FAQ

Do we have to buy the machines?
No, you do not have to buy the machines. We provide the machines free of charge.

How does it work?
It's actually very simple. You provide the space and power for the machine. We do everything else. We will install the machines, fill them regularly, clean them, repair them, and maintain them.

Is there a cost to my company for the vending equipment/service?
Courtesy Vending will provide the machines and service free of charge. We make our money from the sale of the products through the vending machines.

Who selects the products that go in the machines?
Courtesy Vending is constantly monitoring customer product preferences by location and by overall company sales. We utilize handheld computer technology to help us determine what people prefer at each machine. We believe we can predict fairly accurately what the majority of the users would like to see in the machine. That being said, we will always take product suggestions from you or your employees and fill the machines with those products as they are available.

How often do you come by and fill up the machines?
Simply put, we will service your machine as often as needed. Typically, machines are set to be serviced once per week, but we have accounts that we service two or three times per week, as well as daily. We will determine a schedule that keeps your machines full and clean. Most of our accounts are on a weekly fill. What differentiates our company is that we set our standard so that your snack machine should have no more than 3 facings sold out, and your pop machine should have no more than 1 selection sold out. Most other vending companies, especially corporate operations, set their standard so they will not service the machine until 70-85% of the inventory is sold-out, regardless of how many empty slots there are!

Can we have Coke and Pepsi in the same machine?
We are an independent vendor so we can operate vending machines that can sell both Coke and Pepsi products. If both brands of products are requested, typically, we can place a Coke machine and a Pepsi machine at your site. However, if space is an issue, we can provide a generic machine that can have products made by the both manufacturers in the same machine.

Another vendor has offered us a commission. Can you match that?
Some vendors will go around offering locations a commission on vending sales in an effort to get the location to switch. Typically these are vendors who can not compete on the merits of their service alone and have to resort to paying for the business. We have been in business over 17-years and strive to pass on the best value and service to our customers. We started with just one soda machine and have grown to become the largest Portland-based vending company in great part due to the loyalty and trust we have earned from our customers. We don’t play games.

Some people may argue all vending companies are the same, and look for the cheapest prices or the best commissions. However, vending companies are not a commodity. While we may sell similar products, we have differing levels of commitment in terms of equipment quality, service response, fill frequency, customer service, attention to detail, availability of new products, cleanliness, and tolerance for out-dated products. Our customers experience a level of vending service that is unmatched.

The old adage of “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” applies here. If a vendor promises lower prices, new equipment, and a commission, something has to give. Often times, it is the service level. For example, a competitor offered a Courtesy Vending customer just that – new equipment, lower prices, and a commission – and this customer asked us to match all of that. Unfortunately, we tried to explain to the customer that our service level costs much more than that and we couldn’t afford to match. For example, we may service the machines weekly, while the other vendor may come just once every 3 or 4 weeks. We respond to service calls in a timely manner, while the other vendor may leave the machine down for quite some time. Nonetheless, the customer decided to give it a try. Needless to say, the customer switched back a few months later and said, “You were right! It didn’t matter that the Diet Coke was 10 cents cheaper if the column was always empty or the machine was out of order! My employees were getting so frustrated.”

What condition are the vending machines in?
The machines will be in excellent condition and will be good looking and reliable.

What is the procedure if someone loses money in the machines?
Although we try to keep our machines running perfectly, occasionally even vending machines get sick! We gladly pay refunds without hassles. We can mail refunds, pay them the next time we are there, or if you have a contact person such as a receptionist, we can provide that person with a refund bank for paying out refunds immediately.

If a machine has a problem, how quickly do you respond to fix it?
Once a problem has been brought to our attention we generally respond during the day, or the next morning if it was late in the day. Keeping our customers happy and our vending machines stocked and functioning properly is our #1 priority.

Can we request specific products?
We encourage your employees to make requests. You can either request a specific product through our website or ask one of our route drivers to include an item. We want to sell the products your employees want.

Is there a contract?
We typically have our customers sign a "machine location agreement" which is a simple one page document in normal font size. A long, formal contract is unnecessary because we earn your business everyday.

How long does it take for delivery/installation and what is the process?
Once you give us the approval to move the machines in, we will be ready to proceed within 14 days. In the event that you already have a vendor, it is always nice to give them 30 days to move out. If you need the machines sooner, we will make it happen. After we agree on an installation date, it shouldn't take more than 4 hours to move the machines in and get everything set up and working.

What if my machines are damaged or burglarized?
If the machines do get damaged or burglarized there will be no out of pocket expense for you. We take care of all damages at no charge to you.

What are your service days and hours?
We provide service 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our trucks start early in the morning and we have route technicians on call around the clock. The people who re-stock your vending machines are also trained in repairing them. This helps facilitate most machine repairs and ensures that your vending machines are always up and running.