Extra cash-vending machines ?

[dreamin_disney]

anyone have vending machines as a side business to make extra money. If so does it pay? How does it work? Is it worth it? Dh knew a guy who use to do it. His wife ended up quiting her job to do this vending machine business so $$ must have been worth it. Dh and I were talking about it and i told him we should research it. With job cut back its nice to have a back up plan. Thanks

 

[wdwfan16]

I knew a guy who did this. At first he made good money then he was visited the group who ran the local vending business and he was out of business very quickly.

 

[toddlerhouse]

We had 20 gumball machines and about 30 candy maching at various locations and make about $500 every 6 weeks or so- some weeks better than others. My husband was deployed for 2 years so we took them up before he left because I didn't think I could manage them and 2 small kids.

Now they just sit in our garage. The problem is finding locations to put them in. Alot of places don't want them because of the break in factor- if people know they are in a location and have money sitting in them, stores would be broken in just for the little bit of jingle.

 

[everylastbreath]

I always kind of giggle when I see things like this, I'm sure there are people who make money (good money) but my BIL invested once in bubble gum machines, could never place them anywhere good, never even made back his original investment and I think to this day still has a closet full of machines. Be careful, make sure you have prospective places to place the machines, before you invest.

 

[toddlerhouse]

exactly- it was my DH's get rich idea... of the day....

 

[Mad4Mickey]

My Dh is a Firefighter and works a second job but we have a vending machine company also . We make enough money off of it to help pay for all the Disney trips we make

We do not have gumball machines though, we have soda machines and a chip/candy machines

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I knew a guy who did this. At first he made good money then he was visited the group who ran the local vending business and he was out of business very quickly.

we joke about the vending machine mafia all the time and how we may have to kiss the ring someday LOL

 

[Momma2dakidz]

Our non-profit dog club is looking to buy a 4 slot vending machine. any cheap sources? we NEED it to store dog treats in. Its amazing how many people come to class without motivators. If we had this we could send them over to the machine to BUY some rather than give them ours!

We can even have broken locks or no keys because my hubby is a locksmith, soooo any suggestions on where to buy them cheap? (not asking anyone in particular since i know we are forbidden to buy/sell here on the dis)

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

My mil just did this and is seriously regretting it. She bought them new - over $10k each and makes about $50 average per week on them. It will take a very long time to make the initial investment back. Not to mention she still has 2 sitting in the garage for 6 months because she can't find anywhere to place them. If you are seriously interested, consider purchasing used machines instead.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The people who make money from these tend to be the people who sell the machines. They make even more money after they repossess them and sell them again.

 

[Chicago526]

A friend of a friend didn't own machines, but worked for a vending company going around and refilled the machines (candy, pop, etc). She did it because they let her take her child along on her runs, so she didn't need child care. I don't think she made a fortune but between that and a job delivering newspapers (child napped in his car seat!) she could keep the lights on and didn't have the expense of child care eating in to her income.

 

[dreamin_disney]

forgot to mention I was talking about the soda and snack machines. I asked dh and he said he's friend had about 10 places .

gumball machines and toy machines I would think would have lots of problems and damage from the kids and thieves. I guess anything with money can. I also think the type of place makes a difference.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I know someone who's done fairly well at this, but she did some serious research and got commitments from some folks with BIG employee breakrooms before she purchased and started. She found out that the employee break rooms at the plants and casinos in her area were being serviced by a company located about 90 miles away. She promised to come twice as often to re-fill the machines and to come quickly when called, then kept her promises. She solicited people's opinions about what they wanted to see in the machines (For example, at a casino - panty hose are good to stock as a LOT of the women have to wear hose if they wear skirts - and the cocktail waitresses always have to wear hose.) and kept her prices fair and reasonable.

She did some serious research, put together a very professional business proposal and got firm commitments before she went out and started spending gobs of money. I'd highly recommend putting in work on possible profitability in your area and trying to find a niche market that isn't being serviced well before I dropped money on this project.