Snack Machines

[Steve_Fecteau]

I want to add a snack machine to my mat. Do most of you out there own your machine? Or do you farm it out to a vending co? What is the usual comission that can be expected from a vending co. Also, does anyone have video games. Are they a good idea or are they more problems than they are worth? Thanks.

[TKLaundry]

I have a small snack machine in my mat, it holds those 'fun size' candy bars that are popular around Halloween. I bought the snack machine for $75 from an ad in the Want Advertiser locally, it's freestanding and requires no electricity the only downside is that my mat is not air conditioned so in the summer I have to take the chocolate out of the machine and put it in a refrigerator, sales drop because something like this is impulse. My wife and I thought about putting in video machines but decided against it because we didn't want the mat overrun with kids.
Dave

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

My brother runs a vending company and he advised us not to do vending ourselves. We thought about buying a machine, stock and load ourselves. Realistically, there is waste, theivery with back stock, and experation dates to think about. You can deal with a company. We get 22% which isn't great, but does generate some income. One company we deal with, loads the machine. They send us an invoice for the products and I count the money. This works out to be about a 44.5% commsission. However, not many companys are willing to do this.

As for the commment regarding video machines, yes they do attract children. However, children usaully accomapany the parents. I would rather see the kids add to the income of the mat, then run around with the carts. We make several hundred dollars per month on these games. We turned a kids room into a family room and added a pool table that too adds several hundred a month. This is easy money!! Stickers, that too adds several hundred per month. We just added a 25cent scale. It generated 273.00 in two weeks, we get 50%. On a scale!!! That requires nothing from us, very little space. These games and gadgets cost you nothing but a little space, if you are attended it is definately something you should think about.

[Steve_Fecteau]

This is some good input, I live in South Jersey and I know some of the game vendors who put games on the boardwalks just have them sitting still in the off season. I assume most companies insist on an attended store, but I am just guessing. Is there any places to buy used snack machines. I priced new machines and they run from $2,000.00 and up for the larger machines. THANKS

[Marianne]

I had vendor owned snack and pop machines for years. Income was reliable and machines were well tended. Then the route was sold. The new owner went right to work, cheating us. I kicked him out, got my own machines and have done OK. My employees attend the machines and get about 10% as well as free pop and snacks.

The video game vendor has remained good with us. I steer him toward nonviolent, nonsexist and relatively quiet games. This bores the boors and we make a good enough profit.

[kern]

We own both snack and soda machines. They are table to models so they don't hold a lot of product. We find no problem with expiration dates and such. Theft isn't a problem for us since our back room is locked. If that were a concern we'd just use a locked cabinet. You do have to "keep up with the times" as to what folks want. Ever hear of Nerds? I hadn't but the kids told me about them and WOW, what a seller. We make at least 60% profit, not allowing for electricity. Some of the items, such as peanut butter crackers, cost us $0.08 cents a pack and we sell for $0.65. We fill the machines 3 times a week so there isn't much to do. We buy product, snacks and soda, from BJs and Sams. Hope this helps. No experience with video games. If I had enough room, I think I would try them but would not buy them. Too expensive and they go out of vouge too quickly. Go for at least 50% of income on them. Bill

[rgrimes]

I am building a new store, and was considering purchasing new machines (about $2500 + /ea) or re-conditioned ($1500 +/-) machines. Because of the input here, I believe I will purchase much smaller machines so that food/beverage inventory is minimal in the store (expirations) and turns will be greater (less more often).

On another thread, people were talking about pay phones. Input?

[kern]

Payphones.... ah, yes. I looked into getting a payphone from my local phone company. Since the phone would be inside my store, and not accessable 24 hours a day, I wouldn't receive anything for having it there. And I would have to pay for a second phone line since the number would be listed in the telephone book under my store's name. Some deal!

I also looked into some of the vendors in the back of the Journal that sell payphones. Most of these vendors seem to be giving similair deals between them. Phones costing about $900, net. You can put in a second phone line or use your existing one. These phones can be programmed for almost any option you want. And for any price you want.

We finally went with buying our own phone from a local guy who installs them for himself in bars and such. He set up the phone for us and has given us great service, and only when we actually needed it. He monitors our calls via his shop computer and downloads any changes I want to make from there. Such as how long calls are and for what rate. We don't allow any incoming calls at all. We also use our original line. The phone has be very reliable with no problems at all. This is probably because we bought a brand name phone. Cost more but was worth it. We bring in any place from $30 to $60 a month. Our store is only 1400 square feet and we are in a small strip mall. We really put the phone in for the convience of our customers who wanted to call taxi cabs and such.

