Posted
on June 3, 2010, 1:56 pm,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Since vending machine business was first introduced, it gained immense popularity not only among operators but also among customers. In fact these machines were more popular among its users who had made it an inseparable part of their lives. Machines that were once sparsely located can now are identified at every nook and corner of a street.
Apart from their usage, their capabilities also matched the changing needs of customers. These machines that once dispensed selected products are now offering almost every product under the sky. This clearly shows the extent to which these machines underwent changes.
Now that we have looked at the positive aspects of this industry, let us also check the major threats faced by it. One of the most significant threats for vending industry is from scammers. Vending scams are on the rise. To educate vending operators about the same, Planet Antares Scam Alert is an initiative taken by Planet Antares Inc to educate vendors about the same. What are the reasons behind this? Lets check out what experts from Planet Antares says:-
- Competition: Competition is one of the main reasons behind growing number of vending scams. Wondering how? Due to increasing dependency on vending machines, several models of vending machines are being introduced into the market. This has resulted in stiff competition within operators. Unable to withstand this competition secondary grade companies are trying to adopt unscrupulous methods for selling their products. Thus they are trying to cheat people by providing misleading information and thus sell their low quality machines.
- Easy money: Unlike good olden days, modern entrepreneurs are looking for short cuts to achieve success. This hankering for easy money is taken advantage of by scammers. Every new and upcoming entrepreneur needs to come out of the notion that he/she can make huge money instantly by taking up vending machine business. Just like any other business, success in vending industry can be achieved through sheer hard work and dedication.
- Attractive schemes and offers: To grab the attention of buyers and sell their low quality products, companies are coming up with interesting and attractive ads. Beware of such ads and only after taking up thorough research proceed further.
- Platforms: New platforms like internet are giving scammers a great opportunity to camouflage themselves and cheat newbie’s with limited knowledge and experience.
I am sure that the issue discussed above was successful in throwing some light on scams taking place in vending industry. Planet Antares Inc is engaged in manufacturing state of the art vending machines since 1987. Planet Antares Scam alert initiative has helped many vending operators across US and Canada.
Posted
on June 1, 2010, 6:00 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
We all are aware of the four P’s of marketing mix. Place or location which is one of the four P’s plays vital role in making or breaking a vending business. Just like most other businesses, vending is a highly competitive business which has been successful in winning the hearts of millions of customers spread across the globe.
At some stage or the other in vending machine business, every operator confronts a situation where he needs to expand his existing business. While expanding an existing business, vending operators can either go for purchase of existing locations or identify new locations all by themselves. Each of these two methods has its own set of merits and demerits.
Profitable vending location is unquestionably the most important factor in giving a quick start for your business. With vending industry being a big success, more and more players are entering the market. This results in several owners placing their machines within a smaller radius. In such a situation, route plan becomes important for effectively managing your work.
Nowadays frauds are even being reported in vending routes hence you need to be very cautious while thinking of buying a vending route. Never be under the assumption that you can identify these scammers easily. Scammers are just like ordinary people so pinpointing them is quite tough. In fact these people are smarter than what you assume and have a thorough knowledge about the requirements of customers. Planet Antares Scam Alert has identified how vending route scam takes place.
In order to catch the attention of buyers, fraudsters place attractive ads about sale of existing vending routes and come in contact with you. The most common method adopted by scammers is:
- Provide misleading information about the location and its potentiality.
- Placing old and faulty vending machines for sale on the route. Always buy brand new vending machines.
- Influence buyer in his decision making and force him to make instant decisions.
- Convince operators in making down payments well in advance. Most sellers try to get advance payments from buyer even before they visit the route they are about to purchase. This would make them legally bound and thus they are left with no other option but to purchase the route form the seller.
- Buyers need to check out all the available opportunities and analyze the pros and cons of each after making thorough market research. It is only after this that he needs to decide if he is going to purchase the route or not.
You should always think why the vending route or location is on sale? Brainstorm your decision to buy an existing vending route because if the vending location is so successful then why it’s current owner is selling it off? It is advised to not to fall into trap of agents who charge certain amount of money to provide the location.
