---
title: "Four Things to Think Through Before Getting into Vending Machines"
description: "In recent years, vending machines, known as 'super salespeople who never clock out,' have been growing rapidly across the country. Attracted by low investment, high potential, and high returns, people from all walks of life are showing interest. But have you really thought through this business? 1. Location, location, location: Location is the core resource. Based on the operation of 40,000 machines, we categorize locations into A, B, C, and D types."
author: "友宝"
publisher: "New Distribution"
email: "zhaobo258@gmail.com"
telephone: "+8615854817671"
published: "2015-11-22"
language: "en"
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# Four Things to Think Through Before Getting into Vending Machines

> In recent years, vending machines, known as 'super salespeople who never clock out,' have been growing rapidly across the country. Attracted by low investment, high potential, and high returns, people from all walks of life are showing interest. But have you really thought through this business? 1. Location, location, location: Location is the core resource. Based on the operation of 40,000 machines, we categorize locations into A, B, C, and D types.

**In recent years, vending machines, known as 'super salespeople who never clock out,' have been growing rapidly across the country. Attracted by low investment, high potential, and high returns, people from all walks of life are showing interest. But have you really thought through this business?**
1
**Location, Location, Location**
Location is the truly core resource in this business. The position and actual conditions of the location determine whether you can make money and how much. Based on the current operation of 40,000 machines, we categorize locations into four types: A, B, C, and D, according to actual revenue.

Type A locations: Schools, mainly universities, middle schools, and vocational schools, including tutoring and training centers. Young people dominate, with strong impulse consumption and willingness to experience and accept new things.

Type B locations: Factories, large residential facilities with a young workforce. High labor intensity and poor working conditions lead to a strong demand for FMCG products amid repetitive work.

Type C locations: Hospitals, service halls, etc. These locations feature high foot traffic and long waiting times.

The common feature of the above three types is that consumers have relatively long contact time with the vending machine; for them, it is not just a tool to quench thirst (representing a switch between study/work and rest, or a way to pass time). If you have any of these location resources, you can not only make steady profits but also earn big.

Type D locations: Residential communities and office buildings. These locations have a comfortable environment, with a fixed but limited customer base. In such locations, investment costs are lower, and with careful management, you can achieve decent returns. It is recommended to use lower-cost equipment like 'Xiaoyi' and a product mix suitable for this group.

Overall, location quality cannot be generalized; it requires accurate analysis based on specific conditions.

2
**Service, Service, Service**
Operating vending machines does not require face-to-face communication with consumers, but service still affects your income. The service target is your 'money tree'—the vending machine itself.

One coin jam or product jam, even if resolved, can shake consumer confidence; a second time, you may permanently lose that consumer, and perhaps their family and friends as well.

One instance of selling broken or spoiled products can trigger strong consumer aversion, and even lead to strong complaints from the location owner, demanding compensation or machine removal.

There is no difficulty in operations; it just requires care.

Are the bill validators regularly maintained? Are the air conditioner compressors cleaned regularly? Is the supply channel reliable? Are restocking procedures followed properly?

Your attitude toward each vending machine is your attitude toward each consumer.

3
**Being an Absentee Owner Is Not That Simple**
Selling private goods, intercepting coins and bills, tampering with the motherboard to alter actual sales, substituting high-priced items with cheaper ones... These things you might never have thought of have happened frequently in vending machine operation history.

An absentee owner who just waits to collect money will naturally breed 'clever' employees. Regardless of business size, management is required. To meet your need to be an 'absentee owner,' Ubox's data and tools have tried their best to help you prevent these issues. But if you truly just 'plant' a vending machine without even basic management awareness, then even gods cannot help.

4
**Investment Involves Risk; Enter the Market with Caution**
Every business has risks, and vending machines are no exception.

Low cost is not a reason for blind entry. No matter how good the vending machine, it cannot withstand rough daily operations; no matter how good-tempered the consumer, they cannot tolerate frequent malfunctions; no matter how solid the location relationship, it needs maintenance; no matter how profitable the business, it needs a responsible boss.

We hope every partner and your employees treat vending machines like the appliances in their own homes; hope that when operation data is poor, you are prepared to do refined operations, adjust products or even equipment; hope that every customer grows quickly from five machines to ten, fifty...

But do you have the most basic understanding of vending machine management? Are you clear about your location resources?

Are you ready to embark on a long-term entrepreneurial journey?

**-END-**

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