17/21 MACHINES IN LOCATION

Ok, so I got two new locations today. I was in a great mood today and I knew I couldn't come back without placing some machines. So I did.

First, I got into this computer store. The guy gripped my hand like a gorilla and I held on for dear life. I can tell you, again, that is why he gave me the account. Be very aggressive in your hand shake, it will often get you the account.

Then, as I was driving around in circles trying not to overlap I saw this little lunch place. I stopped in and they had plenty of room. Plus I could tell it's a killer location and there's no better place to put a machine than a fast paced lunch joint. The manager let me do it. We are doing it on a 1 month trial. I'm pretty sure it will stay on location. It's an amazing location. I'm excited for it.

I call all the numbers on vending machines that I run across in my area. I'm sure one of these days someone will want to give me a great deal when they sell their route.

I found a bank in town that counts quarters and I opened an account there today with my $47 bag of quarters. They let me in even though there was a $100 minimum. I explained my situation to the lady and why I picked that bank. It is a local bank with only 1 branch, it's a huge bank though. I asked for the branch manager after I signed up for my account but she was on lunch. I'm going to go back there on Monday and have the lady that helped me open my account introduce me to her. Hopefully I'll be able to get a machine in the lobby!

I've got friends calling me now when they see a good location for one of my machines, how awesome is that?!

Candyman

nothing went on today

I tried to get out there and sell but I just wasn't in the mood. I have this pending 30 machine deal on Monday and I have a locator locating 5 machines. It just seems almost fruitless to get out there and place individual machines by myself. It takes forever. I know that is negative. Anyone got some inspirational words for me?

Besides that everything is going well. A month is coming up quickly on my first machine being placed and I can't wait to check it! You guys should check out Kyle's blog. I made a post on it earlier today. He hasn't made any new posts yet but I'm sure they'll be interesting.

I'm thinking about manufacturing my own machines. Does anyone know any of some fabrication plants in China? I know they are available. I'm going to do some searching. I know you guys would be interested in getting machines cheaper and there are some things I would like to change.

For one, I want classier looking machines. I want a coin mechanism that isn't cheap. I want something that is no hassle and good looking. I think two candy options is enough. Gumballs and M&M Peanuts seem to be the biggest hits so why not stick with it. I like the triple-head design and want to turn that into a double-head design in one single machine.

I think buying routes is the way to go. The more I think about it the better it seems to me. You don't have to locate yourself. You get machines that are on location, and you usually just have to pay for the machines, meaning locations come free. That and networking at chamber of commerce meetings is what I'm going to focus my efforts on. Anyone else have any other ideas?

There have been some new people checking out the blog, feel free to post. This site just got listed on google so that is sending in some new people. Talk soon.

Rob

GUTH VENDING COMPANY - NEW BLOG

So what is Guth Vending Company, known as GVM. Well, let me tell you. It's a company in Sparta, TN, owned by a guy by the name of Kyle Guth. Now let me get down to the man.

Kyle Guth, a loyal reader and comment extraordinaire on my blog has started his own blog. All I can say is I'm sure it will be interesting. I don't know exactly what he is going to put on there but let's just say he always tells you the truth. If you do something stupid, You're going to hear about it from Kyle. If you do something good, You're going to hear about it from Kyle. If I have a good post, Kyle's going to comment. In fact, I think he is on his computer about 90% of the day because usually as soon as I post something he comments.

What you're going to learn from Kyle Guth's Vending blog? First, you're going to learn that he is a down to earth guy who is one terrible speller. You're going to learn that he's a nice guy who's always willing to help. If you have a question, he will answer it. And I'm sure in a timely manner. He has a lot of experience. He is a self proclaimed 5 day a week vendor. What does that mean? He collects quarters for his lively hood.

You will definitely laugh when you read some of his stories. He has no shame. Let's just say I would be scared to tell him no if he asked me to put a vending machine in my home. Kyle and I have become friends through this blog and I'm sure you will like him too.