Vending scams can be avoided by careful and cautious approach. Operators should personally visit the location, check out if it is really as potential as stated by seller and then make a decision.
You can get in touch with Planet Antares support team who help vending operators find a good location without changing them anything. Also you should NEVER start your vending machine business with an old machine as the machine can be faulty and the deal ultimately turns out to be a disaster for your vending business. Planet Antares Scam Alert initiative by Planet Antares Inc has helped many entrepreneurs to start their vending business on the right note, without falling into any trap of fraudsters.
Posted
on May 18, 2010, 5:03 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Vending machine business is in fact one of the easiest business ventures that could be taken up by anyone. Yes, although it may be surprising, the same has been proved a good number of times. This is perhaps the only industry that helps an individual to make huge money with minimal efforts. It is a business that gives you flexibility and freedom to pursue other opportunities while attending to the main course. The benefit of vending business is in terms of the ratio of money and time you spend and the returns you make. This industry basically gives you highest returns on the amount you have invested.
Vending business has been the most attractive business model till recently. With growing number of vending scams, people are thinking twice before starting this business. Post purchase of a new vending machine, the next move that an operator should make is to stock the machine with sufficient quantity of standard and hygiene product.
At this juncture operators are in quest for suppliers. With growing number of vending machine manufacturing companies, the number of suppliers in the market has also increased. However, not all these suppliers are genuine or honest. Most of them pretend to deliver the best products and services till you sign an agreement with them post which they are hardly seen. Stay alert while getting into contract with any such scam company. It is advised to check the reputation and legality of supplied i.e. if he is registered and can legally do business.
Most vending scammers try to gather as much money as they can and disappear. Some of these suppliers stock your machine with sub standard products while others never visit the machine for checking their working condition. If you are refilling your machines yourself, do make sure to check the quality and quantity of the products being delivered to you. Since vending is a customer related business, operators need to ensure round the clock services. Proper maintenance of machine along with regular servicing not only enhances the life of the machine but also aids in providing excellent services to customers.
All these do not happen and you would be at great loss if you fail to pick up a perfect vending supplier. You can also get in touch with Planet Antares Vending Machine Company to know more about various vending scams prevalent in industry. Planet Antares has launched vending scam alert for its customers.
Posted
on May 17, 2010, 11:27 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Product selection plays a vital role in the success of vending machine business. The kind of product to be dispensed in vending machine is totally at the discretion of vending operator. However, this selection is influenced by several factors like kind of vending machine used, its location and target audience. While selecting vending products beware of vending product scam.
With the success of vending machine business, several hundreds of varieties of vending products have been introduced into the market. This makes selection of right product quite a tough task for operators. One thing for sure is that not all the products that are available in the market are genuine and some suppliers do scam operators. Hence operators need to be very cautious while choosing vending suppliers.
Few aspects which operators need to bear in mind while choosing a supplier are:
- Location: Always prefer a supplier who is located close to the location in which you have installed your machine. This would not only reduce the time required for refilling your machine but also keep your transportation costs under control.
- Quality: Quality of the product that is stoked in your machine is very crucial. Modern customers are quality conscious and are not willing to compromise on it. Hence it is imperative for an operator to offer the best quality products in his machine.
- Branded: Operators can either dispense branded or unbranded products in their machine. However, there is great risk involved when it comes to dispensing of unbranded items. Few suppliers under the guise of genuine products fill the machine with sub standard ones. These kinds of products can lower your sales or sometime be hazardous to health.
- Market research: Thorough market research would help operators identify which are genuine companies and those that are fraudulent.
When it comes to choosing a supplier, operators should gather maximum information about the supplier and the kind of services rendered by him from existing users.
Posted
on May 14, 2010, 5:35 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Vending machine business is renowned to be one of the simplest, easy to operate and convenient business model that allows people to make money right from the day one of their operations. However, this does not mean that you can become rich within no time by taking up this business. Most new operators perceive vending to be instant money making business. Thus it gives scammers an opportunity to cheat them.
