10 replies to this topic

[vendingforlife]

Hello all,
I am a newbie and would like to ask a question regarding your locating experience. Me and my husband have successfully located 6 machines and thought we would try a locator to see if we could get a few more of our machines located. We are trying two different locators. Our first locator is a much smaller business and does not have the reputation of the second but we thought we would see who gave us the best experience and location. We got a call today to have our machine placed in a Mexican Restaraunt. We were estatic, filled the machine up and drove to the restaurant. When we got there we were sadly confronted with about 10 machines already currently on site. Is this typical? We did not want to place our machine in the midst of pretty stiff competition. We opted out of the placement and the locator said he would find another location. We are waiting to see where the larger more reputable locator places us. Is this the normal process? should we lose faith in the locating process?

[RJT]

Hello all,
I am a newbie and would like to ask a question regarding your locating experience. Me and my husband have successfully located 6 machines and thought we would try a locator to see if we could get a few more of our machines located. We are trying two different locators. Our first locator is a much smaller business and does not have the reputation of the second but we thought we would see who gave us the best experience and location. We got a call today to have our machine placed in a Mexican Restaraunt. We were estatic, filled the machine up and drove to the restaurant. When we got there we were sadly confronted with about 10 machines already currently on site. Is this typical? We did not want to place our machine in the midst of pretty stiff competition. We opted out of the placement and the locator said he would find another location. We are waiting to see where the larger more reputable locator places us. Is this the normal process? should we lose faith in the locating process?

My experience is more with full line vending but I thought I would chime in. First off if you have placed 6 machines yourself then why hire a locator?

As far as the situation with the locator, why not set guidelines for them to follow. Why not tell them the type of accounts you will accept and are looking for. If you are willing to go in where other vendors are then tell them some sort of criteria which will be acceptable.

I have heard horror stories about people using locators and I think it is more of a communication issues. I think that people let some locators talk them in to such loose guidelines that you get into a bad situation sometimes.

No matter who you hire, (painter, handyman, mechanic,, etc) make sure you both are clear on the expectations and that would cut down on the issues.

Back to my main question, why not locate them yourself. It sounds like you have been sucessful with it in the past so why hire someone?

[vendingforlife]

Hello all,
I am a newbie and would like to ask a question regarding your locating experience. Me and my husband have successfully located 6 machines and thought we would try a locator to see if we could get a few more of our machines located. We are trying two different locators. Our first locator is a much smaller business and does not have the reputation of the second but we thought we would see who gave us the best experience and location. We got a call today to have our machine placed in a Mexican Restaraunt. We were estatic, filled the machine up and drove to the restaurant. When we got there we were sadly confronted with about 10 machines already currently on site. Is this typical? We did not want to place our machine in the midst of pretty stiff competition. We opted out of the placement and the locator said he would find another location. We are waiting to see where the larger more reputable locator places us. Is this the normal process? should we lose faith in the locating process?

[vendingforlife]

Hello,
Thanks so much for your advice. We thought that possibly a locator could get us into some of the better locations out there and we have about 10 more machines to place. Our goal is to get many more machines with time and I guess we felt that locating all of them ourselves would be impossible. You make a lot of sense and I think we will defintely make ourselves clear with these two locators now. If we find that the locations they provide are no better than the ones we could get ourselves then we will defintely stop using them- it would get pretty costly.

[RJT]

Hello,
Thanks so much for your advice. We thought that possibly a locator could get us into some of the better locations out there and we have about 10 more machines to place. Our goal is to get many more machines with time and I guess we felt that locating all of them ourselves would be impossible. You make a lot of sense and I think we will defintely make ourselves clear with these two locators now. If we find that the locations they provide are no better than the ones we could get ourselves then we will defintely stop using them- it would get pretty costly.

Why would you think that a locator could get you into better accounts? First off they are just using the phone book to look up numbers in your area and make phone calls. How could they possibly know if it is a good account or not over the phone? To know if an account is good you have to see it. You know your area better than anyone. If I were looking to place bulk vendors in resturants I would ride around at lunch time and dinner time and see who was busy. Make notes of the locations and either call them or go by and see them. Always visit them during their offtimes. First thing when they open, not at or around busy times or when they have had a long day and ready to go home.

Have a nice clean filled machine in your car ready to go if they say can I see what your machines look like or they say yes when can you bring one by.


NO ONE knows your business better than you. NO ONE will work harder for your business than you. Go out and land your own accounts.