Rob
Candyman 007

call me button on the left hand side

I added this new thing from a company called wengo.com to the left side of the page. You can call me and ask for vending / financial advice. I set it at 20 cents a minute. That is basically the cheapest you can do. I'll be available on week nights if anyone wants to try it! It sounds interesting. My dad is a retired doctor so I would love to get him on there if it works out for me.

I'm looking into buying several routes right now. I think buying routes may be the way to go. Especially if you want to expand quickly. I'll be careful and run stuff by you guys before I purchase.

Rob

not too much accomplished

I didn't place any machines today, and I had to bring one of the ones back that I took. No big deal, I may get it back in the future. To be honest I'm surprised the guy had the veracity to call me and ask for the machine back.

So while I didn't place any machines and I lost one machine I think something good may have happend. I got a call from this guy who I had called about 5 days back. I got his number from the back of one of his vending machines in a barber shop. I asked him if he wanted to sell when I left the message 5 days ago and today he said, yeah he would sell.

He has 30 machines on location, double heads, and 8 machines at home. He asked what I paid for my machines and I told him $95 new, and he said that is about what he would like for his machines. He sounded about 50 years old and I'm meeting him this coming Monday at 11 so I don't forget. Someone remind me. Problem is, he has no books. He just puts all the quarters into a machine. I don't know exactly where to go from here.

Any ideas on what I should say? He has no books, I want the route though. I'm getting the route. But I want it cheap. Help me ; )

On another note: I got my business cards. They look nice and they got here fast. 123print.com

Candyman

15/22 MACHINES IN LOCATION

So it was a slow day today. I had $20 to give to this guy Mike at his auto shop but for the life of me I couldn't find it. I drove and drove and drove. You see this is what happens when you don't mark down your locations! Anyway, I'm going to see if I can find him in the phone book or something and find out exactly where it is! I want to get my machine in there! Here is what I had planned:

"Hey Mike, I was in here the other day about the candy machine. I found $20 in quarters in that machine yesterday and I wanted to give it back to you. (Handing the $20 bill over) I don't know who was using it but it sure was being used. What do you say about putting one in here now? You would be surprised at how many customers enjoy using them, and employees too." - hopefully that will get me one more location, I'll keep you apprised.

I did find this other body shop. Euro/sports car body shop. I went in and his daughter (about 4) was on the couch watching tv and eating. I walked back and talked to him and the mechanic that was with him. He asked if he could pick the candy and I said yes, but I told him the default was M&M Peanut / Gumball / Reeses. Well the mechanic was excited on the M&M Peanuts and basically sold it for me. So now I have a machine in there. Plus I went in and gave him like 10 gumballs in the box for his daughter. It's a good location I'm sure. YES KYLE, I turned up the M&M Peanut thing. They are getting like 7 nuts now. That's it. No more! I actually told the guy "Let me know if it's not liberal enough with the candy and I'll fix it up." So, I think I'm set!

ON THE HOME FRONT: My mom is a business woman around town. We started www.icanweightloss.com about 5 years ago so she knows a lot of people. So anyway, I contacted the wife of this guy who owns 7 tire/auto places in town and she called me back! She said she wants to see the machines. My mom let her know I was going to call and told her about the business. Let's hope! These places are top notch auto places. I'd say the bring in 1 mil per store. I WANT IN!

who can?

The candyman can!

I'll update later I get the other 3 heads of the machines open that I found. Thanks for the locks Kyle. Steve you still reading the blog?

oh this is a good post - do read

At 22 I'm one hell of a BUSINESSMAN..
Or at least I like to think so, don't try and mess with my ego right now ; )

Ok, so I placed two machines. That should be 14/20 Machines placed right? Wrong! It is 14/22 Machines placed, and let me tell you how it's done ladies and gentlemen.

But first, my first location is a cellular store. It's brand new. It's right in front. Hopefully it will get some business. I know teenagers like to go in those stores. So then I hit the car garage shops..

In the beginning of the morning maybe 10 locations in I found a shop that said yes, well maybe, but we don't think we have the room. I said, no problem let me bring it in. So I did, and sure enough, it was too big, the base just took up too much hallway room. But no problem, I have some new machines to take care of that problem. I'm going back there this week! The wife that was there really tried to help me get my machine in but she just couldn't make the room.

