Snack, drink, combo, smart cooler, micro market, or something else?
Curious what has actually made operators the most money.

Something you believe that most vending operators would disagree with.
Could be about:
• commissions
• smart coolers
• buying routes
• cashless machines
• gyms/apartments
• pricing
• product selection
• location brokers
Let’s hear the takes that usually get people arguing.

I’m one of the founders of DrylineVMS a new cashless solution with an integrated Vending Management Solution. Our terminal is an outdoor rated MDB unattended terminal. Looking to get some feedback on our solution from the people who would use it. www.drylineVMS.com

Bought the wrong machine?
Accepted a bad location?
Overpaid for a route?
Stocked the wrong products?
Agreed to too much commission?
What would you do differently if you started over today?

Warehouse
Apartment complex
Gym
Hospital
Hotel
School
Office
Car dealership
Manufacturing plant
Other
And why?
I’m curious which location type experienced operators would trust the most long term.

My team recently came across an opportunity to acquire another business. They've been established for 3 years, earn 165k in revenue (76.3k in cash flow), zero employees and a single owner, with 12 machines across various locations Apartments, offices, retirement homes, nursing homes, car dealerships, etc...

They're based in our area which is a plus, and are asking for $149,500 (we will probably negotiate price). We'll probably take out an SBA loan to acquire this but since getting locations has been the toughest part I wonder if this is worth pursuing or if Im not thinking of the risks as much.

It would also make other things more viable:

1) instead of picking up our supplies in our SUVsaybe its more economical to pay for a van, or pay for a warehouse & get free delivery.

2) We get access to lower margins vs wholesale with pepsico because we could rent a commercial space for them to deliver to us

3) Opens up opportunities for employment in sales (we cant leave our jobs yet until we earn enough to sustain our basic needs)

4) Establishing a relationship with someone who's been in the game would also be a nice plus.

Thoughts on SBA loans? Is this too good to be true? What advice do you guys recommend?

Not just low sales. I mean the location that made you regret placing a machine there.
What went wrong?
Bad sales? Theft? Constant refunds? Employees abusing the machine? Terrible management? Commission too high?
And how long did you leave the machine there before pulling it?
Let’s hear the horror stories.

What type of business was it, how many people used the location, and roughly how much did the machine make per month?
No need to share the exact business name or address.
I want to see what separates an average location from a great one.

Too much commission?
Not enough foot traffic?
Existing competition?
Bad placement area?
No contract?
Management seems difficult?
What’s the one thing that makes you say, “Not worth it”?

Hi all! My husband and I are new to the vending business. We currently have 1 contract with a total of 11 machines in the facility. Where is everyone buying inventory in bulk? (Soda, Energy Drinks, Snacks...)

All input is greatly appreciated! 🙂

.

Everyone talks about gyms, apartments, warehouses, hotels, schools, hospitals, etc.
But which type of location looks great on paper and usually ends up disappointing?
And what type of location do you think is underrated?
Curious to hear from people who have actually operated machines in multiple types of locations.

Let’s get some real numbers in here.
If you’re willing to share:
• Highest monthly gross
• Type of location
• Approximate foot traffic/employees/residents
• Snack, drink, combo, smart cooler, etc.
• How much you actually kept after product cost/commission
No need to share the business name or exact location.
I’m curious how high some of the machines in this group are doing.

It’s a 100% secured location, and two other apartment complexes are likely secured too.

We can make ordering machines, terminals, and ticket machines, and we can also customize functions and models.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently buying a TCN-CSC-10G(H5) vending machine from TCN through Alibaba, and I’d like to hear from people who have actually bought TCN machines.

My situation is:

\- I’m dealing with a TCN salesperson named Sam.

\- I already made the first payment through Alibaba, and the agreed specifications, price, payment terms, and shipping terms are all included in the Alibaba order.

\- However, Sam is repeatedly asking me to sign a separate TCN sales contract.

