Planet Antares scam alert blog on tips & advice on various vending scams for entrepreneurs and operators.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Efficient currency handling in Planet Antares vending machines

The problem that most vending customers had to face with the traditional vending machines was the requirement of exact change in order to obtain goods out of them. Since a long time the vending operators have felt the need to introduce easy payment options in their vending machines. Bill acceptors in Planet Antares vending machines accept the money that the customer place for the purchase of the product.

The technologically improved bill acceptors and validators extend the capability of the vending machines. The bill acceptance rate is high with the introduction of features such as automatic jam ejection and automatically adjusting sensors. Cleaning cards are also available in order to keep the bill acceptors clean and ensure their smooth functioning.

Sales through vending machines will increase substantially if the customers are given an opportunity to use whatever change they are carrying at that moment. Bill acceptors accept all or any combination of the following bills: $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20. A Planet Antares vending operator needs to pay an emphasis on the regular cleaning of the bill acceptors particularly the bill paths, sensors and belts. These devices were extremely susceptible to failures and jamming in the past due to folded or damaged notes.

Overall, technology has improved the versatility, reliability and durability of bill acceptors and changers in vending machines. Counting of cash has become easy for the vending business owners. Higher denominations are easy to count than several coins of small denominations.

Easy payment options encourage the consumers to reuse the machines. With increased number of consumers using the vending machines, sales and profits will also increase. Improved bill acceptor in Planet Antares vending machines has led to efficient currency handling and convenience of the consumers. You should never forget that convenience is the key to success.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Understanding the vending terminology

The benefits of owning a vending business has encouraged many to start their own vending business and enjoy the status of a successful business owner. The opportunities provided by vending are innumerable. The vending business can be started with low investment and is an all cash business. An operator can start the vending business with soda vending machines, snack vending machines, combo vending machines or any other type of vending machine available with Planet Antares. If you have decided to start a vending business, it is very important to first get acquainted with the terminology that’s associated with the industry.

Few of the essential terms are:

Accounts Payable: Amounts due to a vendor for the delivery of inventory products.

Accounts Receivable: Amounts due for the delivery of products to non vending locations.

Bank:
1) Two or more vending machines in a row.
2) Amount of money stored in a coin/dollar mechanism; also refers to a routeman’s change fund.

Bulk Operator:
Person who specializes in vending machines offering gum balls, trinkets and charms, usually at one cent or five cents with larger offerings at ten and twenty five cents.
Bulk Vending: Sale of unwrapped or unsorted merchandise through coin operated vending machines.

Class of Trade:
(also referred to as location) the classification of the site where the machine is placed by sector (e.g. schools, factories etc.)

FDA Model Code 1978:
“The Vending and Beverages” model ordinance code developed specifically for vending in 1957 and revised in 1978.

Free Standing:
A single machine installation, distinguished from the bank.

Free Vend:
A machine adjusted to vend product at no charge.

Installation:
Placing a vending machine(s) for operation at a particular location.

Location:
Specific place within the site where the machine is. (I.e. Cafeteria, Breakroom).

NAMA:
National Automatic Merchandising Association is the national associate of vending and food service management industry founded in 1936.

Par Out:

1) The process by which the routeman collects sales, fill the coin mechanism with change and loads the vending machines with products.

2) The process by which the merchandise and sales in a vending at any point of time are reconciled to the par or the fixed level of the machine to determine if any excess or shortage exists.

Route:
A sequence of locations services by a traveling routeman.

Routeman:
The person who services one or more vending locations.

Route Driver:
The person trained to fill, clean and balance various vending equipment.

Route Vend:
A group of vending locations serviced by a routeman (also referred to as jump route or street vend).

The knowledge of the terminology of the vending industry helps the operators to manage the vending operations like a pro. An overview of the basic terms eases out the venturing into new vending business. The terms are wide and depend on the different vending machines. Key terms for snack and beverage vending machines might differ from each other. Planet Antares provides you a complete guide of the industry terminology and an edge over the competitors.

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