Comments on: In defense of “Garage Vendors” http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:25:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: DB Cooper http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-193 DB Cooper Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:10:11 +0000 http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-193 As I stated in my previous post, my former employers would be out of business in this area and now it has happened. They are gone and left with a bad reputation. This area is now wide open. As I stated in my previous post, my former employers would be out of business in this area and now it has happened. They are gone and left with a bad reputation. This area is now wide open.

]]> By: Mitchell http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-122 Mitchell Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:13:04 +0000 http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-122 Sir: My brother is a garage vendor who takes this profession seriously. His biggest issues are how to finance new purchases of machines and finding a reputable locater. I have not as yet seen any posts or articles regarding these areas of need. Sir:

My brother is a garage vendor who takes this profession seriously. His biggest issues are how to finance new purchases of machines and finding a reputable locater.

I have not as yet seen any posts or articles regarding these areas of need.

]]> By: DB Cooper http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-113 DB Cooper Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:33:55 +0000 http://www.amonline.com/blog/2008/07/22/in-defense-of-garage-vendors/#comment-113 I don't believe you were dissing or downing the "garage vendor" but I would like to respond to your article which I usually wouldn't do but I am compelled to in this case. I am a "garage vendor". I am not a gumball or mechanical machine vendor, but a full line using professional vending equipment. I do have a valid business license, insurance, taxes and presently building a new facility at this time. Here is the short version of how it happened. I had worked for a corporately owned vending company for over 28 years as a middle manager, when about 10 months ago they decided to release me because they couldn't afford to pay me and it would help their bottom line by reducing labor cost quickly and also enable the corp. managers to receive their bonuses. That is what the VP's and corporate officers are about anyway. They just don't understand that vending is a people business. They did the same to 3 other managers within this region last year that they did not replace anyone. Bad mistake. I should have seen it coming but I was blind to the fact. After about the first month that I was gone, many former customer contacts started calling me at home to complain about the bad service, empty and nonworking machines, and other issues that they now faced, something that never happened when I was managing the business. They had no leadership in place to deal with the customers or employees, and people said it was like a circus at the company. The customers could get not get their issues resolved and were looking for another vending company. Many pleaded with me to start a company and verbally agreed to a immediate contract over the phone given my previous customer service history throughout the years they had known me. I initially told them that I couldn't help them but after mulling it over a few weeks, I had over $100,000 worth of new equipment initially delvered to a rented warehouse and started installing a few major accounts that led to even more accounts calling. I had to turn many down at the time because it was overwhelming, there was just too much business at one time if there is such a thing. Anyway this was less than a year ago and my business is blowing me out of the water. My biggest problem now is deciding how big I want to grow and do I want to get back into a large scale operation with a commissary again. I now make more money working less than half the hours and have many less headaches than before. Customer issues are nonexistent. I feel like I am free from my previous babysitter job working appx. 60-70 hours a week and also enjoy life more. This all took place less than a year ago and started on what I then thought was the worst day of my life. I sure wish that I had become a garage vendor 20 years ago, because it is better than I thought was possible. As for my former employers, they are in serious trouble within this area and probably won't be around here much longer because their reputation has suffered significantly within this community. While this may not be your typical garage vendor, it is what has pushed me in the direction that I did. Of course my background id different than most people who start vending businesses and my results have been better than typical. It must have been what God intended for me to do. I had planned on retiring in 5 years before this all happened but if things keep going like they are now, I may never retire. I wouldn't believe that not working for a corporation could be so great. Thank you for listening and best of luck to all the garage vendors. I don’t believe you were dissing or downing the “garage vendor” but I would like to respond to your article which I usually wouldn’t do but I am compelled to in this case. I am a “garage vendor”. I am not a gumball or mechanical machine vendor, but a full line using professional vending equipment. I do have a valid business license, insurance, taxes and presently building a new facility at this time. Here is the short version of how it happened. I had worked for a corporately owned vending company for over 28 years as a middle manager, when about 10 months ago they decided to release me because they couldn’t afford to pay me and it would help their bottom line by reducing labor cost quickly and also enable the corp. managers to receive their bonuses. That is what the VP’s and corporate officers are about anyway. They just don’t understand that vending is a people business. They did the same to 3 other managers within this region last year that they did not replace anyone. Bad mistake. I should have seen it coming but I was blind to the fact. After about the first month that I was gone, many former customer contacts started calling me at home to complain about the bad service, empty and nonworking machines, and other issues that they now faced, something that never happened when I was managing the business. They had no leadership in place to deal with the customers or employees, and people said it was like a circus at the company. The customers could get not get their issues resolved and were looking for another vending company. Many pleaded with me to start a company and verbally agreed to a immediate contract over the phone given my previous customer service history throughout the years they had known me. I initially told them that I couldn’t help them but after mulling it over a few weeks, I had over $100,000 worth of new equipment initially delvered to a rented warehouse and started installing a few major accounts that led to even more accounts calling. I had to turn many down at the time because it was overwhelming, there was just too much business at one time if there is such a thing. Anyway this was less than a year ago and my business is blowing me out of the water. My biggest problem now is deciding how big I want to grow and do I want to get back into a large scale operation with a commissary again. I now make more money working less than half the hours and have many less headaches than before. Customer issues are nonexistent. I feel like I am free from my previous babysitter job working appx. 60-70 hours a week and also enjoy life more. This all took place less than a year ago and started on what I then thought was the worst day of my life. I sure wish that I had become a garage vendor 20 years ago, because it is better than I thought was possible. As for my former employers, they are in serious trouble within this area and probably won’t be around here much longer because their reputation has suffered significantly within this community. While this may not be your typical garage vendor, it is what has pushed me in the direction that I did. Of course my background id different than most people who start vending businesses and my results have been better than typical. It must have been what God intended for me to do. I had planned on retiring in 5 years before this all happened but if things keep going like they are now, I may never retire. I wouldn’t believe that not working for a corporation could be so great. Thank you for listening and best of luck to all the garage vendors.

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