Automatic Age

AUTOMATIC AGE
14
T im e ly S u g g e stio n s fo r
th e O p e ra to r of V e n d o rs
M any new faces have been added to the ranks
of bulk merchandise vendor operators because of
the high earnings reported on these machines.
These higher earnings are largely due to the toys
and charms mixed w ith nuts, candies, etc., that
stim ulate the machines’ income. Old tim e opera­
tors now using them claim th a t their route collec­
tions have increased as high as 300% . We feel
th a t a few suggestions w ill be tim ely and well in
order fo r the benefit of the new operators and the
rest of the vending m achine branch of the indus­
try. Business w ill be much better fo r all con­
cerned if newcomers avoid serious mistakes.
M any are fearfu l th a t the rise the collections
have taken w ill only be short lived because the
saving of charms by both adults and children is a
fad th a t m ay soon die out. M any operators of
other types of coin controlled equipm ent have in ­
vested in vending m achine routes because news
of the ir stim ulated earnings had reached them.
I t would be a serious calam ity i f the charm fad
dies out quickly and these men lose a portion of
their investment. I f the vending m achine opera­
tors are intelligent and use common sense the life
of the charm fad m ay be prolonged indefinitely
and save money fo r all concerned.
In the first place let’s look into the psychology
of the charm fad. People save them because they
w ant to establish a large varied collection. In
order to satisfy this desire different assortments
of charms should be placed in the machine each
tim e it is serviced. There are enough varieties of
them now on the m arket to enable the operator to
load his machines w ith new ones as often as re­
quired if he w ill adhere to the follow ing sugges­
tion.
He should not put too large a variety in his
machines at one tim e. For example if his m a ­
chine holds six pound of merchandise and if his
plan is to include three charms to the pound that
© International Arcade Museum
Ju ly , 1937
would mean th a t 18 charms &I:.ould be placed in
the machine each tim e it is loaded. Instead of
using 10 or 12 different varieties he would be bet­
ter off using three varieties and placing six of
each kind in the machine. In this m anner he
would have new charms fo r the customers each
tim e he loaded his m achine and few people who
saved charms would have the ones th a t his m a ­
chine contained.
By follow ing this suggestion the charm fad
m igh t be continued for a long tim e to come there­
by creating greater earnings fo r all operators. He
should th in k this and the follow ing suggestions
over the next tim e he is loading his machines.
Hoaxing the Public
The vending machine operator should not a t­
tem pt to hoax the public by placing a larger per­
centage of charms next to the glass portion of the
machine tha n is placed in the general m ixture.
The public w ill soon get wise th a t the m a jo rity of
the charms are on the outside and top of the m a ­
chine and th a t their chances of obtaining any
would be very slim u n til the machine is practical­
ly empty. In other words machines th a t had ju s t
been serviced and filled would not get as large a
play as one th a t was almost empty. This of course
would lead to a dangerous condition.
Portions of Merchandise
I t should be kept in m ind th a t the vending m a­
chine is an autom aton th a t sells merchandise and
autom atically collects fo r the goods delivered.
Portions should be made liberal so th a t the patron
gets fu ll measure when he patronizes your auto­
m aton. The am ount of merchandise delivered has
to be figured on the cost of this merchandise. F o r
example pistachio nuts contain about 540 nuts to
the pound. I f an operator sets his m achine to
vend six nuts fo r a penny the pistachios w ill b rin g
90c per pound.
These nuts cost about 35c a
pound and this plus 20% to the location or 18c
totals 53c. A net profit of 37 % per pound is left
fo r the operator. This is a fa ir enough profit
and portions should not be cut any lower. In the
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