13 replies to this topic

[oaces]

Hi everyone. I'm just getting started in the vending biz myself. I have a snack and soda machine in a vo-tech school. The buying is going pretty well. My question is, are bins the way to transport my products. Candy, chips, granola bars, etc. It just seems so time consuming to load up the bins, stock my machine and then come home and prep them for my next trip. I do 2, sometimes 3 runs a week.

Is this the way to go or am I missing an easier way to sort and transport my product. By the way, this website is really nice. Hope to keep in touch and learn more from ya'all.

[Rocksolid]

I am new here as well, still working on getting a location. A question that might come up here is what type of machine are you using? It seems that if you are going to this location 2 or 3 times a week then either you need a bigger machine or should see about bringing in another machine so there are 2 machines at his one spot. I'm sure somebody will reply. Everybody here is very helpful. Good luck with your continued success.

[oaces]

I am new here as well, still working on getting a location. A question that might come up here is what type of machine are you using? It seems that if you are going to this location 2 or 3 times a week then either you need a bigger machine or should see about bringing in another machine so there are 2 machines at his one spot. I'm sure somebody will reply. Everybody here is very helpful. Good luck with your continued success.

[oaces]

Thanks for the info Rock. My snack machine manual is in my desk at work so I really don't know what brand of machine I have (Boy Am I A Rookie). It has 6 rows and then a row for gum and mints. The first 3 rows are chips, popcorn, packaged cookies. The next 3 are candy bars, crackers, and the like. It's a brand new machine and holds a ton of stuff. It's just that these kids raid the heck out of it all week and I do need to fill it 2, sometimes 3 times. Mostly 2. Don't get me wrong, this is great and I'm not complaining, I just want to know if there's a more organized way to keep my product than the bins I use now. Thanks agian Rock.

So far this experience is rewarding and it's bnice to meet other vendors like yourself.

[C & J Enterprises]

I've been in the vending business for about a year and a half and I've used everything from a sedan to a pickup truck then finally to a cargo van. I'm not sure what you drive to bring your products to locations, but this is what I use. I line up the boxes of chips on their sides along a shelf. Chips are kept in the box that I buy them in and I cut a hole on the side just big enough to stick my hand in to grab the bags. I keep candy bars in removable trays to keep them separated and also when it gets hot you can remove the trays to bring them in the air condition. Pastries go in trays that lock in to the inside of the van. Drinks are stacked in trays about 4 high. Thats about it for my set up. Let me know if you have any tricks of your own.

C&J

[oaces]

I'm considering buying a cargo van myself. I love the chip box idea. But, I'm not sure what you mean by removable trays. Did you build them into the van, were they already installed or can you buy them somewhere? I know this answer may be a bit lenghthy, but I'm really in to this job and I want to know all the ins and outs and the best way to do things.

Thanks for the great suggestion regarding the boxes of chips and all the help.

[C & J Enterprises]

I'm considering buying a cargo van myself. I love the chip box idea. But, I'm not sure what you mean by removable trays. Did you build them into the van, were they already installed or can you buy them somewhere? I know this answer may be a bit lenghthy, but I'm really in to this job and I want to know all the ins and outs and the best way to do things.

Thanks for the great suggestion regarding the boxes of chips and all the help.

The cargo van was a great stepping stone for my company with the amount of growh I've had. I bought the trays at Home Depot and I recently saw that you can buy the trays at Lowe's also. There is a plastic strip that you screw down. The shelves slide into the back of the strips. Yes, all of the shelves in my van were installed by me. I have shelves on both sides of my van and it was very time consuming and took alot of time to think of where I wanted everything to go. I am currently looking at different options about this summer. I am considering putting an extra air conditioner (like on a camper) in my van to leave running while I am not in the van. I'm also looking at a trailer to store products and also to bring to locations in case my van needs work done to it. Hope I answered some more questions.

C&J

[oaces]

Thanks C&J for the info. When I do buy the van,(hopefully soon), I'll check out Home Depot/Lowes for those shelving strips. Thanks again for all the help. I'm not sure about the AC problem. I started in November and the heat hasn't been an issue yet. I live in upstate NY. We don't have to worry about melting candy yet. Good Luck with the AC thing and keep in touch.






Oaces

[Housevending]

Its good to hear that you are doing well! I am setting up a soda vending machine business in Panama City, Panama (my hometown). So to start, I am looking for a good 2 used soda machines. I have a limited budget. Do you know a good company that I can buy from in USA?

Thanks,
Luis

[The Vending Guys]

Hello,

I do what you do. I get everything ready in bins and then when I get our of my car I just load up the sodas on my dolly and also my bin and go into to fill up my machines. Im sure there is a better way. I think what matters is wether your operating out of your car (sedan) or a van. Obviously from all the vendors I know who operate cargo vans, the easiest and most time effecient way is to do what whats his name said about putting all his chips and pastry and everything else in his van and then deciding once he gets there what he need for that locations. I know a lot of vendors that do that. Im hoping I get to that point one day. As my friends at JBL vending have told me before, you just have to be patient. Hope everything works out!

[clvending]

Its good to hear that you are doing well! I am setting up a soda vending machine business in Panama City, Panama (my hometown). So to start, I am looking for a good 2 used soda machines. I have a limited budget. Do you know a good company that I can buy from in USA?

Thanks,
Luis

Try vendingworld.com. Randy helped me last year in making the right choices for my locations.

Lee

[oaces]

Hello,

I do what you do. I get everything ready in bins and then when I get our of my car I just load up the sodas on my dolly and also my bin and go into to fill up my machines. Im sure there is a better way. I think what matters is wether your operating out of your car (sedan) or a van. Obviously from all the vendors I know who operate cargo vans, the easiest and most time effecient way is to do what whats his name said about putting all his chips and pastry and everything else in his van and then deciding once he gets there what he need for that locations. I know a lot of vendors that do that. Im hoping I get to that point one day. As my friends at JBL vending have told me before, you just have to be patient. Hope everything works out!

[oaces]

Hello,

I do what you do. I get everything ready in bins and then when I get our of my car I just load up the sodas on my dolly and also my bin and go into to fill up my machines. Im sure there is a better way. I think what matters is wether your operating out of your car (sedan) or a van. Obviously from all the vendors I know who operate cargo vans, the easiest and most time effecient way is to do what whats his name said about putting all his chips and pastry and everything else in his van and then deciding once he gets there what he need for that locations. I know a lot of vendors that do that. Im hoping I get to that point one day. As my friends at JBL vending have told me before, you just have to be patient. Hope everything works out!

[oaces]

Hello,

I do what you do. I get everything ready in bins and then when I get our of my car I just load up the sodas on my dolly and also my bin and go into to fill up my machines. Im sure there is a better way. I think what matters is wether your operating out of your car (sedan) or a van. Obviously from all the vendors I know who operate cargo vans, the easiest and most time effecient way is to do what whats his name said about putting all his chips and pastry and everything else in his van and then deciding once he gets there what he need for that locations. I know a lot of vendors that do that. Im hoping I get to that point one day. As my friends at JBL vending have told me before, you just have to be patient. Hope everything works out!