To all considering getting into the vending business, avoid Vending Friends, Mae Vending, Vending Coop or any of their associates.
I wanted to make a little part-time money and decided vending would be fun. Unfortunately I got sucked in with the wrong company. I was originally skeptical after talking with Therese about "Wishing Wells". She told me she had her own route of 20 or so and that they paid themselves off in three months and her experience had been duplicated by many others. She even shared the tip of putting blue food coloring in the water to hide the cloudiness.
I told her that I wanted to think it over and would call back tomorrow. She told me that she could not guarantee that they could hold my territory in Austin as it was a hot area and someone else might call in. She even suggested there was someone in Georgetown who was also looking to open a territory. Being naive, I decided to take the plunge and try this out. It took forever to receive the wishing wells.
After I received them, I also received a charge for over $1000! I called my bank and they told me it was a check cashed by Vending Coop. She also told me it was not a check that was from my bank and that the name was not my own. Vending Coop had cashed another persons check at my bank. I'm not saying the bank shouldn't have caught this, but I was deeply concerned when I called Vending Friends and they confirmed it was them and it was a "clerical error." One I am sure would not have been brought up had I not caught it. Therese was apologetic and sent over a replacement check three days later.
After talking with a county official who questioned the legality of the wells, I called Therese and asked if I could exchange them for triplehead vending machines. She told me I could and would just need to send the Wishing Wells to another of their customers in another state. I was asked to use their name, return address, and phone number and to send them the confirmation numbers.
I was told they would send a new bill of sale (I would need to pay additional shipping fees for the machines) once the customer had received their shipment. The shipment was received in a matter of days and a new bill of sale was eventually sent. It was paid the very same day and finally, after countless emails and phone calls, two months later I recieved my machines. I was told the delay was because I hadn't specified a color. I had, in fact, specified a color, and if it had been a problem the least they could have done would have been say that in response to my emails. The locations have been another nightmare.
They have repeatedly promised to send a complete list and have failed miserably each time instead sending one or two at a time. They have even tried sending over the same locations multiple times.in addition, several of the store owners claimed that they had never even been contacted. Three of the locations were even in different cities, one that was three hours away! I am still battling them on getting a refund or at least what I have paid for.
Please let my experience be a warning, Therese and Vending Friends will be sugar and honey until they have your cash. Then you will be lucky to ge t an answer to your emails or phone calls. Buyer Beware. If you are going to get into vending, purchase your machines from one place and hire your locators from another. Any place that sells a "business package" or guarantees a territory is full of it. Vending Friends Specifically!!!
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