So, I decided to pull the laundry location. I'm going to pick it up today, hopefully it's there. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if there are any quarters in it.
I have two new locations from my locator and I'm going to drop them off this morning. Hopefully they are descent.
THEN ON TO BUILDING. 14 machines left to put together out of this new lot and 4 of the triples left to put together. This is becoming a full time job in itself. See you guys on the flip side.
Rob
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My name is Robert. I graduated from the University of Central Florida with my B.S.B.A. My specialty is business finance. After my first 10 machines find homes and I get this business down I'm going to leverage as much money as I can to buy more machines. You can call me the Candyman. - Cataloging my experiences from Day 1.
Email Updates Available
CANDYMAN EMAIL
RobertNPatterson@gmail.com
Links
About Me
- Robert Neil Patterson II
- Naples, FL, United States
- An entrepreneur at heart; I have owned many businesses through out my young life. Before vending I was a PowerSeller on eBay with sales exceeding $20,000 a month. I did this while in college so it was sort of a mess. Anyway, it's risky, scary, and a lot of work, but fun. It's not as easy as people make it seem. I have also written a book on Stock Options. It's called Stock Options 101. I have sold over 200 copies on eBay for $3.99 (I don't sell it anymore) and if you want a copy I will be happy to send it to you. It is in PDF form so I can email it to you. Obviously, I have traded stock options before. I like risk and love great reward. I think one reason I like the vending business is because it's a risk for me to go in and sell. By the way I have 100 of my own bulk machines in Naples, FL. Check out http://www.kickstartlocations.com/forum for my Bulk Vending Forum!
22 comments:
Thats cool about the landuary place. However, I have places like this. I worry about the machine, but that is the risk you take putting them out there.
Did you talk to your locator about cranes?
Well, I was aggravated at my locator this morning. It was something over something stupid on his end, anyway he fixed it and I'm happy. Plus the two locations I got today are GREAT. One is an apartment place and one is in a big Goodyear. The Goodyear place already has a soda machine so I think it will do good. There are a lot of workers there too. I put in one of my new machines.
I called him and he said between $150 and $200 depending. He's going to make a few calls. Shoot me an email and I'll give you his name and number.
Rob
Rob,
OK, thats cool. A little high, but still good to get a price quote. I am glad he is getting you all these good places! I am going to wait a little wile before I call him! I have lots of vending work to do this afternoon. WOW. I will have a busy night!
Kyle G.
Rob,
I ran across this about locators!
I want to make one thing clear
about the vending business. You WILL NOT become successful unless you learn how to locate machines. I have NEVER heard of a "success story" where someone used a locator. In general the whole locator/national charity deal is a scam designed to sell you lots of expensive machines - and transfer your hard earned money into someone else's bank account.
Using a LOCAL charity is a great idea but it mut be approached and implemented properly. Most charities will not understand the value of the passive income you are providing them so you have to take time to explain it. Most importantly you have to show them how it will benefit them as an organization. You also need to pick a charity that you truly believe in and want to help. If they feel you are merely trying to use their name to build your make your business money they will not be very receptive.
I have actually created a little hand-out for them (with pictures and everything) I then follow-up (in person) and review how the program works. It takes a little while but once they get their first commission check they'll be placing machines all over town for you.
Hope this helps.
kyle G.
The local charity thing is a good idea. I like how they begin to work for you. Hmmm, sounds like a good idea to me. I'll look for a local charity.
What do you think about this section:
"I want to make one thing clear
about the vending business. You WILL NOT become successful unless you learn how to locate machines. I have NEVER heard of a "success story" where someone used a locator. In general the whole locator/national charity deal is a scam designed to sell you lots of expensive machines - and transfer your hard earned money into someone else's bank account."
Do you think I am int his boat? I have located 19 of my machines myself. I didn't get sucked into a machine buying scam. And I have been getting great locations from my locator. It's hard for me to be objective though. I am always subjective when it comes to my own success.
Let me know what you guys think about my business model at this point.
Regards,
Rob
Rob,
One more advantage the single and double head machines is that you can keep an extra empty globe and just swap out candies when you want to switch.....it is much easier than with the triplevend.
Ken
Rob,
Not yet. Buying multiple machines is not bad, how ever using a locater is. The point is that getting used to someone else to do your work is not good.
Think of it this way. "you work in an office". "you pay someone else to do your paperwork". "something will go wrong eventually." "and you will loose all you have!"
In your case you will go bankrupt. Wasting your money for someone else to do your work. You are stingy on spending money, but you will pay $35 a machine for someone else to call and ask to put a candy machine in there store?
You have fell for the locater scam my friend. I warned you. Now, stop using a locater for something as easy as putting in a candy machine! You are wasting your money Rob. Buy more machines. And locate them yourself!
Kyle G.
