AUTOMATIC
Twenty-Two
WORLD
Is the ManuFacturer Playing Fair
By H. F. REVES
S
IS IT THE PLAYER, OR THE
LOCATION?
By F. A. HOFFMANN
N
with the Operator?
OME manufacturers of coin
machines are not treating
their best customers, the oper-
ators, with the consideration which
is business courtesy in any -other in-
dustry, from indications picked up
from sundry operators. The prin-
cipal fault lies in the efforts of
manufacturers to undersell their own
operators.
In any business there is a division
of functions: there, are firms that
manufacture the machines, and
other companies and individuals who
operate them-and then, there are
the location oWners. who just let
them be placed in their stores or
other property. The type of manu-
facturer referred to is making a mis-
guided attempt to "cut out the mid-
dleman" by going direct to the loca-
tion owner. He is led, of course, by
the desire to increase his profit by
the sale of a new machine.
This system works with an already
established location. The manufac-
turer secures this from the operator,
and then will write directly to the lo-
cation owner, offering to sell him the
machine-or a new one like it rath-
er, for a good figure . The owner is
tempted to buy on the idea that he
can get a better profit from the
whole "take," without splitting a per-
centage to the operator. This is of
course dubious, as the experienced
operator can show him, but the av-
erage location owner just sees the
pennies and nickels being taken out
of his machines, and readily figures
that he might better make that addi-
tional percentage. He is fruit ripe
for plucking by the unscrupulous
manufacturer.
The result is that the manufac-
turer sells him a new machine. The
-operator is told to take his machine
out, and loses a good location, even
if he can place it elsewhere. He
certainly loses some profit.
His
goodwill for the manufacturer is
naturally the first casualty of the
conflict. The location owner in the
end will find the machine going
stale, and will not be able to switch
it as would the operator with many
locations between which to move va-
rious types of venders. In the end,
July, 1932
the location owner with his new ma-
chine stands to lose money.
Who profits? Well, the manufac-
turer has sold an extra machine. His
only loss is the goodwill of the oper-
ator who has been his steady cus-
tomer. He has preferred an immedi-
ate and unjustified profit to the
surer long time business building
method of "sticking to his last."
•
Out Fishin'
A feller isn't mean,
Out fishin ' ;
His thoughts are mostly good and
clean,
Out fishin';
He doesn't knock his fellow-men,
Or harbour any grudges then;
A fellow's at his finest, when
Out fishin' .
The rich are comrades to the poor,
Out fishin 'g ';
All brothers of a common lure,
Out fishin';
The urchin with the pin an' string
Can chum with millionaire an'
king,
Out fishin'.
A feller's glad to have a friend,
Out fishin';
A helpin' hand he'll always lend,
Out fishin';
The brotherhood of rod all" line
An' sky and steam is always fine;
Men come real close to God's design,
Out fishin' .
A feller isn't plottin' schemes
Out fishin';
He's only busy with his dreams,
Out fishin';
His livery's a coat of tan;
His creed: To do the best he can;
A feller's always mostly man,
Out fishin'.
OW often have you placed
your machines in locations
that had every appearance of
being a good spot, and then have
it turn out to be anything but good.
Have you ever tried to analyz.e the
situation, to figure out just why your
returns were not up to your expec-
tations?
Will admit experience is a mighty
good teacher, but does' the experi-
ence actually teach us a lesson? In
order to profit by experience, we
must apply ourselves to each task, and
in practically every case, we can learn
something of value. This will hold
true in the operating business as well
as any other business.
When you invest your money in
machines, you do so with one idea in
mind, and that is, to add to your in-
come. Each and every machine you
purchase, you figure should give you
a satisfactory income? Man, there
is only one answer to this question.
Read on.
. How many operators give any
thought to the fact that if there are
no players willing to play machines,
that there can be no income or prof-
it. It is the player of the machine
that makes it possible for the oper-
ator to realize a return on his in-
vestment. Therefore, is it not the
logical thing, to give more consider-
ation to the player, rather than the
location itself? How often have you
heard players remark that a machine
in such and such a place pays off
frequently, and that the player
wouldn't play Jones' machine because
Smith's machine paid more often.
And isn't it true that a person will
play a machine that does pay of fre-
quently.
He may go away occa-
sionally when he's ahead, but he al-
ways comes back for more.
Machines that are very tight in
payoff will pay now and then, but
not enough to hold a player. It is
only human nature for a player to
want to get something for his money
and why not give it to him. You
will be the gainer anyway.
Therefore, if just operating ma-
chines in spots does not pay fair div-
idends, try placing machines that are
more liberal in payoff. Give the
players a break. After all, he fur-
nishes you with your "bread and but-
ter." Think it over. Are you a
smart machine operator, or just an-
other operator?-O. D. Jennings Tips
and Topics.