Recognizing Dishonest Vending Machine Operators

When you become a part of the vending industry, there will be all kinds of entrepreneurs and their operations may or may not be legitimate. The key is to recognize dishonest vending operators and steer clear of any business relationships with them as partners, suppliers or customers.

A dishonest vending operator will usually report fictitious lower sales to the client. Alteration of the original, actual amount is done at some point during:

• Collection
• Counting
• Data entry
• Commission calculation

Unless all these are performed by a single person, all other members of the vending operator are unaware of the scam. It may be anyone, be it the manager or the route driver. As the owner of Planet Antares vending business, you will need to hire people who are trustworthy to run your vending business. If the personnel are dishonest, this will bring bad reputation to you.

Certain vending operators are comfortable running a dishonest vending business and their only concern is to prevent the customer from finding out. If he is recognized as a fraudster, he will loose the account and possibly face legal charges to recover lost commissions. In order to avoid all this, you must employ honest and experienced staff in your Planet Antares vending business.

The majority of the operator’s team handles cash or products that can be converted into cash. Make sure that you employ individuals with ethics, moral integrity and a conscience to prevent stealing incidents in your vending operations.

Apart from the risk of losing customers, a dishonest vendor even faces the real market risk. Occasionally, every vending operator may loose a client account. For example: if a location is lost due to under reporting of sales and is taken over by a reputable Planet Antares vending operator, it will show a sharp increase in sales and hence, greatly appreciated.

Moreover, there is a big chance that the reliable operator may drive the dishonest operator out of business. He may contact other locations and tell them about the wrongful activities of the fraudster vending operator. This means more business for the legitimate vending operators and higher profitability in the end.

The Best Vending Machine Supplier For Your Business

Just about any product that you want to sell through your Planet Antares vending machines has dozens of suppliers waiting to provide you with their services. When you are starting a vending business, it is best to try to find a unique product that you know customers want to purchase. On of the most popular items on the market today is cold food as people want something quick from a vending machine when they don’t have the time to sit down for lunch. Another option is cookies. Keep these in mind while searching for a vending machine supplier.

Usually, a vending machine supplier has a vending machine program from which you can learn the basics of getting started in the vending machine business. It throws light on the pros and cons of the cold food vending machine or whether or not you should begin with something small like bulk candy vending machines. You can also opt for full service when you buy a vending machine. Cold food vending machine suppliers will bear the costs of the machine and servicing for monthly commission.

Alternatively, you can buy or rent your cold food vending machine from a distributor and then look for a vending machine supplier for the products that you want to sell. Some people even make the vending products on their own but it requires more work on your part. Whatever you do, choose locations carefully and keep in mind that cold food works well in places where people come frequently and pick up a sandwich as a snack to fill up till meal time.

Planet Antares food vending machines have glass front to allow customers to view the full range of products inside. It is about the size of a refrigerator and requires electricity so you will need a large area available when you want to place this kind of vending machine. Products in such vending machines include sandwiches, cookies, donuts, fruit juice, small containers of fruit and yogurt. The variety of products is growing as new and innovative products get launched in the market.

Vending machine suppliers usually sell in bulk. Generally, you will have to buy cases of the products and this means that you need to have a cold refrigeration arrangement to store them. When you visit the vending machines on your route, get a sample of all the products with you so that you can restock the ones that have sold out. Remember to check these vending machines on a regular basis so that the cold food is always fresh and not outdated.

It’s imperative to purchase your products from a reliable vending machine supplier like Planet Antares Inc so that you get the best quality products and run a successful vending business.

Packaging For Successful Vending Machine Business

These days, most people are on the go and have little time. That makes it imperative for the products in your Planet Antares vending machine to add comfort, convenience and ease to that person. When you think about the products that will be right for your vending channel, you need to think about quick indulgences. These are products that make a busy person’s life easier.

Some of the main packaging challenges that are faced by vending operators include:

1. Cost Efficiency
This is the primary issue when dealing with vending packaging. If potential sales are estimated to be 5 percent or more of a product’s total, vending specific packaging becomes a viable option.

2. Form and Function
Many vending products come in the same packaging for vending machines as they appear on the store shelf. These may include confections and most beverages. However, many non-food products and non-traditional food products require veding specific packaging to maximize “appetite appeal” and secure them against damage. The majority of the vending machine products need to be designed for a single use. This doesn’t apply to snacks and beverages sold in Planet Antares vending machines. The size of these items will almost always be the same in a retail store as well as vending machines.

3. Communication
This implies the optimal wording on th facing panel of the package. Consumers usually cannot handle the product before they actually purchase it. They can’t turn it to inspect the back or side panels, which may not be visible inside the vending machine. Key information will be essentially displayed on the front to drive the sale and encourage impulse buying by the customers. The consumers should be able to see it through glass from two or three feet away.

Remember that the in the vending environment, the package has to work both inside the machine as well as in the consumer’s possession. This, of course, is what will work in your vending machine business. There are a number of strategies that can be incorporated in your vending business to drive sales. Effective packaging is one thing that you can do to have a successful Planet Antares vending business.

All About Water Vending

Water vending machines allow you to fill bottles, jugs or other containers from self service water dispensers. Pure water is given out by these machines in return to currency, coins, tokens or cards inserted. These can be usually found in front of gas stations and supermarkets. They may also be placed inside apartment complexes, grocery stores, hardware stores and health and beauty saloons.

You can find water vending machines in many styles like mounted equipments for walls and windows or free-standing units. Features include fill and flush, coin changer, UV sterilizer and bill acceptor. Usually, water vending machines can dispense good quality water from 1-5 gallons. The cost of drinking water dispensed from such machines ranges from $ 0.25 - $0.35 per gallon.

