I know this is an old topic, but I thought it might be good for a quick review. I use SuperPro tri-vends, and I also use Dentyne Ice machines.......Let me give you my take.

I 100% agree with Steve that not all locations can handle a tri-vend. This is true, but the key is to find locations that can. I focus all of my energy on placing my superpro's in employee breakrooms. Factories are the best, and I won't place one unless there's at least 100-150 employees at the minimal. So far, my focus has gave me a very nice ROI. There's other locations where I think they would work, but break rooms are a sure bet. Steve likes the idea of having singles, so he can put on racks if the demand warrants it.....In breakrooms, space is usually limited, and this may pose a problem with some of them, so Triples are a good choice.

Now the Dentyne Ice is awsome. Sales are amazing. Yes you pay more for the gum and the machine, but it is worth it. The gum lasts a long time, and the gum itself is alot larger than chiclet gum. Without going back over the books, I can be safe to say that I average well over $35 per month, per machine on the DI. Each bag of gum costs about $30 but it makes about $100 in sales.

Now, like I said before, I agree with Steve. My business plan details very precise methods and equipment that I will need to gain profitable locations. I will use Triples in large break rooms, I will use Dentyne Ice to market to the "Adult only crowds. I plan on using the Certs as well for establishments that don't want gum ( School system wants this bad), and then I plan on having singles head machines for other select areas.

With this plan, I will have my business made up of 3 separate machines. The SuperPro Tri-vend, the Dentyne Ice and Certs ( Which will be kind of machine), and a single head machine, ALL in black and Chrome, except for the DI which is standard Blue.

Well, in theory yes, but then you'll be forced to only market to a select and usually smaller group. By placing a machine where only the nurses and doctors had access, then you are actually cutting into the actual high traffic areas of the hospital. I have been considering putting Dentyne Ice machines throughout our local hospital, but I am focused more on putting them in certain waiting rooms, the main lobby, and the employee breakrooms. This way, you will get a large spectrum of business from not only nurses and doctors, but possibly patients and visiting people. If you focus too closely on one area, you will actually lose profits.

Now, I have machines that bring in more than $30 per month, but I also have some that don't, the national average is far below this, and you should not go into any location with the thinking that you will recieve more than your minimal take per location. You will be fooling yourself if you think that you can average more than $30 per month on a large vending route, I'm not saying it can be done, and that it hasn't happened, but you really need to hope for the best, but always plan for the worst.