Ice Vending
- Thread starter Nuphoenix
- Start date
CarWashBoy
Active member
Good idea.. get a Ice company to put one in and get commission?
Nuphoenix
Active member
Car wash (will be). Ran across an article about a stand alone ice vending machine that dispenses ice similar to a hotel ice machine but the customer pays and fills supplied bags. The two gas stations nearby frequently run out of ice and the article got me thinking. This is a rural area with a lake near and lots of hunters and fisherman.
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
One word (BoatRamps) crush it
I.B. Washincars
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Well, that's actually two words...
OASIS WASH
Member
I would definitely do it...I am not a good location for one but my good friend owns 3 washes in my town and has 2 ice machines and they both do about 35K per year!! The ice machines he buys runs about 90K so he pays them back in less than 3 years!! He absolutely loves them and has lines constantly. For a reference he has two gas stations within a 1000 feet and still does that well.
Greg Pack
Wash Weenie
I have talked to three car wash owners that have them. None of them would do it again. They described the difficulty with maintenance and not being able to deal with refrigeration-related issues without getting help. One owner described it at the worst investment he has ever made in his life. And he's like really old, almost as old as Randy.
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Nuphoenix
Active member
We have mud bogging events close by and they come from out of town. Both gas stations run out aster the events and since they usually wash their trucks at this wash figured it could be a side thing. Would not offer in winter though.
soonermajic
Well-known member
This was similar to my experience , although we turned a decent profit. Only though, cause I HUSTLED & got 2 restaurant accounts on my ice. Unless it's the HUGE Ice house machines, which are far more than $90k, you're going to run outta ice after only about 30 bags. Those few days of the year you kill it, ain't worth it. You need DAILY ice sales, not seasonaly & event related.
After initial warranty of 1 yr runs out, there is a LOT of maintenance & preventative maintenance. Our ice machine was 15% of total wash sales & 65% of total headaches.
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OurTown
Well-known member
I just ran across one of these used. (was not looking for one) It looks pretty nice.
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/bfs/d/new-buffalo-ice-vending-machine/7083246415.html
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/bfs/d/new-buffalo-ice-vending-machine/7083246415.html
Nuphoenix
Active member
30,000? Wow That's a huge investment for one unit. The ROI would be an extremely long time. Scratch that idea. Maybe in FL or in a very hot year round state.
soonermajic
Well-known member
$30k is too much for a used machine. You can find those 4 sale ALL the time. The reason should be obvious to us.
Oddly enough, I had more issues when it turned cold, than I did when it was hot. I had an ice merchandiser, to store ice. That is a MUST, for those times you have breakdowns, which after yr 1 will be often
You have to register with the state to dispense the water in our area. And keep a log of when unit is cleaned and must be done periodically. Seems like more of a PIA.
With that being said, a co workers brother works for a large chain that sells water and since they added ice vending to their units, ice sales surpassed water sales at all locations.
With that being said, a co workers brother works for a large chain that sells water and since they added ice vending to their units, ice sales surpassed water sales at all locations.
jprb
Member
YOU DON'T!!