By the end of the read I was wondering why I can't setup a few vending machines, sit back and watch the profits roll in. I know it's likely more complicated that I imagine, but it seems like such a hands off way to manage commerce. It wraps up inventory management and sales into one convenient package and takes out the daily responsibilities.
For a while I seemed to end up on a YouTube algorithm that was full of people doing just that - a good few found success, but there seems to be a good chunk of work to do looking after the machines and stock.
I know people who have vending machines. It's a very nice business but like almost everything else you need experience to do it right. It's not easy to find good locations, you need to stock the right stuff, you need to deal with repairs. It's not as hands off as you may think.
I'd always heard, at least here in the Midwest US, that vending machines are run by organized crime (being historically cash-based) and vending routes and locations involve a certain amount of "protection". Maybe cashless vending machines are changing the landscape. Maybe it's all hokum.
I have a relative with several vending machines. He is also in a position of power at the location where they're placed. So yeah you'd be competing with a guy like that.
I'd imagine that the property owner where you're placing the vending machine is going to want to cut, and probably some sort of rent payment and lease agreement signed.
The amount of complex software running these now is insane, yet they still manage to consistently fail on card readers.
It's not that complex. It's just real software, not web stack garbage.
Someone has to bring up japanese vending machines. They are sort of amazing.
That said, I've seen more weird giant vending machines in airports nowadays, the memorable ones to me selling all kinds of lego sets.
There is a guy in Japan who keeps up a vending machine park, video here: https://youtu.be/wEOkMRCWPb4?si=irP7e_7Op52p_yQM
China also has some crazy vending machines, from ‘robot arm’ icecream machines to 3d printed candy and chocolate machines.
By the end of the read I was wondering why I can't setup a few vending machines, sit back and watch the profits roll in. I know it's likely more complicated that I imagine, but it seems like such a hands off way to manage commerce. It wraps up inventory management and sales into one convenient package and takes out the daily responsibilities.
For a while I seemed to end up on a YouTube algorithm that was full of people doing just that - a good few found success, but there seems to be a good chunk of work to do looking after the machines and stock.
I know people who have vending machines. It's a very nice business but like almost everything else you need experience to do it right. It's not easy to find good locations, you need to stock the right stuff, you need to deal with repairs. It's not as hands off as you may think.
And all the good locations are already taken.
I'd always heard, at least here in the Midwest US, that vending machines are run by organized crime (being historically cash-based) and vending routes and locations involve a certain amount of "protection". Maybe cashless vending machines are changing the landscape. Maybe it's all hokum.
I have a relative with several vending machines. He is also in a position of power at the location where they're placed. So yeah you'd be competing with a guy like that.
I'd imagine that the property owner where you're placing the vending machine is going to want to cut, and probably some sort of rent payment and lease agreement signed.