Got a call today from a man who wanted to chat, in the conversation he let me know that there is a race track in one of the western states of the USA that has a vending machine set up to dispense race plates and nails, like buying a candy bar or bag of chips. thought it was interesting. Ray
Jeff, I rcd. a picture via e mail and i ll try to post it, in the picture there s a Coke machine and a couple of machines with Purcell Farrier or horseshoeing Supply written on them. I believe that would probably be Oklahoma City or nearby. ray
I can see him driving a converted ice cream truck around behind the backstretch, selling cheap tools and all.
To me, it would be interesting to know how much business they do, as with the rest of our society, folk want what they want and they want it now! I m thinking that to pay for those machines and to pay for the space they occupy, along with the product, price must be at a premium. Then do you fill them with the most used products or with the inventory that folks might forget to pu when at the supply house? Never the less, another way to put your product in front of the buyers! Bill, aren t you kinda like those machines, put money in ,get a service out? Ray
This is one of the reasons why the concept interests me. I initially thought the only farrier, or equine professional, who would use this machine is someone who happens to run out of whatever it's selling. Yet, the machine has been placed there to fill a perceived demand. I'll check into it. It'll be interesting to find out the details.
Jeff Cota of the AFJ, gave the forums credit and referral about this subject on the AFJ web info email along with a follow up story about the machines pictured. Thanks Jeff Ray