Be careful of calling card calls. These can tie up your phone and you don't make anything off them. All of our calls are limited to 3 minutes with the calling card calls being terminated at the end of 3 minutes. So the calling card caller has to redial the number and such if they want to talk more than 3 minutes. Regular coin calls just get a voice prompt to put in more money if they want to talk more than 3 minutes.

One final thing. Be sure you watch out for drug dealers using the phone. The routine is that they get a page with a number for them to call. The number is from their buyer. That's how the score is set up. The dealer calls the buyer and a deal is struck with product, pricing and location of the drop. If you see this type of action, you'll see the same person in your mat using the phone a lot. Call the cops and they should help you nail the guy.

Hope this helps... Bill

[JSVLaundry]

Could I get a list of possible vending companies for the NYC area?

I am looking for a small, preferably table top, snack & soda vending machine. I would like to have a company supply the machines & snacks to start. If there is a profit, I will look into buying a machine. My laundromat is not that big so I need the small machines.

Also, I am looking for the perfect quite video game that will interest adults & kids alike. The MEGATOUCH game. A friend of mine has one in his barber shop. This is the only game that he had there for a couple of years sttraight now. The other games are alway changing. Not this one.

Vinny

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

Whats the MEGATOUCH game?

[Trab]

I have two Megatouch games in my store. They are good for kids and adults. Right now I am using a local vending company’s machines. They are honest and reliable. The split is 50-50. Other than the space and a little electricity, I make about 50 to 75 dollars a months from my take. Not bad: it gives the customers something to do. I have no other games in the store due to many of the reason that have been listed above.

I wish I owned them outright.

Trab

[LEEHUSTON]

Megatouch machines are screen touch activated. They have about 20 different games that can be played. I have one it does well.

[Howard]

where does one buy a Megatouch

[Trab]

Howard,

I do not know the answer to your question. I'll see if I can do some research for an answer.

I do have to think that Megatouch protects its vendors in the sense that they will not sell directly to individuals. We may however be able to purchase older machines from an outside source.


Trab

[JSVLaundry]

The website for the manufacturer (Merit Industries) is http://www.meritind.com.

Also, There are many machines on Ebay. Stand up & table top models

Good Luck

Vinny

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

We do not purchase the video games, we receive 50% of the gross. Since we have the space and the customers that use them, I have been adding more games. Thanks for the tip on the megatouch......I had played it in a pub in Orlando last year, and haven't seen it around my area. Called my vendor and he's getting me three 1 for each store, it's usually a table top, but they stands too.

[Trab]

Thanks JSV.

Trab

[William_Reinecke]

I have my own soad and snack machines. I make about $300 per month off them. I sell the sodas and snacks for .50 cents. This is below market but I look at it as a loss leader. My machine prices are high but everyone thinks that if I am selling a soda or candy bar for .50 then I must be cheap!

[AGASERVICES]

I own both my soda and candy, which i brought refurbished, i have had it over 4 months, and make around $350-$400 a month on both, i think its a great investment, the soda machine was only $550, and the candy was $700, I have made my money back already, & the money keeps comming in.

[rogerdowling]

I have just built a new store, as well as purchased new machines - the cost of it is almost $ 3000. Because of the input here, I believe I will spend much smaller machines so that food/beverage inventory is minimal in the store. I think there's lots of items which I can make on it.

[Mr.Entrophy]

How much is megatouch?
Is there any vendor in NY?

[laundry8me]

we have an AMS Sensit 3 Visi-Combo glass front machine. I am happy with it, as it reliably dispenses the goods every time. Never a complaint from the time we bought and installed it last November. My only complaint is the compressor is noticeably louder than the snack only or soda only machines. I was told this is normal, but I am skeptical about that being true. The machine cools all products, both snacks and sodas, but doesn't change the taste or texture of the snacks. The machine has 20 chip rows, 10 candy rows and 24 soda rows. It is popular and works well in my small space.

I have the Area 51/Maximum Force Atari video game which cost $600 and makes $90 - $100 per month, before electric cost.

[soapopera]

This has been covered before, so you might want to look back thru the postings.
I own a vending company so the machines in the stores are serviced by that company. You need extra insurance to cover the machines, and you will be paying state sales tax not usually collected on washer and dryer revenue.
Here the average commission is 15% of net sales per month. That usually covers the electricity and loss of floor space.
PS. . I just noticed when this question was first asked :)