Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

General vending talk
Post Reply
newmark
Coin Op Group Regular
Coin Op Group Regular
Posts: 168
Joined: December 16th, 2015, 2:34 pm
Referred by?: Google
Location: Midlands, Black Country, South Staffordshire

Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by newmark »

Hi guys,

I was wondering if condom machines are still worth siting? I used to site them about 20 years ago and sales were ok, but even then starting to drop off. What are sales like now? I was thinking, with the most basic/lowest cost machine, is it still a viable business?

I've seen those blue pill type machines in a lot of toilets these days, are they a better seller than condoms? Is there much margin on them?

Thanks in advance,
Mark
part-time-operator
Coin Op Group Veteren
Coin Op Group Veteren
Posts: 273
Joined: December 30th, 2011, 6:01 pm
Referred by?: Reader

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by part-time-operator »

some people still do them, but would concentrate on towers for best return on investment and easy to site. Can always add in something like that later on once you're in the site if you think it's worth the extra investment. given your experience Mark i'd recommend just getting as many sites as you can and then once you're in you can tell them about all the other bits of kit. Even if you can rotate some of the kit through the sites or just put in for functions/weekends etc it could be worth while and make a lot more
User avatar
Coin Operated Group
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3415
Joined: January 13th, 2009, 10:41 am
Area Covered: Birmingham, West Midlands
Machines Used: Arcade Machines, Quiz & Big Vendors
Referred by?: myself
Location: Birmingham
Contact:

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by Coin Operated Group »

Nigel at Flint vending is the man to speak to , but I think that the general agreement is they are finished .
Regards Matt

www.easyvend.com
Style
Coin Op Group Elite
Coin Op Group Elite
Posts: 1156
Joined: June 1st, 2012, 11:00 pm
Area Covered: Milton Keynes
Machines Used: Sweet towers, toys, beavers, pringles
Referred by?: random

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by Style »

I was in one of my pubs today and the landlord was telling me he got £320 as his 25% for 6 months. And its only a little villiage pub!
dorsetvending
Coin Op Group Grand Master
Coin Op Group Grand Master
Posts: 800
Joined: February 7th, 2009, 5:39 pm
Area Covered: Dorset/Somerset/Wiltshire
Machines Used: Bulk/Towers/Pringles
Referred by?: Yes brother - Glenn Borthwick
Location: Dorset, Somerset, Devon

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by dorsetvending »

A lot of sheep botherers up there ? :shock:
User avatar
Coin Operated Group
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3415
Joined: January 13th, 2009, 10:41 am
Area Covered: Birmingham, West Midlands
Machines Used: Arcade Machines, Quiz & Big Vendors
Referred by?: myself
Location: Birmingham
Contact:

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by Coin Operated Group »

I didn't think a human would need to worry about getting a sheep up the duff ?
Regards Matt

www.easyvend.com
User avatar
FlintVending
Coin Op Group Master
Coin Op Group Master
Posts: 564
Joined: January 21st, 2009, 10:47 pm
Area Covered: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge
Machines Used: Bulk, Tower, Pringle, rings and pills, lighters
Location: Norfolk, suffolk

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by FlintVending »

Coin Operated Group wrote:Nigel at Flint vending is the man to speak to , but I think that the general agreement is they are finished .
As Matt says, really not worth the hassle, unless a huge footfall place like an Airport or large Hotel, pubs just don't get busy enough now to warrant the expense.
Only thing worth doing in single column machine is Blue pill, Autonumis 5 column machine works in Hotels and Busy chain pubs but they already have national deals with Durex or Perform marketing so Expansion is severely limited!
newmark
Coin Op Group Regular
Coin Op Group Regular
Posts: 168
Joined: December 16th, 2015, 2:34 pm
Referred by?: Google
Location: Midlands, Black Country, South Staffordshire

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by newmark »

Thanks all for the replies, I think you're right - sales were dying off years ago when I did it, so I was expecting it would not be any better now.

I agree sometimes some unlikely pubs surprise you - I had a few really busy pubs that did a few packs, but this small "locals" pub, not really a young clientelle, sold loads compared to the other places! Very odd!

Thanks Mike, agree concentrating on the towers is a good place to start!

Cheers, Mark
User avatar
david@naughtyvend
Coin Op Group Regular
Coin Op Group Regular
Posts: 161
Joined: October 22nd, 2009, 10:45 am
Area Covered: National & European
Machines Used: Washroom Electomechanical & Electronic
Referred by?: Matt Slater
Location: South Ayrshire, UK
Contact:

Re: Condom Machines - are they worth siting?

Post by david@naughtyvend »

Keep up Nigel, Mike Abrams sold his business to Initial a few donkeys back. :)

Everything is 'full circle' and with these super-STD's on the rise at an alarming rate the condom machine might be coming back. For the moment though it is a dead issue, the small sex toys do well and are in similar pack sizes to condoms caveat to your machine being able to accept multiple coins to get the higher sale price. (Some mechanicals are very limited and usually £3 or less).

We'll that's my six monthly visit / post done. LOL
Post Reply