Underhand tacktics - Advice please

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tubzsnackz
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Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by tubzsnackz »

Hi, You may have read my post earlier in the week.
So this is the situation.
One of my best sites I have been servicing for around 4 years has 2 Sweet towers, 1 pringles (refills left with key), 2 toy machines and 2 washroom venders. Pretty well sorted out. No space for more machines and quite often one of the sweet towers is in the cellar, swopped when empty. A couple of months ago a 4 head 20p multi sweet vender arrived on site, I asked about it and only a vague answer was offered saying the Owner has bought the machine with his mate. I asked no more but thought oh well it is only a small machine and it did not affect my sales from what i saw.
I arrived on the site this week to find a rogue Pringles tower where mine was stood and mine in the cellar half full. When I asked what was going on a similar vague answer was offered to before, the barmaid called the owner who said he had been told by the brewery to remove all the machines. I asked to speak to the owner for myself but he was then unavailable. What he said when I finally saw him a few days later was that he has now been told by the brewery that he is not allowed those machines as it is breaking the contract. He said he wants to keep them and I give a good service which he is happy with but he has to buy out of the contract which also covers the bandit machines. He is keen to do it as his bandits make him a lot of money and he is trying to sort that out. He said leave the machines in the meantime. I said to him "what about the New Pringles", he said it is a mates machine as is the other sweets. He said summer is coming and they will need more machines. I explained that I have many more machines (As he undoubtedly knows as I had 2 pringles machines before but removed one due to the lack of space and replaced it with a key and top-ups on their request).
So what do you guys think I should now do now? Incidently the new Pringles tower was broken and still full, looked like the top nut was not tightened and had undone itself leaving the tower open and inoperable. I think it is a new inexperienced operator and no phone numbers are on the machines or I would be certainly contacting him.
:?: :?:
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Snackmore
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by Snackmore »

Sounds like your stuffed mate, he will go with his mate every time why wouldnt he? Thats if he has a mate or has he purchased the machines himself? More and more are particularly if a busy site. I think all you can do is continue to offer good service on your machines, keep them topped up and in good service (unlike the others) and he might get fed up with the hassle of the other ones.

I have heard that some machines are susceptible to attracting shopping tokens/paperclips and blutack/superglue which makes them harder to make money!

Maybe the new machine is one of those?
Steve

Snackmore Vending

Fully managed vending services

Drinks | Snacks | Sweets | Toys | Rides | Washroom

www.snackmore.co.uk 

 

 
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by part-time-operator »

Snackmore wrote: I have heard that some machines are susceptible to attracting shopping tokens/paperclips and blutack/superglue which makes them harder to make money!

Maybe the new machine is one of those?
:rofl:


i had something similar, landlord bought a machine from auction and put it on the opposite side of the pub from mine....inevitably my sales halved. Problem was, the machine he bought was stolen and part of a "pub clearance" lot so he didn't have the keys. Having drilled the lid to re-stock it he realised he didn't have any locks. I sorted him out with the keys for the cash box (and got out over a hundred quid for him) and he let me off some commission as a thank you for getting him so much money!
I was initially worried he'd kick my machine out but he's too busy running the pub and I offer a better service and better stock so both machines have stayed.
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FlintVending
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by FlintVending »

Hi Simon
This guy is using u as a doormat.
Its not nice and has been done to me.
I am always amazed when the pub buys there own machine and think they can offer something better than a guy who does it full time.
You are a victim of your own success Simon!
He would have never had bothered with towers had you not come along and showed him how popular they are and the money they take.
I generally pull out of sites like this now I am more established but if you need the business i guess you just have to make the best out of a bad situation as he will probably get board with his machines after a while.

Nigel
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tubzsnackz
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by tubzsnackz »

FlintVending wrote:Hi Simon
This guy is using u as a doormat.
Its not nice and has been done to me.
I am always amazed when the pub buys there own machine and think they can offer something better than a guy who does it full time.
You are a victim of your own success Simon!
He would have never had bothered with towers had you not come along and showed him how popular they are and the money they take.
I generally pull out of sites like this now I am more established but if you need the business i guess you just have to make the best out of a bad situation as he will probably get board with his machines after a while.

Nigel
Hi Nigel,
I think you are all right so far!
And yes Nigel, he also has your old converted pinball in there too, now that is one machine he can't match! I took £50 from it on the same visit. I would walk away but it is too good a site and I know them all down there pretty well now, actually the manager is quite a nice bloke and I think that may be the problem that he can't say "no" I even go for a meal now and again, (have to pay lol) but they make me free Cappuccinos! lets hope it sorts itself out.
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FlintVending
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by FlintVending »

Hi Simon

Glad the kids Pinball worked out for you, they get the 20p every time over a beaver and the like due to the interactive part.
I have some more if anyone is interested but they need the old sweets cleaning out of some of them which is not a particually pleasant task.

i have two types, the pinball and the basket ball type may post picture on here if I get asked?

Cheers

Nigel
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by Style »

Hi nigel,

Do you have any photos of the pinballs. Are they all 20p or do you have 50p coin mechs? How much do you want for them?

Thanks

Andy
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FlintVending
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Re: Underhand tacktics - Advice please

Post by FlintVending »

Andy

They are 20p mech, give a handful of loose sweets and a 16mm gumball or marble.
They cannot vend the 27mm bouncy ball without a mod to the playfield!
looking for £100 for the basket ball and £150 for the pinball type.

Nigel
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