Getting route started

mike11

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I recently started in the last year acquiring machines, redemption, megatouches ect, I havent yet ventured into the touchtunes. The trouble i am running into and would like some input on from anyone with advise is, what is the best approach and places to try and get machines out???? Theres one vendor in the area here that pretty much has things well covered. I have managed to get a few megas into pizza places but i cant live on only a handful of machines..... bars for the most part i know wont change vendors unless they are really unhappy with theor current and even if so I would need everything to offer, mega, dart, pool table, touchtunes ect...... Im trying to get enough of the lil ones out to keep building the variety of inventory I have to offer...... It seems everyine whos interested has everything and those who dont arent interested......unless my approach or pitch of going at it is wrong.... any helps greatly appreciated
Thanks
 
It's a tough business, any desirable locations the big guys will already have locked up, and any locations that are easy to get: there's a reason. They won't earn, or the stuff gets vandalized, or whatever. There's a lot more going on too than you realize at first. Some locations can't leave their current vendor even if they don't have a contract, because the vendor has loaned them money. So an op will come in and give them 10 grand or 20 grand then take the payments back out of the money each week.

You're just going to have to hustle more, stop in 5 places every day. Stop in 10 places every day. Stop back in the ones that say 'no' once a week just to make sure.

You're trying to survive in a business that 95% of people went bankrupt in. There's no easy answers.
 
it's a declining market [unless you have pins and are in an area where they are hot right now] so getting your stuff into established locations is going to be tough. you might want to concentrate on new businesses and hit them up ASAP before any other operators have a chance, which is not a fast method of growth but might be your best option. otherwise keep feeling out likely targets (restaurants, bars, laundromats, etc.) and eventually you might find a few locations. heading out of the city into the suburbs or smaller surrounding towns might also give you a better chance.

if you're going to seriously route it's an investment! you're taking a pretty big gamble and will need to buy machines before or when you find the locations. having stock you can install NOW will go over much better than "oh, i can get a pool table/dart board/jukebox in a month or two" and hope something cheap and serviceable comes up on craigslist or eBay. Mega-touches and Golden Tee's are a-dime-a-dozen now because they no longer make much money. try to find out what in your area is still pulling in the dollars by hanging out at locations with machines; do people like pins, classics, shooters, drivers, what?

you also need to make sure that you have dotted the i's and crossed the t's: have a business license, insurance, and license each game [if required in your area.] and make sure to pay your taxes! an established operator who doesn't like the competition can be quick to call the city or county and try to get you in trouble.

most people here who have routed games, from old-time operators to collectors, will tell you that it's now more a labor of love than a good way to cash in. if you're in it to make a living then you're most likely barking up the wrong tree.
 
Your going to need to provide better service, better equipment, or a better cut to get someone out. If you can get in the door with the mega touches maybe you can prove yourself and slowly push the other guy out. Maybe offering up different equipment. Stuff like stacker, candy cranes, plus cranes, sticker machines, pinballs, ect might help.

You might be able to go after it in a different way. Maybe you can buy the operator out of the location. Who knows he might be looking to sell. Maybe if you tell him you plan to go after all his spots in your area he might be willing to sell/leave. But you better have deep pockets if you go that route.
 
Yeah it's tough ...... I see it this way even though megas and what not dont bring in much any more the ones I have out are Doing about $20 a week after split which isn't bad ...... X20-x50 and I have some thing to work with but that seems like a huge hurdle to get that many out even though its not alot it is........ I've been trying to target no traditional places where there's always someone hanging around ...... Works well but they are hard to find ......... In this area there's an opportunity for vending ...... The only vending operator here has pretty much pissed everyone off with poor and no service.......... I know of a few places they've asked repeated times for them to remove the equip n they haven't even come back to do that ..... I'm looking into venturing down that ave as well
 
Not to criticize, but if your model consists of putting out 50 megatouches, you won't make it. I have about 16 locations left. I have 2 Mega's left on the street. The only reason they're out is because the locations won't let let me pull them because they have one guy that comes in everyday and buys $20 of booze or food while he plays naked photo hunt.

You say you haven't entered the touchtunes realm yet. Why not? They do really well if placed in a good location. Would you rather make $20 a week your end with a $200 megatouch, or $100 a week with a $1000 Maestro?

It's all about pool tables, jukes, bulk vending, ATM's, and merchandisers nowadays. My route is 'literally' 20% video at this point, and one pinball machine.

As far as videos, I got tired of replacing $50 guns on a game that makes $30 a week, so I pulled most of them. Drivers? Here's an example. I had a Drift at a pizza shop making $70 a week. Got tired of repairing the computer, so the third time the computer took a shit, I pulled the game and sold it. Replaced it with an Outrun 2 that cost me $450 at auction. The game makes.... $70 a week. Doesn't make a difference!

Just some insight from another operator. Good luck... You'll need it.

Mike
 
When my brother and I started out about 20 years ago, we hit up the city halls in the area to see who had pulled permits for new restaurants and bars. That way we had a heads up before they opened. We also had games in a few of the bigger car dealers. One of the best was Bottom of the Ninth. The car dealership's where a great place to put cheap games and still make good money. They actually did real good. When the sales men had no customers they played the hell out of the games. And when family's would come in the sales men would give the kids money so they could talk the parents in to buying a car.
 
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