Just buy some ant spray and spray the legs and base around the machine, and keep a ant repellant inside the machine, but don't spray inside the machine, also give us a update on your papermill , want to see how it's going.Thanks Tim

Thanks Jim,
The mill is going pretty good. The vending is the easy part. I've got 15 machines in place. Two of the machine have satellite frozen on them. The icecream is selling real good, the sandwiches and pizzas not as much. So far as I can tell I'm averaging about $100/week per machine. Have yet to get my first commission checks from the soda, but it's supposedly about $4000/month all together from that. The cafeteria is a pain. Doesn't make much money, and the customers complain about everything. First month was tough with start up costs, and starting in December was a real bummer. I think it is going to work out well though in the long run. I'll keep you guys posted when I get a better idea in January.
Thanks,
Strider

That is the same setup. I'll do what you said. Thanks for the input. These folks are calling for my head. I have to get them some ice cream Hey JD...hope you are well. The cafeteria is just as you said. I provide the food and the labor. I have to give a 9% commission off the top to the mill. I hire my own people, use my own menu, they provide everything non-consumable. Thanks again guys.

No, Coke, pepsi and cheerwine are paying ME a commision for the right to vend there. I don't know how much to ask for?
What do you think????????

No, I don't think you willy nilly'd, I think you saw dollars signs and jumped at it.What you have done is forced your hand , and have no choice but to learn all that there is about vending, something you should have done beforehand.When sizing any location, you want to go in, see what the last vendor has, determine the amount the people before hand, size up each spot to be sure the equipment will suffice, and the machine will fit thru the door first before ordering any machine.I think you will have major problems, I hope not.I see that you don't have enough machines, and see your going to be there more times during the week than nessary,also if a turnaround comes(with all those extra people) you need extra machines, more service days, it's going to happen.What I'm telling you is for your own good, not to degrade you, this is hard work, and demanding, it's amazing what happens to adults when they lose .50 out of a machine, if something breaks are stops working, who you going to call to fix it, you have a more than a learning curve.Again, I wish you well, and let us know in few weeks your progress.

I will certainly let you all know how everything is going on an ongoing basis. Thanks again for the input. Was wondering if anyone had any good idea of how much product to buy for initial fill of these machines, and where is a good distributor of cold/frozen foods since our Sam's doesn't have much in the way of selection.
Thanks again
Strider

How did you go from 21 machines to 10, just wondering, did you talk them down to just 10? So let me understand this, your going to do the cafeteria as well, is this your area of expertise?At 8% on gross commission's, you need to double your prices and add 8% to get your retail price, this issure's your profitablity, due to your large layout for machine cost and placement.Is this all you will be doing ,are do you have a full time job as well?

Told them I would start at 10 and add as necessary until we reach equilibrium. My mother-in-law has 15 yrs. food service exp. and 3 yrs in this particular cafeteria. She will be managing the cafeteria. I do have a full time job, my wife will be servicing the snack machines. I get the feeling you think I just willy nilly decided to do this. Not the case. It will be challenging and a huge learning curve, but I am sure that we will get it up and running. The mill does not expect a bumpless transfer. Would love some ideas on cold/frozen food distributors and how much product to buy initially. Not gonna add the gross comission into my sales price. With the volume I expect to have, and the cost savings on storage, and travel, I think I will be able to make up the comission. Let me know if that doesn't seem reasonable. This kind of opportunity is what makes America great, and free trade a wonderful economic principle. Thanks for the input.

Strider