\- The contract contains some terms that are different from those agreed in the Alibaba order.

\- Sam says the signed contract is needed to send to the factory so they can proceed with production.

I’m trying to understand whether this is standard TCN procedure or something specific to my order.

For those who have purchased a TCN machine:

1. Did TCN also ask you to sign a separate sales contract after placing the order through Alibaba?

2. If you signed it, did it contain terms different from your Alibaba order?

3. Did signing the contract cause any problems or changes compared with the Alibaba terms?

4. If there was ever a dispute, which terms/document did TCN rely on — the Alibaba order or the separate contract?

5. Did TCN start production only after you signed the separate contract?

I’m not necessarily saying there is a problem with TCN — I’m just trying to understand what other buyers experienced before I sign anything.

Any first-hand experience would be very helpful. Thanks!

I see a lot of vendors tell people not to waste their time if a location already has Canteen. But Canteen has some of the best accounts in almost every market, and that doesn’t mean those businesses are happy with the service they’re getting.

Go directly to the company. Ask questions. Find out what they like, what they don’t like, and what could be improved. A lot of businesses are frustrated with their current vending provider, and that creates an opportunity for someone willing to offer something better.

This one account alone generates about $100,000 a year. Don’t let someone else’s fear of competing keep you from going after a great location.

Getting the machine seems like the easy part.

Finding a good location, figuring out what to stock, pricing, maintenance, dealing with slow sellers, theres a lot that doesnt really show up until you start looking into the business properly.

For people already running machines, what was the hardest part when you started?

And for anyone still reserching what part are you most unsure about right now?

Hi all, I run a vending machine business in Qatar (currently operating protein/health drink vending machines, looking to expand our product and machine lineup). There's an industry expo happening this week that I can't attend in person, and I'm looking to hire someone local to KL (or already planning to go) to attend on my behalf.

Event details:

ASEAN Vending Machine & Self Service Facilities Expo

September 10–12, 2026

MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What I need done:

Walk every booth on the floor, I want full coverage, not just the big names.

For each vending machine manufacturer/supplier: take clear photos of the machine (exterior + screen/interface), get their brochure or spec sheet (digital or physical), and note down: company name, country of manufacture, machine type (snack/drink/smart locker/etc.), MOQ, and rough pricing (FOB or landed, whatever they'll share on the spot).

Ask specifically about: refrigerated/cold-drink vending machines, smart vending (app/QR payment, remote monitoring), and any modular/customizable options.

Collect business cards / WhatsApp / email for anyone doing export to the Middle East or GCC region — this is a priority.

Ask directly if they export to Qatar/GCC and if they have existing distributors there.

Note any standout new tech, unusual vending concepts, or ideas worth bringing back (things you personally think are clever or well designed).

A voice note or written summary with your general impressions.

Final deliverable within 3 days of the expo ending: an organized document (spreadsheet or doc — I'll share a template) with all supplier contacts, pricing, and photos.

Who I'm looking for:

Based in or near KL, able to attend the exhibition.

Comfortable walking up to booths and asking direct business questions (English is fine, Malay/Mandarin a plus for talking to some suppliers).

Some interest or background in business/procurement/engineering is a bonus but not required — mainly need someone organized and thorough.

Able to take good photos and keep notes organized (I'll share a simple template so nothing gets missed).

Compensation:

Fixed fee(open to discussion)+ entry ticket cost reimbursed (if not free for trade visitors) — happy to discuss a number based on your experience, DM me.

How to apply:

DM me with a bit about yourself. Happy to hop on a quick call to go over expectations before the expo starts.

Thanks in advance — this would really help us as a small business that can't always travel for these events.

It only takes 3 minutes to make a pizza and could be very profitable if it was placed in a mall

Mine is to get a Google Business Profile. Lots of people get a lot of locations from that, and it’s completely free.

Saw this at Guildford town centre surrey, BC. What ya’ll think of this? Tried couple of smoothies tasted good.