Vending busineses

[putney76]

Has anyone got experience of running a vending business? There are lots of companies offering packages where you buy up the machines and the sites. Is it better to buy the machines from a manufacturer and get your own sites? Are the profits they claim as realistic as they claim? Are there companies you would recommend?

[Martin]

Adam (a member here) should be able to help you. (Might be able to source you machines too!)

This is his company website - http://www.vendesent.co.uk

Here's a list of topics he has commented on here at Shell - http://www.shell-livewire.org/forums...der=descending

Give them a read and I'm sure you'll find answers for a lot of your questions.

As for your question above, always ask yourself why they're selling sites... If it was profitable surely they would place a vending machine at that location themselves.

Anyways hope it helps

Regards,

Martin

[Adam]

I might be able to help.

There are a lot of dodgy schemes out there. If there is a product you like, speak to places where the machines could go, buy the machines and stock and there you have it.

Good luck, happy to help if I can, pop on the site if you want to email me.

[shamrocker]

Are hot food vending machines any good? I've often though of puting one in my shop due to customers frequently recommending that I sell hot snacks, i.e. sausage rolls and pasties, etc. that are stuck in the microwave for a minute or so.

[Adam]

funny you should ask, I have a second hand one here.

Needs a clean up but you can have it for £1,200 plus VAT and delivery.

[shamrocker]

How much are they new?

I'm not in a position to jump into it just yet. I'm hoping to change the way I stock the shop over the Winter which will require more outlay from me, with hopefully more income as a result. So at the minute I'm trying to save all my pennies. Thank you for the offer anyway.

In terms of the practacalities of having such a machine on site, are easy to operate and maintain? Where does the stock come from - can you buy it from anywahere or does it come from a specialist supplier? Hiow much would you really need to turnover to justify using one, over say a toastie sandwich maker or simply microwaving pasties and sausage rolls?

Nice to see you back on here Adam!

[Adam]

Thanks.

Answered most of that in your email, don't get too much chance to get on here.