5 replies to this topic

[coinvestor]

It looks like I may need to buy a cold food machine. I don't know what kind I want to buy, so I thought I would post this here and see what you guys thought.

Here is what I'm thinking, excuse the rambling:

I like the price on the AMS food machine as far as new ones go. I would never pay the $5-6k for a new National carousel (sp?) type. I thought about getting a refurb'ed national, but 3k is still too much for a refurb if I can get a new AMS for 4k.

Do you guys prefer the carousel types, or the snack types?

I think that the carousel types are more flexible as far as package types, but I wouldn't want to work on one that’s broken. I like the snack machine types since they are basically a refrigerated snack machine and I think I could work on it when it brakes. I don't like the snack types for vending round stuff since it tends to rotate in the spirals as it vends and you can't tell what it is. Do you guys know a fix for that?

Thanks

JD

[midtenn]

Coinvester, I will give my opinion for what it is worth. I never met a vendor who liked purchasing a food machine because its hard to make money with them, but sometimes you have to have them to retain or gain an account. I have been a true Crane National advocate for many years. In my opinion the Crane National 431D is absolutely the finest all-purpose machine to use in my accounts. As you said product configuration is user friendly, can be changed in minutes and shelves can be zoned to up to different prices per shelf giving you up to 27 price points if you need them. Problems are few and the new refrigeration system on them are easy to remove, repair and reinstall if that ever becomes necessary. National also has a 24/7 hotline when you need help on service calls @ 800-NAT- VEND. Part orders @ 800-NA1-PART. If you are proficient with refurbishing used equipment, here is a link to a company that sales used working equipment. http://www.veii.com . You may even be able to get them lower that the prices listed in the ad. They also sell completely refurbished equipment and repair parts too. I just bought one, refurbished it to look like new, and set it on location 2 weeks ago. Works great and the people love it. I have less than $2500 in it, so I can't beat it. On the other hand, I have never used the AMS machine that you are talking about for food but they will probably work okay. They biggest drawback that I see is the packages falling over or not vending properly. This may not be a problem. I have used frozen machines like these, such as an AP320 with very good success but all product, including frozen dinners was frozen solid to give rigidity. It just seems to limit the foods that can be vended. I know people use them all the time. This is just me opinion and nothing more. I have seen the AMS frozen machine and plan on trying one of those someday soon.

[scottgtt]

I have all AMS, USI and Crane/National Cold Foods and one Savamco. My Cranes are 430s with the exception of one FIFO 480. I really like the 430s for many of the same reasons previsoulsy mentioned. However, you can get a new 480 for less than $5000 and have a first in first out cold food which makes a lot of potential spoilage problems go away. Bottom line, go with a Crane. AMS is good, USI is not. Crane is hard to go wrong with. Also, you can get a refurb 430 very easily for less than $3000.00. I just bought two last week for $2750ish. If you want a referral let me know and I can help.

[coinvestor]

I have all AMS, USI and Crane/National Cold Foods and one Savamco. My Cranes are 430s with the exception of one FIFO 480. I really like the 430s for many of the same reasons previsoulsy mentioned. However, you can get a new 480 for less than $5000 and have a first in first out cold food which makes a lot of potential spoilage problems go away. Bottom line, go with a Crane. AMS is good, USI is not. Crane is hard to go wrong with. Also, you can get a refurb 430 very easily for less than $3000.00. I just bought two last week for $2750ish. If you want a referral let me know and I can help.

Thanks for the great responses guys!

I have one snack style food vendor that I had problems with yesterday. The yogurt and fruit cups on the second shelf from the bottom were busting when they dropped. I had an orange juice drop then bounce back into a lower spiral and landed on a sandwich. These are all problems I wouldn't have with a carousel vendor.

JD

[midtenn]

You may want to secure a pad about 1/4 inch or thicker to the bottom of the delivery tray, if there is not one already in place. This may help protect the integrity of the product upon delivery.

[nomoneynomo]

You may want to secure a pad about 1/4 inch or thicker to the bottom of the delivery tray, if there is not one already in place. This may help protect the integrity of the product upon delivery.

My thoughts exactly. Also the yogurt and fruit cups should be on the bottom shelf if they are not now, just as fruit pies are best on the bottom shelf in snack machines because they are so fragile.