Charity Honesty Sweet Boxes Should be BANNED!

[dorsetvending]

Mark 1-0 Charity boxes

[Mark@YorVend]

Whenever the staff in one of my sites mentions the charity boxes, I try to act cagey and evasive and then say some thing like.... ''well, we don't like to badmouth anyone in the charity industry, but....''

I can usually get rid of the boxes pretty quickly, by mentioning the losses (that are many), get deducted from the charity's commission by a lot of operators.

[Quinch]

Just dropped a tower of at a Peugeot dealership today. As I was screwing the tower to the base, the assistant manager who had agreed to the tower came down and said ''really sorry but the manager says no''.
I was just about to pack it back up when the manager came past and said ''oh, I thought it was one of those boxes''. Apparently he has a thing about the charity boxes, as he has worked places where the money or the sweets were always short, and the operator always tried to guilt trip them about it!

Luckily I used my considerable charm to explain how secure the tower system was, and that our machines were fully insured against loss and damage, and he finally agreed to take it.

I explained to the assistant about how much of an unworkable concept the honesty boxes were, and that his manager was right to say no to anyone who tries getting one in next to my tower!

mark

When you say your machines are fully insured against loss and damages do you mean Public Liability Insurance or you actually have the machines insured in case they are nicked etc? Last time I looked into it the excesses were too high to make it worthwhile.

[Mark@YorVend]

When you say your machines are fully insured against loss and damages do you mean Public Liability Insurance or you actually have the machines insured in case they are nicked etc? Last time I looked into it the excesses were too high to make it worthwhile.

LOL I was lying to him, I have neither!

[Siting Services]

I don't see it as lying Mark, you are actually telling the truth because what you are saying in effect is that you take full responsibility with regard to vandalism and theft.

Barbara

[Mark@YorVend]

Good point Barbara! I suppose when you think about it It's actually me that is 'insuring' them by not having insurance.

[part-time-operator]

Losses is easy, you just say you as operator bear all the costs...

I've had two major dramas now with kids getting their hands stuck in machines, had the fire brigade out etc. The thing is, if the little buggers are trying to steal off you there's a counter claim so you really don't need PLI for those kind of situations and also impossible to prove the "machine fell on my kid" story because again they probably pull it on themselves / trying to smash open to get the stock.

Has anyone ever had to claim on their PLI?

[Siting Services]

In all the years we have operated vending machines, we have never had a claim. We have had the odd instance whereby a kid gets his greedy little paws stuck up the chute and the Fire Brigade are called out and also one time when a mother wanted to sue as the tower fell on her child. We suggested that as a parent she was not demonstrating a 'duty of care' towards her child .... that shut her up! I do recommend that PLI is in place for what it costs per annum, around £100. That will give you piece of mind and the cover can be up to £2m. Insurance to cover in the event of vandalism or theft not advisable due to cost. What you pay in premiums will not cover you for losses so just accept 1% theft on average ongoing.

Barbara Fellowes

[Coin Operated Group]

I've never had a claim either, but you have you to have PLI if you are a ltd company anyway.

[DavidClews]

Barbara,

Thanks for all your advice and I was initially looking at these... Interestingly though when I asked a few of them some probing questions i didnt get any answers.