Some models may not have a coin or bill acceptor. In such cases, the customers have to pay the required amount at the counter to get water. These types of vending machines are suitable for in-house storage.

This is an option for people who want to start a vending machine business. The water dispensed by these machines goes through a long filtration process including heavy filters, ultra violet light and reverse osmosis filters. To keep these machines in good form, you should maintain them properly and service them at regular intervals. The quantity of water in the machine may be measured through water meters or timers.

Be careful while purchasing a water vending machine. Search for a trustworthy vending machine company like Planet Antares Inc and buy only those water vending machines which have been certified for being of the required standards. Such approval is given on the basis of a review made by the water vending operators and industry experts.

The equipment selected by you should be able to provide potable water. This means that it can be used for domestic work, drinking purposes, etc. moreover, it should fulfill the quality standards under rule R309-103 of the Department of Environmental Quality.

Check the various parts of the water vending machine such as drip pans and containers for any leakage, corrosion, dirt and breakages. The machine should be easy to clean, accessible and replaceable. You must ensure that the machine can be removed and cleaned.

Ask your vending machine supplier about the various ways to keep your equipment clean and well maintained. Also, enquire about the various local and state government regulations before starting your own business.

Don’t go for any “get rich” schemes. Research and analyze the different aspects of water vending business and then decide whether this line is right for you or not.

Sales Trend For Vending Operators

As per the 2005 Automatic Merchandiser State of the Vending Industry Report, the vending industry reported its first sales gain since the recession that began in 2001. As the economy recovers slowly, the vending industry’s total sales rose to $21.26 billion. The main drivers of this growth has been the higher product sales. Planet Antares vending operators were also faced with an increase in operating costs along with the increase in product prices.

A recent study showed that consumers are drinking more speciality coffee. The percentage of Americans who drink coffee daily is also going up. Apart from the coffee in their workplace, the consumers are also going out to buy coffee. This is a great opportunity for coffee vending machine operators to grab a larger market share and increase sales and profits.

Over the past years, vending operators had to face the challenge of pulling equipment out of large traditional industrial accounts. This resulted in a fall of the manufacturing/warehouse/fabrication accounts below 30% of the total customers in the vending industry in 2004. Such shifts in the customer base indicate the changes witnessed in the nation’s workforce.

Recently, it was reported that many vending operators retreated from accounts in schools and correctional facilities. They realized that these accounts were based on commissions and must be periodically rebid. Moreover, the school authorities consider these vending machines as direct competition to their schools and not as support service. The nutritional restrictions also compromised the school accounts to a great extent. As a Planet antares vending operator, you can place healthier food items in the vending machines.

Why Used Vending Machines Are A Great Business Option

If you are looking for vending machines, there is no better option than used vending machines. A lot of vending machine manufacturers claim that you will be better off in the long run by purchasing new machines but this is one of the greatest myth you will come across.

This article will help you understand the reasons for purchasing used vending machines and why these will be a better choice in just about every situation.

One of the most attractive features of used vending machines is the lower cost of equipment. An important factor in the running of a successful business is to control operational costs of operations. You must invest your money in good quality vending machines purchased from a reliable supplier like Planet Antares Inc.

Apart from the price of the equipment, you also need to consider the amount of time that will be required to gain back the initial investment. If you have a vending machine for which you spent $100 on the product and that empties out at $300, your net profit will be $200. Before your vending machine (original price being $600) is able to pay for itself, it will have to be emptied three times. This means that the amount of time taken to generate the return on investment depends on the cost of the machine and product.

If you want brand new vending machines, then go for smaller “bulk” vending machines. They have lower purchase price, easier installation and maintenance costs than other vending machines, however, there are a few problems associated with bulk vending machines. Firstly, these do not dispense full size stacks or cans or bottles. Secondly, these vending machines do not have technological components like dollar bill changers and cashless payment options.

A serious problem with smaller vending machines is that they can be damaged or knocked over easily. This makes it difficult for vending operators to avoid theft and vandalism. They are also less durable and more prone to malfunction. To avoid all these problems, I would recommend you to go for a used vending machine than a new small vending machine.

I would also suggest you to place both snack and soda vending machines in the same location. A used Planet Antares snack/soda vending machine will be able to give adequate returns on your investment within a few months. When placed together, these vending machines will reinforce each other as people looking for something to drink will want something to eat along with it and vice versa.

About National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA)

The National Automatic Merchandising Association is the national trade association of the American food and refreshment vending, coffee service and food service management industries.
For membership, the vending industry organizations can be:

• Service companies
• Equipment manufacturers
• Vending operator companies
• Product and service suppliers or providers

It is important and beneficial for Planet Antares vending operators to be a part of this organization. The basic aim of NAMA is the collective advancement and promotion of the automatic merchandising systems in vending machines.

NAMA supports with the logistical, financial and administrative assistance of a network of more than 30 affiliated State councils in 36 states. There, the vending industry emphasizes on the local issues and concerns as well as on gathering for networking opportunities. As a Planet Antares vending operator, this can have a positive impact on your business.

Volunteer members undertake the creation and review of the policies and programs of NAMA. They serve as members of the Board of Directors and Committees. Once the programs have been established, they are implemented by the executive staff of the association.

It is a good idea to join the association for all vending operators, including Planet Antares vending operators. This decision can result in significant improvement in the performance of your business and long term profitability. It is not easy to carry out business networking and keep up with the industry trends while handling a full vending business. Joining this organization will enable you to do the same without getting overburdened.

The National Automatic Merchandising Association recognizes the obligation to serve its industry and the general public including clients, employees and communities. They are committed to the highest standards of integrity, honesty and responsibility in conducting their business ethically.

As a Planet Antares vending business owner and member of the association, your conduct should reflect positively upon the industry. This will also make your vending business successful.