r/vendingmachines

i created a google maps list of all of the inciardi machine locations to make finding store hours and stopping by a machine easier.

i spent far too long on this not to share it and
hopefully help others enjoy some beautiful art, lol.

inciardi prints · Moon
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7LwqdjUn7BrfetyG7?g\_st=i

p.s. if they’re new machines added or any missing feel free to reach out so i can update it.

New to this industry, curious if holiday weekends boost or slow down machine revenue.

Wondering how people are vending water in their soda machines. I’ve been selling zepherhills in the plastic bottle but the slot jams every week. I keep taking bottles out because I know it’s a weight problem.

Im now thinking I should sell liquid death water because the plastic bottles are not vending machine friendly. Figure the cans would be better.

Thoughts, suggestions???

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After years running vending routes, I’ve learned a simple game-changing rule:

Operators rarely fail from bad machines. They fail from losing good locations.

Newbies waste so much time and money overthinking equipment. They drop huge budgets on expensive refurbished US machines or premium local units, chasing perfect build quality and zero breakdowns. They treat hardware as their biggest business investment, and totally miss what actually matters.

The truth is straightforward:

Machines are replaceable. Top locations are not.

Any machine issue is fixable. Budget compact smart coolers work reliably long-term with basic upkeep. If a unit breaks, you repair it or swap it out — you still keep the location and its steady revenue.

Losing a prime spot is permanent revenue loss.

Profitable locations like busy warehouses, full-time clinics and staff-heavy workshops are limited and competitive. Once you lose the contract to a rival operator or the business downsizes, that consistent monthly income is gone forever. No high-end machine can fix that.

This is why site security always beats equipment quality for long-term profits.

I’ve watched countless beginners sink thousands into overpriced fancy machines, only to lose their sole good location within a year. They end up with depreciating unused equipment and zero income to cover their costs.

Veteran operators do the opposite: they run affordable, reliable compact units and prioritize long-term contracts, manager relationships and exclusive placement rights. This keeps their margins stable and their routes scaling consistently.

Good gear helps, but it’s never the deciding factor. Location stability is the real moat in vending business.

Hardware is just an asset. Secure locations are your true, lasting investment.

Would love your take: Have you lost more money from losing locations than broken machines? What’s your best tip for locking down long-term site partnerships?

Looking to get my first vending machine for a medical outpatient clinic that a friend works at. I have been looking on facebook marketplace and seen a few options but I am worried about purchasing from a person because the repairs and maintenance will be on me and not from the company who makes them. Any suggestions or recommendations for this process? Will be considering all advice and options. Thank you all in advance.

Have a quote from vending.com and cranevend.com - cranevend was $2k cheaper. Vending.com is at the manufacturer’s site. Has anyone had this similar scenario?

Just wanted to get some insights and see what you all normally do, especially those who have a decent sized vending route.

With Nayax (I'm unsure if Cantaloupe can do this, but I think they should be) you can set a surcharge to each transaction. Do you use this to charge taxes or to charge back customers the expensive processing fees?

Personally, I use the surcharge to charge taxes for all my machines. It didn't affect my sales but I do notice that I get a lot more cash sales though.

Love to hear what you guys do and I know there's no right or wrong way for this. :)

Hey r/vending — I work for a sports card and collectibles shop and we're in the process of placing our first Sports Card vending machine at a high-traffic local youth sports venue. We are also considering a local Ballpark and want to scale beyond that to other high-traffic entertainment venues, and potentially malls. We've done our research but want to hear from people actually running these before we commit. A few specific questions; if you have any answers to one or two of these, they would be greatly appreciated!

Forecasting

• For those running a machine in a family entertainment or sports venue, what does your actual daily transaction count look like vs. what you projected? Where were you off?
• What percentage of foot traffic actually converts to a sale?
• How long did it realistically take to break even, and what was the biggest variable that affected that timeline?
• Which product category moves fastest? We're looking to sell sports cards, packs, and wax, but are open to selling some of our Pokémon and other TCG.
• What's your average transaction size and how has it shifted as you've adjusted your product mix?

Venue Negotiations

• When working with your venues, did you use a flat monthly fee or revenue share? What were the terms? And looking back, would you have done it differently?
• What's the lowest rev share % you've successfully negotiated and what was your pitch?
• What terms do you wish you'd locked in writing that you didn't (i.e. exclusivity, specific placement within the venue, right of first refusal on a second machine)?
• Has a venue ever tried to renegotiate once they saw the machine performing well? Did your contract protect you?
• Did any venue require proof of insurance or other requirements before signing?

Venue Negotiations

• For those running elevator-based machines specifically, how has reliability been in practice? What breaks most often and how painful is the downtime?
• How much does the coil vs. elevator debate actually matter in real operation? Is card damage a genuine issue you've experienced or more of a sales pitch concern?
• What does your restocking process actually look like in terms of time and frequency, and has inventory management been harder than expected?
• For anyone who went with a fully custom branded machine--was the branding investment worth it in terms of visibility and customer engagement, or does it not move the needle?

Again, any insight appreciated. Happy to share what we learn on our end as we get this off the ground!

Where did y’all purchase yours from?