32 replies to this topic

[T Bird]

I don't think there is any locator that is worth paying for. If you want to own your own business you have to read about it, go on forums like this one, talk to people that have done it already and go out there and sell your machines yourself. You are paying a locator to find a place to put your machine. They do not care how much you do after they get their fee. You need to talk to the owner, find the best location in the account, ie. close to the register, close to the door, etc. You can do it. Everyone can sell. You will get about 15-20 NO's before you get a YES.

But, when you get a YES you will be so excited!

Go out there and get them...
Gary
Westcoast-vend.com

Gary.......your point is well taken unless you have a locator that gives you a long guarantee after placement. ( meaning more than 90 days! ) In that case, the locator will certainly try to find a good location.

[Tradesmen1]

The bottom line in any business is to be as efficient as possible! To be efficient in this business is to cut overhead and headaches. The sooner you can be comfortable locating your machines on your own the sooner your profits will increase and your headaches will lessen. There are probably alot of excellent locators out there, however locating is an ongoing part of the vending business for various reasons. That being said, if you can't locate on your own you will never be able to be as profitable as you potentially could be. 1. If you do your own locating you are eliminating the headache and worry of finding a "good locator". Your only concern is finding good locations, not finding a good locator to find you good locations etc. 2. If you see that a location is not performing up to your expectations then you will not hesitate to go out and find a new location to replace your underperforming location. That is if you don't already have one. 3. The upside to doing your own locating is that you get a feel for what locations seem to do the best in your area and those are the type of establishments you learn to target. Additionally, you get preprogrammed and it seems as if you are always subliminally locating everywhere you go which will get you more profitable locations because locating is then a part of what you do on a daily basis. It is essentially a big circle that will come naturally and will essentially result in a more efficient vending business with less headaches. That makes this business fun, and we're all in it for the fun and to escape the hassles of an everyday J.O.B. and having to deal with everyday people. Less people = Less headaches

[kennr]

Gary.......your point is well taken unless you have a locator that gives you a long guarantee after placement. ( meaning more than 90 days! ) In that case, the locator will certainly try to find a good location.

Most locator's won't even live in your area either they are on the move going from one job to another. They will have a motel bill to pay so they are in a hurry to get it done and get out of town. They use a street map or sometimes have you go with them as a guide because they really do not know where they are going. They will have you pick the location while you are with them (like you really know where to put them, that is why you hired them). That way if you pick it they will have you sign off on it and then say you picked it. If a locator finds you 25 accounts and 10 are no good do you really think he is going to fly or drive back to that town to find you new ones? He could not afford to do that. They usually only make half to the location fee the company they are working for gets the other half. The location company is like a broker they get half the fee and book the job for the locator they are independent contractors. Most location companies also have a little clause in their contract that says you have to sue them in the state and county they are in. Good luck hiring a lawyer to go from Ca. to Fla to get a refund. Read the fine print when you sign off on an account and accept it, once you do on a lot of sign off sheets you own it. You can locate on your own yellow book or business yellow pages on line is a good way to find locations type in the type of business you are looking for the location and pull them up on the net. You can even put in the distance you want to travel. If you do not like cold calling call ahead find out who to speak with so you have a name before you go. Always have a picture of your machine with you when you are out and about you never know when you may come across a location by accident. There is money in vending I apologize for the long story I have just seen to many people get discouraged by some of the location companies or locator's and get out of the business before they even have a chance to realize they can make money. There are good location companies out there you have to do your homework?

[T Bird]

Most locator's won't even live in your area either they are on the move going from one job to another. They will have a motel bill to pay so they are in a hurry to get it done and get out of town. They use a street map or sometimes have you go with them as a guide because they really do not know where they are going. They will have you pick the location while you are with them (like you really know where to put them, that is why you hired them). That way if you pick it they will have you sign off on it and then say you picked it. If a locator finds you 25 accounts and 10 are no good do you really think he is going to fly or drive back to that town to find you new ones? He could not afford to do that. They usually only make half to the location fee the company they are working for gets the other half. The location company is like a broker they get half the fee and book the job for the locator they are independent contractors. Most location companies also have a little clause in their contract that says you have to sue them in the state and county they are in. Good luck hiring a lawyer to go from Ca. to Fla to get a refund. Read the fine print when you sign off on an account and accept it, once you do on a lot of sign off sheets you own it. You can locate on your own yellow book or business yellow pages on line is a good way to find locations type in the type of business you are looking for the location and pull them up on the net. You can even put in the distance you want to travel. If you do not like cold calling call ahead find out who to speak with so you have a name before you go. Always have a picture of your machine with you when you are out and about you never know when you may come across a location by accident. There is money in vending I apologize for the long story I have just seen to many people get discouraged by some of the location companies or locator's and get out of the business before they even have a chance to realize they can make money. There are good location companies out there you have to do your homework?

Look........your points are well taken. I understand where you are coming from. I am just starting out and will use a locator to start me off while I get my feet on the ground etc. But what I did was pick someone who is offering me a great guarantee. It's being done via telemarketing style. I am sure once I get going, I will take those suggestions and keep photos of my machines with me and always keep my eyes open for locations as I travel about.

[kennr]

Look........your points are well taken. I understand where you are coming from. I am just starting out and will use a locator to start me off while I get my feet on the ground etc. But what I did was pick someone who is offering me a great guarantee. It's being done via telemarketing style. I am sure once I get going, I will take those suggestions and keep photos of my machines with me and always keep my eyes open for locations as I travel about.

Thank you. I wish you the best of luck as I said there is money in vending. I have nothing against locator's there are some good ones ones out there. But like anything else,there are those that spoil it for them and it makes the whole industry look bad. Along with some of the unbelievable buis ops I see all the time.

[bobjr]

I am having trouble locating machines. I have used local hired salespeople and professional locators. Doing it myself won't work as I fear rejection. Local people are slow to find places and the pros use telemarketing and are expensive and don't really get places I would like to service. Any ideas?

ican heip

[kennr]

ican heip

A quick question what are you going to do when you service the account if you have a fear of rejection? It is no different than getting your own location you still have to introduce yourself and meet the customer. I have an in expensive download on my web site to help get you started. But even if you hire a locator you will still have to meet the customer. Believe it or not you are always selling yourself to someone. You are already a sales person why pay someone else and you can pick the accounts to call on and get the ones you want instead of paying for an account you do not want. It is as easy as going in and introducing yourself and telling them what you have to offer and bring a picture of the machine with you. If you are going to use a charity tell them about the charity and explain it to them. If you are going to be offering a percentage have that worked out so you can tell them what they will be making. There are way to word the amount of percentage so they think they are making money if that is what you are going to offer. The money you will save on a locator will buy you a lot more machines too. Vending is a numbers game the more locations the better chance to make more money. If one of the locations a locator gets says they do not want your machine any more you will have to find a new location. Most locators are not going to locate just one machine so it will sit and make no money or you will eventually have to find your own location anyway.

[wjt]

No. These are Wowie Zowie and Lollipop Mine Machines.

Locating is just a hit and miss thing. Alot of NO's but the YES's feel sooooo good. Plus, you did it and saved money. Plus you learn along the way and get better all the time. WJT