Whats the future for sweet vending?

[Style]

I have gradually moved my business towards toys/ rides so that over 50% of our income is now derived from this. It does mean though that I still sell a lot of sweets but it is becoming less and less profitable.

Yes we can self pot
Yes we can buy cheaper lines
But with prices under the pressure they are this is just delaying the inevitable.

Will we see different machines or a return to beaver type machines set at £1 where you just but a handful of sweets or a two coin vend?

interested in peoples thoughts?

Andy

[Quinch]

I think logically card readers should be the way to go as they can be set at any price so a price bump to £1.20/£1.40 would be more palatable to the customers. Unfortunately I haven't seen any yet that can be retrofitted to old style towers so it involves buying new expensive machines which is obviously a huge outlay unless a retrofitting option becomes available.

Self-potting can work with certain lines that can be potted quickly but plastic prices have gone up also so pots are more expensive now than a few years ago, I did it a bit in the early days but found that once my round got bigger I just didn't have the time.

I'm actually amazed in the age of Covid that machines like Beavers dispensing loose sweets still exist but I still see them about so people must be using them, would be interested to hear from anyone who has them whether their sales have took a hammering.

I'm dreading the idea of changing to a two coin vend as the whole mech has to be replaced but it may be inevitable. £1.20 probably wouldn't cut it because we would be faced with changing it again in the next couple of years, not sure £1.50 is possible so would be potentially looking at jumping straight to a £2 vend. I know some places have already done this, especially in London, so would be good to hear from anyone who has took the plunge already but even if the suppliers increase the fill weights how it affects sales will be a big leap in the dark.

[Coin Operated Group]

Cost of card readers is ridiculous at the moment and theres a shortage.Im hoping more people use the quicker the prices come down .

If any of you guys operate bigger machines or use card reader and use them can you pm what deals you are getting.

[Style]

I think logically card readers should be the way to go as they can be set at any price so a price bump to £1.20/£1.40 would be more palatable to the customers. Unfortunately I haven't seen any yet that can be retrofitted to old style towers so it involves buying new expensive machines which is obviously a huge outlay unless a retrofitting option becomes available.

Self-potting can work with certain lines that can be potted quickly but plastic prices have gone up also so pots are more expensive now than a few years ago, I did it a bit in the early days but found that once my round got bigger I just didn't have the time.

I'm actually amazed in the age of Covid that machines like Beavers dispensing loose sweets still exist but I still see them about so people must be using them, would be interested to hear from anyone who has them whether their sales have took a hammering.

I'm dreading the idea of changing to a two coin vend as the whole mech has to be replaced but it may be inevitable. £1.20 probably wouldn't cut it because we would be faced with changing it again in the next couple of years, not sure £1.50 is possible so would be potentially looking at jumping straight to a £2 vend. I know some places have already done this, especially in London, so would be good to hear from anyone who has took the plunge already but even if the suppliers increase the fill weights how it affects sales will be a big leap in the dark.

The problem with card readers is the cost. I've got a couple on kiddie rides. Monthly cost £10 + VAT. plus 3% of sales. Thats after you have paid a small fortune to get it fitted in the first place. It would only ever work for towers that were emptying every week.

[Coin Operated Group]

£10 p/m and 3% whos that with ?

[Style]

NAYAX

[Coin Operated Group]

[Style]

Why shocked Matt? Am I paying too much or too cheap?

[Coin Operated Group]

Too much, I wasnt happy @ £7 and 2% but I have about 75 readers on so it adds up every month. Thing is its £7 per month for 1 or 1000

[Style]

Oh wow that a big difference. Who is that with?