4 replies to this topic

[wannavend]

So many questions....
I am determined to jump into this business come the New Year.
Thank you so very much to those of you out there who are so generous with your advice and direction.
I'd like to start small and learn and then build from there. i would think that is best as I am certain to make mistakes about things I don't even know about right now.
I just need some extra income, and I love people and fixing things and driving.

Are Soda and snacks the best way to go?
I have a degree (4.0) in electronics and I worked as a remote (worked from home) field service technician for a huge company's printer division for over 10 years so I have great customer and self management skills and I have a knack for electro mechanical trouble shooting and repair (I can solder too, lol).
How is the best way to be trained in this business?
Will I need refrigeration training?
What are your favorite kinda of locations for soda and snack machines?
Are locaters worth their fees?
What factors make a great location?
How many employees should I shoot for at a location?
Should I automatically give the location a piece of the pie in order to have their loyalty?
Are any sample contracts online?
Instead of a commission to the location, will some sign a contract guaranteeing they will keep me if I agree to keep my product prices at what they consider a reasonable price?
What are the number top things locations are looking for in a vendor?

Just to let you know, I am in Southern California, wanting to build this business in the Inland empire and Orange County.
I don't want to be anyone's competition, I feel that there are plenty places needing good service and products, for everyone. I would much rather just compete with myself to deliver the very best product and service that I can.

I would love to intern (work for free) for a repair shop for the training and to better understand the pros and cons of the individual models available, but I hsve yet to hear back from repair shops that don't even sell routes, just repair. They weren't hiring but darn, I thought just having a good tech for FREE that can learn quite quickly would be appealing to them. I must not understand their business yet.

I want to buy used do you think that is best?
What are your favorite machines and why?
What are your least favorite machines and why?

I really love those DVD disk vending kiosks but the start up and upkeep cost (to keep current inventory) seemed daunting.
Pepsi never gets old to Pepssi drinkers.

Anyone else had success in DVD area though?

Where is the best priced product to fill the soda and snack machines found? Costco?
Are Monster or Red Bull machines good to have since they are so popular or will them limit what I can stock?

Any idea what I should pay for a used machine?
Or how old of a machine I should buy?
Is there a Kelly Blue Book for vending machines like for cars?
At what age or usage history do most machines start to have serious problems?
What range of cost are normal, common repairs?
What range of cost are serious repairs.

Should I at least tentatively nail down a location first and then go out and find the machine or machines that can best service that customer?

I have no problem just cold calling and creating rapport with people, because I genuinely like and care about people and thankfully they can sense that.

Okay, enough questions for now.
Mahalo again for any questions you can answer or questions I don't even yet know i should ask,
Mary Coppin

[snack dude]

So many questions....
I am determined to jump into this business come the New Year.
Thank you so very much to those of you out there who are so generous with your advice and direction.
I'd like to start small and learn and then build from there. i would think that is best as I am certain to make mistakes about things I don't even know about right now.
I just need some extra income, and I love people and fixing things and driving.

Are Soda and snacks the best way to go?
I have a degree (4.0) in electronics and I worked as a remote (worked from home) field service technician for a huge company's printer division for over 10 years so I have great customer and self management skills and I have a knack for electro mechanical trouble shooting and repair (I can solder too, lol).
How is the best way to be trained in this business?
Will I need refrigeration training?
What are your favorite kinda of locations for soda and snack machines?
Are locaters worth their fees?
What factors make a great location?
How many employees should I shoot for at a location?
Should I automatically give the location a piece of the pie in order to have their loyalty?
Are any sample contracts online?
Instead of a commission to the location, will some sign a contract guaranteeing they will keep me if I agree to keep my product prices at what they consider a reasonable price?
What are the number top things locations are looking for in a vendor?

Just to let you know, I am in Southern California, wanting to build this business in the Inland empire and Orange County.
I don't want to be anyone's competition, I feel that there are plenty places needing good service and products, for everyone. I would much rather just compete with myself to deliver the very best product and service that I can.

I would love to intern (work for free) for a repair shop for the training and to better understand the pros and cons of the individual models available, but I hsve yet to hear back from repair shops that don't even sell routes, just repair. They weren't hiring but darn, I thought just having a good tech for FREE that can learn quite quickly would be appealing to them. I must not understand their business yet.