I went to a lot of places and got a lot of no's and then I went into this one place that a guy named Mike owned. I looked around and hidden by a Pepsi machine was an empty 2 headed machine. A very nice looking machine, just empty. So I talked to Mike and prospected him about putting my machine in. He said to be honest they didn't get much traffic that would use it. I told him I saw the other empty machine in the corner and said "Sorry about that. Some vendors just don't take care of their customers. Why don't you let me take that out of here for you, maybe I'll be able to use it." He said sure, thanks a lot. Guess what. I have an empty machine, a nice looking machine full of quarters. I could hear them. Damn was I excited, haha. He said the guy never came back so no hard feelings. It is Mike's shop and if the other candyman wasn't taking care of him I sure as hell was. So I took the candy machine and put it in my trunk. Guess what's going to happen after I count those quarters? Yup, I'm going to bring Mike half of the quarter money in cash and say "Tell you what Mike, I got this out of the old machine you had here and I want to give it to you. What do you say now about me putting in one of my machines?" Yes, I'm a businessman. On to location two.

Well, I went to this auto body shop. One guy said yes that managed it but then when I came back 30 minutes later to put in the machine his mom I guess said no. So, damn. But what can you do. I should have had the candy with me I guess. It wasn't that great of a location in retrospect. I'm glad I didn't get it. Fate right.

Next, I went to a bunch more locations. I had dedicated in my mind that I wanted to replace the machine that I thought I had placed. So I went to this transmission place. He had AN EMPTY MACHINE IN HIS LOCATION. Two head, looked amazing. A great machine, all metal design. I was thinking in my mind, is this a joke? Can you guess what happened next? Well the guy was hard of hearing, and he was big, and his hands had a ton of grease on them. It's ok. I accommodate my customers. I spoke in a yelling tone and introduced myself and shook his hand. We both had mighty grips, I think that's what sold him right there. I told him about my machine and how it supported my cancer foundation of choice. Then before he spoke I said "I see you have that empty machine over there. I'm really sorry, some of these guys just leave the things and never come back. Why don't you let me take that one off your hands and replace it with my brand new machine." He said great! So I took another, very top heavy machine out of it's location and replaced it with mine. Oh yes, I'm a businessman. The businessman. After that he said sit down here for a minute since I helped you out. I of course obliged. He told me about a boat that he wrecked when he was about my age; he was drunk. His fiance died in the wreck and he barely made it out. He turned to Jesus and got a new wife and everything is good. You could tell he had told the story many, many times. He told it very fast, and it was hard to understand everything. Anyway, he's happy to help my cause and is a nice guy. I told him I'd see him in a month, probably for more conversation.

I then drove around to a few more places. Most notably a cigar shop. It was very upscale and I knew my machine didn't really fit the decor but I thought I might as well try. He said no but I ended up staying and chatting for a half hour with him and another customer. It's a nice place, he's a nice guy, and who knows, he may get me a location somewhere else sometime. Plus it was nice to sit on a couch and relax for a while. I stopped at a few more places and then headed home. I'm a businessman.

Now. To anyone who is going to say what I did was not ethical, I have this to say to you. YOU JUST WISH YOU THOUGHT OF IT FIRST! Listen, we live in a time where business is cut throat. If service is bad, people go elsewhere. I am elsewhere, and I'm happy to be him. This is what separates the Men from the boys, right Guth!

I got home, took my suit off and went to drilling the locks out on the machines. Of course I broke my drill bit on the first lock and couldn't get it open. Both machines are the ones where you put a key in the top and unscrew it. There was no opening in the back to take out quarters so I guess you just take the top off and they are underneath. I can't wait to get the quarters out and get the machines fitted with new locks! They are so nice! I might even take pictures. They are definitely $100+ machines.

So let's hear it! Yell, scream, tell me what you think! I am the candyman!

Candyman 007
14/22 MACHINES IN LOCATION!