Business Standing:

• Is the vending company listed with the Better Business Bureau? Do they have any complaints? One is too many. Visit www.bbb.org to find out.
• Is the vending company also a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce, and are they registered with Dun & Bradstreet? Both are important and require certain standards/criteria.
• Have they been in business at least 5-10 years? Are you confident they will be around 5-10 years from now to support you and honor their warranties?
• Do they accept all major credit cards? Companies that don't usually have problems with their bank and can't get a merchant account. Use credit cards if you have them so you have credit card protection by your bank.
• Look at their phone number - is it an "800" number? If it's an "888", "877" or an "866" number, they are new to the business and have no track record.

Machines:

• Did the vending company design, test and manufacture the machine they sell? Be sure you ask them. Most companies are just "re-selling" whatever they can get their hands on - switching machines constantly. Are they still supporting this month the machine they were selling last month? Are they specialists or are they generalists who will sell you anything?
• How outdated is the machine they sell? Was it being sold back in the 80's or 90's? Is it only mechanical with plastic coin mechanisms for every single product - or is it fully electronic? Mechanical machines can only sell a product for a maximum of $1.00 - so you are missing out on the entire Energy Drink market.
• Does it only offer snacks or only offer drinks?"All-soda" or "All-snack" machines are a poor return on investment.
• Does the machine only sell drinks in a 12oz can? If so, you are dramatically limiting your income.
• Is their machine engineered with the highest quality materials and workmanship? Most machines are made of inferior materials. Ask them what their machines are made of.
• Does their machine require exact change and therefore not accept $1& $5 bills? How about the new $5 bill that just came into circulation in March 2008? If not, you will miss out on sales every day.
• Does their machine have a Coin Changer upgrade? If not, you will frustrate your customers.
• Does their machine offer the convenience of an electronic sales history? You've got to have it to track your business effectively.
• Does their machine not only vend a variety of snacks and chips - but also bottled water, sports drinks, and most importantly, energy drinks - in a variety of shapes and sizes? Don't miss out on this huge multi-billion dollar exploding market.

Guarantees/Warranties:

• Does every single part of their machine carry a 5-Year Limited Warranty? Is it put in writing? If not, don't even consider it.
• Do they offer a Lifetime theft/fire/vandalism protection guarantee? Is it put in writing?
• What about Lifetime guarantees of support/coaching, protection from future price increases and a guarantee that your machines will be shipped immediately? Is all this put in writing by an officer of the company?

Delivery:

• Do they ship your machines out within 24 hours of processing your order? Are you given tracking numbers immediately?
• Do your machines arrive on your doorstep pre-assembled? Or do they show up in numerous pieces? Some companies don't tell you that what they really send you are bunch of machine "parts" that you have to assemble.
• If any of your machines are damaged during delivery, are you sent out new parts/machines immediately? Or do you have to fill out a bunch of paperwork with the shipping company and hope that they will eventually take care of it?

Support:

• Does the vending company have an experienced, In-house coaching division? Are you assigned your own personal coach - a person who is paid a salary to do nothing else but help you succeed - and who is in the office every day?
• What happens when you need parts? Does the company respond immediately by sending out what's needed? Some companies say they do, but in reality they complicate the issue or make you send the whole machine to them for something to be "fixed" - and you pay for shipping both ways.

Researching vending can be a tedious task. As owners and operators, we understand the concerns and worries that come with it. We are here to help! Our mission is to provide the best equipment at affordable prices and to set new standards for customer service and care.

Even if you don't do business with us, you have a solid checklist that will help you judge any vending company before giving them a dime.