Your Vending Machine Repairs Can Be Costly
It is impossible to make any money from a vending machine that isn’t working. As the owner of such a business you need to keep them all operational. It will tick off customers if they find your vending machine isn’t reliable. It can also be a reason for someone to kick it or to damage it in other ways.
You will find the different models of vending machines feature different parts. You will need to think about what you shop for them. Some owners prefer older models of vending machines as they know them inside and out. Others like the newer features on the latest models. They just take the time to learn about how to repair them so they are prepared for anything.
It is too expensive to rely on an outside source to repair them for you. In addition to the cost of parts, you will have to compensate them for their labor. It can be days from when you call them to do the repairs before they can fit it into their schedule. While you wait you will continue to lose money.
For common repairs that may need to take place with your vending machine, consider having some parts on hand. It will save you time in the long run so your vending machines can start making some money again. Keep these parts in the vehicle you use when you go out to stock the machines and to empty the money out of them.
Should you need to order parts to fix your vending machines you need to know where to get them. Time isn’t on your side when it comes to getting things operational again. You don’t want to waste a day having to look online or making phone calls to find what you are after. Have a few providers you work with so you immediately know who to contact.
If at all possible buy such parts locally. This way you can get them put on the same day you discover the problem. This is the best way to reduce the amount of down time for the vending machine. You definitely want to save some money on what you buy but if it comes down to paying more to get it locally or to wait for it to be shipped, it is often worth it to buy it locally.
Don’t forget to have good selection of tools on hand as well. You never know what you will need for basic vending machine repairs. There are some common tools though such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and sockets that you will want to have with you when you visit the various vending machine locations. All of these efforts are going to help you get your vending machine working quickly.
You are going to have to decide when it is worth it to repair a vending machine and when it isn’t. Sometimes the cost involved makes it more effective to replace the machine. One that is constantly breaking down may need to be replaced as well. If you know the basics of vending machine repair you can make good decisions.
Robert Farnham has 2 interesting vending business sites- checkout his How To Start A Vending Business site and his Finding Vending Locations website.