Vending, like any other business model needs operators to put in a lot of hard work and sincere efforts for becoming successful. In fact severe competition in this industry requires operators to be very smart and cautious in their moves. The mindset and attitude of people taking up vending machine business is the main reason for increasing number of vending scams.
- Easy money: Modern businessmen are hankering after easy money. Most of them want to become rich overnight. This ambition is being made use of by vending scammers. They are coming up with various strategies to grab people attention and procure money from them.
- Special offers: There is hardly any one who is not attracted by free gifts or special offers. In fact some of us end up purchasing products that are not necessary just for the sake of the offer. The same logic is being made use of by scammers in pushing their products into the market.
- Misrepresentation: False or misleading information is generally provided by second grade companies. Unable to withstand the severe competition existing in the market, they try to publicize their products as one of the best thus convinces customers in purchasing them.
If you are one of the prospective buyers planning to purchase your own new vending machine, beware of these scammers. Proper planning and careful approach can prevent you from falling prey to these kinds of scams.
Posted
on May 13, 2010, 1:59 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
The main reason for falling trap to vending scams is lack of sufficient knowledge and information about the business. Yes, although it may sound little surprising this is the reality. Starting your own vending machine business does not mean that you have thorough knowledge about the business and its operations. For that you should consult vending companies like Planet Antares who are in this business for over two decades.
Besides existing operators, a lot of new operators take up vending machine business every year and this number has been on the rise in the past few years. Along with the increase in number of new vending operators, number of vending scams has also been on the rise. The main target of these fraudsters is newbie’s to vending industry.
Novice to vending industry can be targeted easily as they lack sufficient knowledge about this industry and hence get carried away easily. Here are some facts gathered by Planet Antares that fraudsters use to rob you off your money.
- Scope for huge revenue: Most of the newbie’s are under the impression that they can become rich almost instantly by taking up vending machine business. This point is made use of by sellers and they either try to rob off all the money or sell poor quality machines.
- Excellent performance: False promises are given about the performance of these machines and under this pretext cheap or faulty machines are sold to operators.
- Low price: New vending operators are price conscious and are mostly in look out for high efficient low priced vending machine. Second grade vending machine manufacturers present their machines as best performing once and sell them.
- Marketing strategies: New operators are carried away by various marketing techniques and are forced to sign on contracts and thus made legally bound. Fraudsters create situations in such a way that there is no way to escape. Thus operators are forced to purchase more number of machines than actually required.
After going through these points, I am sure that most of you would think twice before arriving at any decision while purchasing vending machine from an unknown person.
Posted
on May 7, 2010, 1:14 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Busy lifestyles backed up by hectic work schedule leaves no time for modern men to go out shopping or sometimes even spend quality time with their family members. In such situations, they look out for simple and instant techniques that could not only save their time but also fulfil their requirements. Online shopping is one such technique which makes shopping an interesting and exciting experience.
Although there are several benefits associated with online shopping, it has its own demerits. Many of the online companies are fake and do not exist in reality. However, the design and content of these websites is quite appealing. Lured by its attractive looks and products offered, many people fall into their trap.
Vending machines are also being sold online. However, purchasing a vending machine online is quite risky. Wondering why? Online purchases do not provide any scope for direct interaction between the buyer and the seller. Moreover customers cannot physically examine the products which they are about to purchase. These two aspects are taken advantage of by fraudsters.
Modern day Planet Antares vending machines are capable of dispensing almost anything. Besides, vending has proved to be a highly profitable business option. This has been highly successful in attracting a lot of new and upcoming entrepreneurs who want to become independent and start their own business. Companies like Planet Antares assists vending operators in setting up their business for success. It is important to find a company that is reliable and provide efficient vending solutions.
The common online vending scams are:
- A new and attractive product is kept on the display while at the time of delivery, either a defective a defective piece or a totally different machine is dispatched to the customer.
- Some of these online companies are created only to rob customers of their money.