I will start locating again but I'm not driving around anymore. It's too hot and muggy here in Florida to do it. I hate all the driving and getting out, etc. I'll just start calling down a list from superpages.com I've never called before to locate a machine, anyone have an idea how to do this?
I used a line today this guy Caserri gave me and it worked well, "100% of my donations come from the candy machines." I love this line. So what do I say on the phone?
LOCATOR JUST CALLED WITH 3 LOCATIONS, he was excited about them, can't wait to see what they are.
Rob
I have been trying to locate myself and i am new to this and it has been very frustrating, located 2 myself then tried a locator that I wasn't happy with so I gave a call to the guy you use Rob I think I will give him a try. I wondered for those out there that do locate themselves what the ratio is of yes's to no's is
Any advice?
Thanks,Frank (sweetvends from vending chat although I dont use that name anymore)
Hey Frank,
Signup here on blogspot for an account.
I would say the ratio is 20 to 1. I would say 15 to 1 but sometimes you just have bad luck. If you aren't in a good mood you probably won't locate. I think I want to try doing it on the phone.
Maybe I'll make a call sheet for us to use with a script.
Rob
Rob,
Phone calling is fine. Be prepaired to get the phone slamed in your face! I do not know what to say over the phone.
Kyle G.
Frank,
I read on Vending Chat that you use Vendstars. I would advise you to steer away from them. I will not start on hy, but that break down a lot. Thay are just not a good machine.
Kyle G.
Hey guys!
Rob you have learned to locate machines yourself and it sounds like you have a great locater. I think a lot of people get ripped off by locaters and that's why that get a bad reputation. He seems to be getting you decent locations.
To anonymous: Don't get discouraged by rude people. Remember that they probably hate their job, that's why they are miserable. YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS!!
You are out enjoying the weather while they are stuck in an office.
I like the idea mentioned before that we should switch phone lists and make calls for each other.
Cynthia
Cynthia,
Did you get any machines yet?
KyleG G.
I am going to order my first machine on E-bay. I just wrote an employment verification letter for a friend who manages a pizza shop on the terms that he let me place a machine there. He agreed. I have to start slowly because my real estate biz takes up most of my time. :o)
Cynthia,
That is cool. What brand? Single, Double, Triple?
Kyle G.
Cynthia,
"To anonymous: Don't get discouraged by rude people. Remember that they probably hate their job, that's why they are miserable. YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS!!
You are out enjoying the weather while they are stuck in an office."
Haha, you are 100% right. I love that statement right there. I always remind myself of that when I have to deal with some asshole. Obviously if they knew how to run a business correctly they would treat you with respect. Anyway..
Cynthia, I'm going to make a call log with check boxes and some other stuff. Let's call for each other. It will take probably an hour to finish a list. I know for me it will be much easier to call on behalf of someone else. Plus it forces us to do it.
Why don't you order a few machines from eBay or www.gumball-machine.com Get 5, that is a nice number. Just hire a local kid to help you put them together. There is a bit of physical labor involved.
Let's do it! Does anyone else want to switch call lists?
Rob
Rob,
I would..but I hate locating on the phone. I like to see the peolpe in person. I can have a better sucess rate in person! All the slaming the phone in your face get me down!
Mabie I can come to Florida, and you come to Tennessee, and we can locate for each other. Ha ha.
Kyle G.
Rob,Sounds great! I would be happy to make calls for you.
Kyle, I bid on one on e-bay & lost so I think I will just buy from either XYZ or Amerivend. I like Amerivend better cause you get a gumball wheel and candy wheel. For the pizza shop I will go with a triple cause I can get my friend to carry it in for me.
Cynthia
Cynthia,
Yep, sounds good. Thay are both the same machines, just the gumball wheel sets them apart. I buy double head machines from GMW, thay both come with gumball, and candy wheels. I Have about 20 gumball wheels if my "warehouse". So I buy XYZ. Thay ship to your door in 2 days after you buy them!
Kyle G.
Cynthia,
O yea,make sure you get one from them that says "free" where the shipping details would be.If you do not, you will have to pay $50 shipping! That is anther reason why I buy XYZ, free shipping. Amerivend charges shipping 99.9% of the time.
These things weight is monstrous.Well over 100 pounds filled. I would suggest you wait to fill till you get the machine to the place. The dividers will also slide up. This lets the candy/gumballs combine in your car! Not good!
Plus with the triple's you have put the base together with a wrench. With the double head stands you just twist the stand into the base which is much easier. This way you can keep the base and machine separate until you drop it off, which makes it weigh less obviously. Go with the doubles, like Guth said, they come with both gumball and candy wheels from gumball-machine.com If the two candy selections do really well at the pizza shop you can always ask to switch to a rack setup that has 4 machines on it. Then you just take the double head and plop it on a rack!
Rob
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