This is topic Vending Machines in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000812

---

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-17-2003, 12:23 PM:
 
How many of you exhibitors use vending machines? In particular, candy and soda machines.

How much do they take away from your normal concession sales. That is, do you find that when times are busy, rather than waiting in line to buy $10 worth of stuff, do the customers go to the vending machine and buy $2 worth of stuff?

Do you find that they just add to your bottom line? Or are they more trouble than they are worth.

I am not looking for opinions here but some facts based on those that have used (in the company sense, not in the customer sense) them, preferably theatre owners and management.

Steve
 

---

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 05-17-2003, 12:51 PM:
 
UA experimented with vending machines. This is what they found. Vending machines took nothing away from the concession stand. They only added to the bottom line.

A 20 oz plastic bottle of soda is not replacement for a nice iced beverage from the concession stand. They are two separate products. Bottled soda in vending machines doesn't sell well. Vending machines work well where there are no services like gas stations; Bus stations and the office break room.

But candy vending machines placed well down the hallway from your concession stand is just additional profit for very little effort or cost. Kids can't resist them and neither can I. I think $.50 worth of candy is just the perfect amount. The perfect amount is just enough for the palm of my hand. I never buy candy from the concession stand but I'll pump a couple of quarters in to a gumball machine. Personal favorites are Runts, Spree, Hot Tamales and Boston Baked Beans.

So I say no to soda machines, yes to candy machines and a hearty “Hell Yea!” to Cigarette Machines. Ah the sweet sting of that first hit of nicotine… Yea!!!
 

---

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 05-17-2003, 06:04 PM:
 
You know what I would love to see is theaters that have Pepsi products at the concession stand should also have a coke machine sitting somewhere in the corner and vice versa. Though I am sure that theaters have some sort of exclusive contracts with said venders that would prevent them from doing so. I for one would be willing to pay extra for a coke product ($2.50 range for a 20oz) instead of having to settle for some kind of Pepsi product and I am sure that there would be others who would feel the same but with the opposite product.
 

---

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 05-17-2003, 09:33 PM:
 
Actually a vending machine that dispensed sports drinks, energy drinks and iced coffee might be interesting.
 

---

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-17-2003, 09:50 PM:
 
Does the presence of a familiar looking soft drink vending machine create the expectation that the prices should be similar to what one might expect out in the real world? Should the prices be in line with the concession counter or as Ian says, they are separate products so it doesn't matter?
 

---

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-17-2003, 10:17 PM:
 
I've got jellybean machines at a few theatres... they're always good for a couple hundred a month. They don't take away from concession sales, people usually buy jellybeans with whatever change we give them after they buy popcorn.

Gum ball machines aren't worth your time though, you spend the money you made peeling the gum off of the seats.
 

---

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-17-2003, 11:27 PM:
 
Steve, they are. I think UA charged $2.00 for a 20oz Coke.

Mmmmmmm, real Coke.
 

---

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 05-17-2003, 11:32 PM:
 
Edwards here charges $3 for a 20 oz. Coke.
 

---

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 05-18-2003, 11:43 AM:
 

quote:

---

Edwards here charges $3 for a 20 oz. Coke.

---