I want to buy used do you think that is best?
What are your favorite machines and why?
What are your least favorite machines and why?

I really love those DVD disk vending kiosks but the start up and upkeep cost (to keep current inventory) seemed daunting.
Pepsi never gets old to Pepssi drinkers.

Anyone else had success in DVD area though?

Where is the best priced product to fill the soda and snack machines found? Costco?
Are Monster or Red Bull machines good to have since they are so popular or will them limit what I can stock?

Any idea what I should pay for a used machine?
Or how old of a machine I should buy?
Is there a Kelly Blue Book for vending machines like for cars?
At what age or usage history do most machines start to have serious problems?
What range of cost are normal, common repairs?
What range of cost are serious repairs.

Should I at least tentatively nail down a location first and then go out and find the machine or machines that can best service that customer?

I have no problem just cold calling and creating rapport with people, because I genuinely like and care about people and thankfully they can sense that.

Okay, enough questions for now.
Mahalo again for any questions you can answer or questions I don't even yet know i should ask,
Mary Coppin

Just start working your way back thru past post on this site and all your questions will probably be answered and you will learn more than if someone just answered your specific questions

Good Luck

[marks_vending]

You have to decide how busy and how big you want to get.

Here's some tips for which machines for location sizes (easiest to maintain, work with)

Employees=1-20 Machine=CT-48 + Snack cs-12
Employees=20-50 Machine=CS-99 + snack cs-12
Employees=50+ Machine is full sized + snack full sized 26 selection or more

The CS-12, CS-99 and CT-48 are all moveable by 1 person. They are very reliable and maintenance is very easy

[jblvending]

I'd say you have your work cut out for you, this is the worst time to get into vending(if your small), and the best of times if your a larger Vendor,but since you are determined I'll give you information that has worked for me.1) Work for a vending company first, to see if it's something you will enjoy first.2) Save enough capital up to try start off debt free. 3) Learn as much about different types of full size vending machines as you can, snacks and drinks( buy used machines to start).4) stay away from accounts with less than 75 employees 5)Do not buy into hype, many compaines try to sell you machines and location for stupid amount of monies, stay clear of this fly by night, blue sky gimmicks.6)if it's to good to be true, it normally is 7) No one sells a profitable vending company, so check there bank records to see that there deposts match up with there sales.8)There is no loyality in this business, treat all your customers the same, large and small, and be consistent on your service dates with each account.9)Working on your on machines will save you a ton of monies, but try to have a relationship with your local bottler, in most cases if you purchase drinks from them,you can get your coke machine for free through there loaner program. 10) plan not to make a dime for the first three years, look at as an investment, because it is, you cant' control the stock market in regards as your 401k, but you can control you getting up in the morning and going to work, and producing for yourself...Good luck, hope this helps, its a great business, but a hard one. Tim LeBlanc

[snack dude]

I'd say you have your work cut out for you, this is the worst time to get into vending(if your small), and the best of times if your a larger Vendor,but since you are determined I'll give you information that has worked for me.1) Work for a vending company first, to see if it's something you will enjoy first.2) Save enough capital up to try start off debt free. 3) Learn as much about different types of full size vending machines as you can, snacks and drinks( buy used machines to start).4) stay away from accounts with less than 75 employees 5)Do not buy into hype, many compaines try to sell you machines and location for stupid amount of monies, stay clear of this fly by night, blue sky gimmicks.6)if it's to good to be true, it normally is 7) No one sells a profitable vending company, so check there bank records to see that there deposts match up with there sales.8)There is no loyality in this business, treat all your customers the same, large and small, and be consistent on your service dates with each account.9)Working on your on machines will save you a ton of monies, but try to have a relationship with your local bottler, in most cases if you purchase drinks from them,you can get your coke machine for free through there loaner program. 10) plan not to make a dime for the first three years, look at as an investment, because it is, you cant' control the stock market in regards as your 401k, but you can control you getting up in the morning and going to work, and producing for yourself...Good luck, hope this helps, its a great business, but a hard one. Tim LeBlanc

Well said Tim

Snack Dude