So I'm trying my hand at vending

[Leathco]

I spent $150 dollars on 4 Vendstar 3000 candy machines. I already got a contract to put one in operation, with another one in negotiations. I think I'll put the third one in service and use the fourth as a backup. I'm not expecting a lot of profit, between 15 to 30 bucks per machine per month, but if it works out it should bring in a minor profit per month. I made a list of businesses in my area that I'm interested in contacting, if the initial machines are successful I'll pick up more and begin contacting other businesses. I'm sticking to department stores and restaurants to minimize chances of vandalism, so all machines are indoors and locked up when the business is closed. I'm also only going to businesses that have no machines so far, so I don't step on any other vendors toes. I realize I'm still in competition with these guys, I just hope they won't move to crush the new small fry.

The machines (Vendstar 3000s) are a bit different from normal ones. They are made of a combination of plastic and steel instead of all steel, which I'm not too keen on but they can be had cheaply. They run 300 bucks brand new but can be found used for around 50 per machine. I did have some issues trying to put gumballs in though, they keep getting broken after 10 vends or so. Loose candy such as M&Ms and Skittles perform fine however.

I printed labels for the candy (each machine has 3 heads) and mounted them inside each head, and printed up some contact information stickers for each unit as well.

Contract info right now is a 70/30 split, myself getting the 70. I supply the machine and candy, they supply the floorspace. I go once a week on location to refill machine, and me and a member of management empty the cash, count it out, and split it. I keep the keys to the machine.

The only frustration has been what to put in the machines. I originally wanted gumballs, M&Ms, and Skittles, but the gumball crushing problem blew that. For the time being I am using Plain M&Ms, Peanut M&Ms, and Skittles til I figure out the problems with gumballs.

[GameGavel]

That's cool. Let us know how it goes. That is always something that I have wanted to try.

[Ad_Absurdum]

That's cool. I've been thinking along these lines since I just heard that talk about owning coin-operated machines the other day on retro roundup. Let us know how it goes.

[Leathco]

Gonna make a few test changes to one of the machines. Using my backup machine to do the test changes, than will switch out one of my machines for the test machine and see if weekly sales improve. Typical weekly sales in a machine right now is about 8 bucks, a lil more than what I expected (I expected around 30 per machine a month)

First off is a paintjob. The chrome steel bar that goes between the base and the machine is going to be turned into chrome blue. The actual machine is going to be turned into a textured dark grey/close to black color. I'm hoping the chrome blue has a nice stand-out appearance, and that the dark finish on the machine makes the candy inside stand out a bit more. Also I found some gumballs that don't crush when they are put in (finally!) so I'm switching out the Reeses Pieces for gumballs. I think that Gumballs, Skittles, and M&Ms is a perfect mix in the machine, something for everyone. Expect some before and after pics!

BEFORE:


Also note the cans in the background. The shiny blue one is the post color, and the other one is for the actual machine. I'm not painting the entire machine, just parts of it for highlighting. I also gotta use some goo-gone and get rid of the old stickers. Didn't mess with that part for my backup machine, been busy with the other three getting them cleaned, filled, and homes.

[miner2049er]

My kids love those machines but the ones near here give you about 6 M&Ms which is scandalous.

[Leathco]

My kids love those machines but the ones near here give you about 6 M&Ms which is scandalous.

hehe, yea, mine don't have a "setting", just a dial like device on the bottom with slots on it that can be changed out with ones with larger or smaller slots. Mine throws out around 10 to 12 M&Ms or skittles, or 3 to 4 lil gumballs.

[Leathco]

Time to bump up this old thread with some real results!

I have 2 machines in operation, 1 looking for a home, and 1 at home that I am experimenting with. I've learned location plays a HUGE part! The one that lost its home was at a game store, it was actually my most profitable machine, so profitable in fact the owner bought his own machine and bumped me out lol (it averaged about $50 bucks a month!) He bought one similar to mine, but paid 100 bucks for his macnine. Mwahaha, makes my 4 for 150 look even better!

The next machine is located in a small town diner. I figured it'd be the biggest seller, being in a restaurant and all, but it only averages about 20 bucks a month. The game store was in a larger city, maybe it had more traffic?

The other one is in a laundrymat, and is making a pityable 10 to 15 dollars a month. This one will prolly be moved soon, because I have to keep it locked to the wall due to the fact the building is not supervised all the time it is open, just for 3 hours a day, than I think the owner pops his head in hourly (owner lives beside the building). I've also had to replace a cannister in it due to some asshole busting the enclosure open and stealing the candy and cash inside of it. The owner reimbursed me half the replacement costs, and the cannister was only 25 bucks, but enough for me to prolly pull the machine at the end of the month, considering the loss of the cannister coupled with low useage means it has actually COST me money to have it there. I would have pulled it then and there, but the owner is really a nice guy and offered to pay for half the replacement charge, and I was fully honest with him, told him his half before I ordered the part and gave him a copy of my receipt. Its a shame, but with no supervision all the time they are open, its just too large a risk to take.

So, overall, I think by now the machines have NOT paid for themselves, let alone the candy I've put in them (now about 60 bucks worth, keeping track of that too). However, they are slowly making a profit and will eventually pay for themselves, and KEEPING them filled is quite easy, its just expensive to get a machine up and going (I keep them nice and full when out in the wild).

Finally, the paint is drying on my experiment machine at home, so we're gonna see how it looks soon and I'll post a pic here!.

[miner2049er]

That's a great project to try out, are they all vending machines?

[Leathco]

Yea, they are all the same model as pictured above, Vendstar 3000, really cheap (and cheaply made) candy machines, but easy to work on.

I am considering buying a chip and candy bar machine for 300, at a small flea market. Its been sitting there for half a year with no takers. I think when I get my rebate money in January Ill get it, if its still there. Its a tower machine that has the letter/number combination you push to get your chosen item. The one for sale takes dollar bills too, which is a plus. Ill try to update this post with a pic of it.

[Leathco]

Here it is after the first stage if painting (my son took advantage of me being busy and messed up my living room a bit, also ignore my messy computer desk)



I painted the base, tray, and top a gun metal grey color that is also textured a little bit, (also painted the back door the same color, not visible from this photo), and painted the pole a dark chrome blue, thats hard to tell from this pic. I think I'm gonna also repaint the beige sections of the machine a dark blue, lighter than what I painted the pole though. The coin mechs pop out when you take the unit apart, but I don't think it's a good idea to paint them, and the standard grey color works with the scheme its getting painted with anyhow. I also gotta Goo-Gone the old stickers off, haven't messed with that yet since this machine is just for me to mess with and see what works, I keep the other three in the field.