As you make your decision, always keep in mind why you want a Vending Machine.

Usually to provide a wide selection of Drinks & Snacks to your staff when they want them.

This means the machine needs to be stocked regularly and that breakdown time needs to be minimal.

There are three key areas upon which most people will make their decision.
1. Product Selection -  Our Choice
2. Service
3. Commission

This is relatively easy to assess.
• Does the prospective operator have a wide range of products to select from?
• Or are we restricted to one or two brands?
• Are we able to choose what goes in our Vending Machine?
• Are we able to change selection as we want to?

In general the machines provided by the big brand name companies have only their own brands. They choose the selection in your vending machine.

Most independent operators offer a wide range of selections from all the well known brands. You choose the selection in your vendor.

Most workplace managers are sensitive to the need to satisfy as many people as possible.

This is the hardest one to assess.
All will promise prompt service.
• Is the person making the promise of service the one you will be relying on to carry out your service?
• Is the person the one you are able to contact directly for refills and/or breakdowns.
• Are they able to offer 2 hours service?

A small operator may well be able to give you the immediate and personalised service that keeps your machine stocked and operational and therefore your staff happy.
Especially in busy times, like summer.

To many this is the most important point.
For some this is the only point. Whoever pays the highest commission gets the site.

However, there are other things to consider.
• quality of service
• Total sales
   - Vendors that offer the widest possible selection of products invariably sell more. Therefore more total commission. Even on a lesser % per item.
• An operator with both drink & snack machines on site may well be happy to keep both machines on site even if one isn't doing so well. One will subsidize the other.
• Vendors out-of-stock or out-of-service don't return any commission no matter how high it is.
• It is interesting that places of business who have had a bad experience with vending machines will focus on one issue - SERVICE. If the service is excellent they are less concerned with commission.

Obviously the choice is yours!