To start, I would like to make aware to NEW Vending Business Owners and existing Vending companys to be VERY select in who you hire to place your machines. Do not take the word of the company when they tell you that they will take care of you and VERBALLY tell you they will have your machines located in a couple weeks. Get it in writing... Have a deadline! Talk to other vendors. If they do not complete the task, get your money back. Make sure you are able to inspect a location and REJECT it if you feel it will not make money for you!
I am a fairly new small toy and sticker vendor... About 7 months into the business. I currently have over 60 locations that I personally located and placed. I have a good idea for which locations will do good, fair and poor. All I wanted was some 'fair' locations from this company.
My problem started with Advance Placement Services and the people they hire. On Sept. 13 I sent a contract with payment to APS. On Sept 18th they called and informed me that they have a WONDERFUL locator in the So. Cal area that will be working with me within a couple weeks. I have a small order, 10 machines, as I wanted to test this company to see if they can follow through on what they promise. As it stands, I will NEVER use this company again. Anyway, Tami, a locator, contacted me to inform me that they will be in the area on Sept 29th and the entire week. We discussed what kind of machine, locations, area... I informed her that my machines DO NOT do well in Hair Salons, Auto Shop, Liquor Stores or Gas Stations. I informed her that they do well in Markets, small restraunts or any location that has child/teen traffic...
Anyway, 9:30 am on the 29 came by and no locator... I finally called and they FORGOT to call me to let me know it would not be until Oct 4th before they can get there... Apparently, another vendor had not received there equipment and they had to wait. Ok-fine... I just lost a half a day waiting.
Oct 4,11:30am - Locator arrived - Not Tina. I went over some of the types of places I would like... Same thing as I told Tina before... 1 hour later... We have a location... Hair salon. I rejected this location ONLY after talking to the Owner of the salon... The owner told the locator that NO children come into the shop, but the locator insisted that it would be OK anyway... WHERE DO I MAKE ANY MONEY on this?
Oct 5,7:30pm - Locator called with another location - Liquor Store (NOT Minimart) Again I went to the location and talked to the owner - (which did not really want a machine) The only location to place my child attracting machine was near a Porno-adult section in the back of the store - I REJECTED this place.
Oct 6 - Locator called with another location - Liquor Store in a Business complex... The owner was nice, but had no place in the store... He told me that he could move the unit outside and then inside at night... But told me that it would be risky due to theft... He then told me that the locator told him that, that would be fine... I rejected this location.
Oct 6 - last time... Locator called me and I accepted a VERY POOR location... A very small barber shop. I settled... Mistake.
Anyway, later on that evening on Oct 6th, the locator showed up at my door and informed me that I was to find a new locator. I was suprised! I called Tami, she was not rude, but she was obviously upset... She told me that I rejected 3 out of 4 locations and they did not want to locate for me any more. That I was too picky...
She then told me to contact APS and they will get someone else. I contacted APS and talked to Garret... He knew about the situation and told me that Steve will call me back... Come 4:45pm Chicago time, and no call back. I then called and talked to Steve... He then proceeded to let me know that I was TOO picky and no one will want to locate for me. I told him this story, but I do not think he was listening... I also told him that I had made a notation on the contract that you have until October 22 to place the machines... He laughed at me and informed me that there was no time limit and they could take as long as they want! The notation on the contract did not mean a thing. He then informed me that it will take about 3 more weeks to get someone out there... But he did not know.
I still would like this company to fulfill what the contract states, but so far, I believe this is going to be a rough road.
Learn to locate! It is a very tough road, but very worth while.
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