Do I think locators have a place? Sure, but it is with people that A. dont have time to locate themselves. B. They have no sales ability. C They are just not willing to take the time and want an easy fix. All of which most likley will never make much money in business.

Good luck and have a great Christmas!!!

[vendingforlife]

Thanks! I suppose being new to the game we thought that locators were the way to go. Great advice. Have a great Christmas too.

[minivend]

Amen to Pro Vending! I've been in business for over 25 years and have "learned" to become my own sales person. I know I'm not the best but I have built my business up by NETWORKING and plain old COLD CALLING in person. I only use the telephone or email after I have evaluated the location (decided I want to do business with them) and got a contact person at that location to start communicating with. Sometimes the contact isnt the decision maker but hopefully you can find that out after the dialog has started. Good luck and look from some books on selling..being in business for yourself is difficult but can be very rewarding. If it was easy everyone would be doing it!!

[vendingforlife]

Amen to Pro Vending! I've been in business for over 25 years and have "learned" to become my own sales person. I know I'm not the best but I have built my business up by NETWORKING and plain old COLD CALLING in person. I only use the telephone or email after I have evaluated the location (decided I want to do business with them) and got a contact person at that location to start communicating with. Sometimes the contact isnt the decision maker but hopefully you can find that out after the dialog has started. Good luck and look from some books on selling..being in business for yourself is difficult but can be very rewarding. If it was easy everyone would be doing it!!

Thanks. I think in a very short time we are learning that our own skills are probably going to be our best bet. Currently we are awaiting a location that we prepaid,they say it can take up to a week.. we'll see what happens. There was another guy that said we pay after he finds location and we agree. So far he has given us the run around this week so I am getting skeptical of him. My husband is a people person so he was able to land the 6 locations we have so far. I on the other hand am not as good but I am getting better. We are anxious to see what our machines pull in 4 weeks. I know some locations will be better than others. You are right if it were easy everyone would be in it and thank goodness they are not!! Thanks for the encouragement - this site has been very educational.

[CHUMPCHANGE]

Unfortunately sometimes this is the case. I have had bulk candy machines in sandwich shops like that where there are like 10 other machines than mind. But crazy enough my machines always made at least 20 dollars or more a month in those locations. Yes locating your own machines is good but I use a locator. I have now over 350 machines and I wouldn't have these locations if it wasn't for my locator. If you are good salesman then you probably don't need a salesmen. I personally don't like driving around town for 4 or 5 hours with a couple of machines in my car and come up empty handed. I rather pay a locator 40 to 60 bucks to find me a location and email the location to me. It is a lot more efficient for me. I use Kickstart locations I have been using them for the last two years and they are the best locator I have used so far, and I have to credit them with the success of my vending business.

[vendingforlife]

Unfortunately sometimes this is the case. I have had bulk candy machines in sandwich shops like that where there are like 10 other machines than mind. But crazy enough my machines always made at least 20 dollars or more a month in those locations. Yes locating your own machines is good but I use a locator. I have now over 350 machines and I wouldn't have these locations if it wasn't for my locator. If you are good salesman then you probably don't need a salesmen. I personally don't like driving around town for 4 or 5 hours with a couple of machines in my car and come up empty handed. I rather pay a locator 40 to 60 bucks to find me a location and email the location to me. It is a lot more efficient for me. I use Kickstart locations I have been using them for the last two years and they are the best locator I have used so far, and I have to credit them with the success of my vending business.

[vendingforlife]

Chumpchange do you have any racks? and if so have you used kickstart to locate them? We just bought our first rack at a great deal and refurbished it so it looks brand new. The star up cost to get it filled is a lot more so we want to make sure it is placed in a decent spot and we were considering using kick start?

Unfortunately sometimes this is the case. I have had bulk candy machines in sandwich shops like that where there are like 10 other machines than mind. But crazy enough my machines always made at least 20 dollars or more a month in those locations. Yes locating your own machines is good but I use a locator. I have now over 350 machines and I wouldn't have these locations if it wasn't for my locator. If you are good salesman then you probably don't need a salesmen. I personally don't like driving around town for 4 or 5 hours with a couple of machines in my car and come up empty handed. I rather pay a locator 40 to 60 bucks to find me a location and email the location to me. It is a lot more efficient for me. I use Kickstart locations I have been using them for the last two years and they are the best locator I have used so far, and I have to credit them with the success of my vending business.