjoyment.

Any vendors here that think vending is a hobby are probably instead actually just business owners with a relaxed attitude.

Many people think business owners can't have a relaxed attitude and succeed.

And that if you aren't aggressive in your endeavors then you aren't the business type or you aren't running a "real" business.

I wonder how many would-be business owners shy away from their entrepreneurial spirit because of garbage thoughts like those.

My point in my previous post is to point out that these myths are not true.

Companies of all sizes turn a profit without the dog-eat-dog mentality governing their decisions.

That various attitudes succeed in business today should be celebrated.

I have relationships with business owners whose leadership style is completely opposite of mine.

We still work well together because we have a common goal --- success.

Like a great sports team -- our varied personalities and strengths make us better together than apart.

[agrantha]

It all depends if this is a business or a hobby.  As much as I like to call this a business, it only really amounts to a hobby to me.  It gives me something to do that keeps me happy and occupied.  Is it my sole source of income?  Nope.  I have a 9 to 5 to pay my rent.  Since I have a full time job, many of my poor performing locations don't get upgraded to better locations.  It's easier to just keep the machine where a location will allow it rather than try to compete for the biggest share of the pie.

Dperry

I am afraid this is not a hobby for you.  You are just not aggressive.

Ok here is a new thought.  Every location that I have put my ugly Vendstar has caused the other bulk vendor to leave. 

This is actually true.  They did leave, but I can't verify it was because of the machine.  These are good locations.

[Quarter Master]

It's okay if Mr.Dperry feels that this is a hobby. He just thinks of it like a boat- a hole in the water in which one throws money into.

[dperry]

A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into, and a pool is a hole in the ground that you throw money into.

All kidding aside tho, lets be real.  I will bet that the mind-set of a full-time vender will be much different than the part-time (or hobbyist if you prefer) vender.

[mizugori]

I don't think it makes this a hobby for you, it's just a secondary income stream. Some people are on here trying to push their vending route to a level where they won't have to work their regular job. Other people, like myself and apparently you, have full-time jobs that we're not looking to replace with vending.

For me it wouldn't make sense; in order to replace my salary I would have to be vending absurd hours and dealing with a lot more headaches than I want to. And when you figure in benefits like my health insurance, life insurance, company contribution to 401k, and several weeks of paid vacation and sick days, the number that I would have to meet for it to balance out gets even higher.

My goal is to have a secondary income source to fuel investments. I already invest part of my income, I want to have more cash each month to pour into that, so I can get wealthier faster. I have no intention of ever running like a 500 or 1000 machine route, I just want to get to where I have 1500-2000 a month coming in so I can use that to start picking up more tax liens, or have that be paying the mortgage on a rental or two, or be paying the holding costs while I turn around a rehab property, or be paying part of the monthly costs of running some other kind of business, etc. etc. etc...

[dperry]

I don't think it makes this a hobby for you, it's just a secondary income stream.

Yes, that's what it is.  It is an added income.  It has come in handy over the last few months since I was out of work.  The plus side is that it gives me something to do which makes me happy.  It's also great that I get an income from it.

[vending018]

Wow.. Great insight from everyone... 

[lurtsman]

Why is the pie viewed as percents instead of in ounces? I don't care if someone else gets to eat pie, so long as my piece of pie is large. I don't care the angle of that slice, it might be a large percent or a big percent, but if it leave me happy and full, it was a good piece. It's nice to get it all, but if someone sells something I don't, that I doubt will have a significant impact on my sales, I have no reason to wish him ill.