- A lot of online companies collect money from customers either in the form of advance payments or down payments and disappear all of a sudden.
Hence operators need to be very cautious while purchasing a vending machine online.
Operators should buy vending machines from reputed companies who have years of experience in vending business.
Posted
on May 5, 2010, 3:12 pm,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Nowadays you can find vending machines at almost every nook and corner of the street. Such is their popularity at the same time you find that someone new falls prey to these vending scams.
Although identifying a fraudster might look to be very simple, it is getting harder day by day. These fraudsters are pretty smart and are able to design several new and convincing schemes to trap customers. Even the smartest operators could not prevent themselves from falling prey to these kinds of scams.
The most common way that vending scams take place is online. This is a very safe platform for fraudsters mainly because there is no direct interaction between the buyer and the seller. They usually come up with several fake names and websites, gather maximum possible amount from customers and disappear all of a sudden. The same process is repeated numerous times by making slight alterations in business names.
These minor modifications help them from keeping law and customers unsuspecting. They would influence you to make an advance payment with them and then you would not get to hear from them again. Another common vending scam is when these fake companies compel you to sign a contract with them and thus are legally bound.
The main aim of these fraudsters is to corner you and make you committed to their offer. They would create a situation in which you are made to believe that if you forgo this offer you would loose it forever. Thus they get you motivated to sign a contract, pay them money and disappear even before you realise what went wrong.
Is there a way in which you can avoid such scams? Definitely, the only way you can avoid these kinds of scams is by doing a lot of market research before making any decisions. Since the more you get to know about the problem, the better you can avoid them.
Posted
on May 4, 2010, 5:10 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Vending industry has witnessed lot of growth in the past few years as a result it has been successful in creating several employment opportunities to young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs. However, in the past few years the number of scams in this industry has also been on the rise. Fraudsters are trying to cheat people in several ways. For instance: few companies try to force you by saying that there are some special offers which are about to expire if not availed immediately. This is just a business tactics since if the company is really earnest, it will allow you to take enough time and buy the product after you have thoroughly investigated about their company.
How can you protect yourself from such scams?
Planet Antares Tips
- Usually manufacturing companies or sellers try to influence you in your buying decisions. This is when you need to be very careful. Never make any hasty decisions. Take your own time before doing anything.
- Every decision made by vending operator should be backed up by authentic information. Before making any decision, gather proper information about various companies and products offered by them.
- Ask for the numbers, seek references of fellow operators from the company who have benefitted from the vending products offered by the company.
- Ensure that all assurances and warranties mentioned by the company are given in writing.
- Find the exact location where the business is based.
- Ask for contact names and numbers of various customer care centers.
- Find out how products of a company differ from other in market.
Proper planning and cautious approach towards this business can prevent you from falling prey to scams. Planet Antares strives to make vending business successful for vending operators.
Posted
on April 29, 2010, 3:29 am,
by admin,
under
Scam.
Vending scams, we have been hearing a lot about these in the past few years. How to protect oneself from such scams? This is a very common question that revolves in the minds of several new and upcoming entrepreneurs.
First and foremost thing which every operator needs to bear in his/her mind is that vending is not an easy money game. You cannot become rich in a day or two by starting your own vending business. If this is what you have been looking for, vending is not perfect for you. Just like any other business model, vending needs a lot of planning and careful approach in its success.
Planet Antares vending operators advice which will help all in avoiding unnecessary scams
- Be careful while making purchases online. There is every possibility that you pay for a new machine and end up receiving a used one.
- Ask yourself whether the offer is genuine or not? Sometimes the offers made are highly unrealistic. In such cases go by your instinct.
- Find out information about the vending company from other operators.
- Before signing any contract or agreement, make sure you do your part of the research work. Gather as much information as possible about the company, its activities and other information vital for dealing with it.
- Check with National Automatic Merchandising Association and obtain a list of genuine companies operating in the industry.
- Do not get carried away by get rich soon kind of schemes or advertisements. Do your parts of ground work and be careful while purchasing machines from them.
- Know about After-sales service offered by the company.