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Operators are Welcome!
This category is for bulk vending operators. You can exchange your ideas, offer suggestions and information right here.
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12 comments to “Operators are Welcome!”
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This category is for bulk vending operators. You can exchange your ideas, offer suggestions and information right here.
October 4, 2008 at 12:47 pm :
Hi,
I am a subscribe to your newsletter even though I am not a vending operator.
My questions are:
I have a small retail booth in a flea market type setting. Are there any other venders who have vending machines set up in booths?
is this a feasible idea or would sales be too weak to warrant this type of location?
Can anyone recommend where I search online to find used vending machines at the best price?
Thanks!
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Ken Reply:
November 12th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Ok, I am starting to get a feel for the layout here. It looks like you can’t edit a post once it’s made so ignore my previous comment.
Sharon- I have a few hundred machines on location so hopefully I can offer you some insight. I recommend you buy quality machines such as those offered by A&A Global or some of their better known competitors.
If a premium machine is not currently in your budget, look at craigslist, Thrifty Nickel, Greensheet, etc for used bargains. Stay away from the units that are plastic as most of these are considered disposable if they fail.
While gumballs are the number #1 selling bulk item, you might consider what your neighbors and landlord think about gum being sold in the building. Some locations do not allow it due to the clean problems if kids spit it out.
Your on the right track, just continue to research your options and move forward as money permits.
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October 4, 2008 at 5:54 pm :
Hello Flea Market Vendor:
Doesnt the flea market have some bulk vending machines in the concession area, or near a game area? Most Flea markets I have been to have buil machines on a rack, with at leat 10 machines or so.
I would want to place the machines in the central area, like around the food concession, for maximum exposure, instead of in an individual dealer space.
You could set up a “Gourmet” bubble gum set up, with 12 machines selling more exotic bulk candies.Mount the machines on a round base, maybe even tire them, and add a change machine.
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October 6, 2008 at 2:17 am :
I would add a machine to my tent if I was u.It cant hurt to try
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October 7, 2008 at 9:05 am :
I would like here from other vendors who are running 1 inch toys at 50 cent. what are the test results you are seeing and what is selling in this category.
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Anthony Hastings Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I have been doing .50 one inch and have had good results. I have been vending one inch toys that would normaly sell for .25. You have to have a desent item with a high precived value and play value. i.e. Monking Around from A&A Global and Mini Cuffs from Big Apple.
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October 11, 2008 at 2:31 am :
Thanks for the replys!
To David Ratchford:
My location is a mix between a dollar store/thrift store/flea market, Right now there are no vending machines in the location although the owner of the facility did have 2 arcade type machines near the front door at one time.
There is no food court, just a bunch of us in a building with rented out stalls.
The gourmet gum sounds promising – I could only do about 2 of them though (due to space and money – lack of both!)
To Antonio:
That’s what I’m thinking too! Since there are none anywhere else in the building, seems like a good impluse kind of thing for parents to do for the kids.
To Simon:
I don’t have any vending machines yet but as a parent of kids (boys), they always gravitate to the ‘little green alien’ dolls (do you know the ones I mean?), the small super bouncy balls, and gumballs. Hope that helps
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November 12, 2008 at 7:22 pm :
This looks like a service we operators could use. Is anyone out there?
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November 12, 2008 at 10:15 pm :
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your reply!
I feel like I’m on the right track then as far as purchasing machines – before receiving your reply today I had thought I would check out craigslist, just as a whim, not really expecting to anything of this nature, but sure enough there were venders in my area selling machines! I haven’t bought one yet but it is still on my list of things I would like to do -thanks for the heads up on plastic versus metal.
I’m considering closing out my booth, or at least one part of it (lack of time/resources to locate products, setting things up etc). I’m thinking if I can get a few close locations near my home to place vending machines in, that it will take a lot less time and finances (as compared to the booth) to get something profitable going.
Once I do some more online research/reading regarding how to find places to put machines, how much to give the location owner, what type of vending toys/candies to sell (seems, per your post, gumballs are a definite ‘must have’) then I should be moving forward.
Thanks again
Sharron
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February 10, 2009 at 11:05 pm :
The NBVA spring show is right around the corner and I have not commited to attending yet because im not sure if it will be worh attending. I have spoken to Karen at L.M. Becker and they will not be attending. Then you have Tomy which is closing and Whats Up seems to have merged with Cardinal. The only company that seems to be bringing out fresh product is A&A. So my postion is do I attend the show or do I use that money to improve my operations. I was wondering what other operators are thinking about the spring show.
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February 4, 2011 at 11:07 am :
Someone have tried 2″ foam balls ??? Do they got stuck between the carrousel and the capsule brush??? That is my problem that cannot be solved…
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Philip Brilliant Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
We have not heard of this problem as the balls are very similar to capsules and other self-vending items that we carry. It may depend on the machine you are using. Check your brush-off plate and make sure that it’s not bent up – that could be causing the problem. For further details, contact your A&A Account Manager and they can give you some other solutions.
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