Easter find

[petey64]

Don't give up Eric you can get this one, get the third baseman "the father" out of the conversation if you can. I bet if you phrase it right you can get that machine for $600.00, the difference between his $300-400 and the fathers $1000.00 minus the compressor.

[MoonDawg]

May even be a simple compressor fix. Worst case scenario...bad compressor?  You are so in luck. That entire compressor deck is the exact same one you will find in those $50.00 rusted  square corner 56's. The copper lines are routed on the same far left side of the cabinet. Mounding holes are the same.   Easy swap.

[loman4ec]

If you get it in the next week I have a spare cooling system I will sell you if you want.

[Eric]

Well.... we finally have closure...
I took you alls advise and drove over after work.
I stopped at the Bank (with wife's permission) and took out
$800...
Drove to their home...and there the two (father & son)
where again... I introduced myself and told them I was
the son-in-law she was talking about..The father said “Oh lord
chain it down.... The son laughed and said I don't think I'll
sell it.. I asked if I could at least check it out closer....
So we walked over and I asked where he had got it...
If it still worked, etc. He said it came from a older guy that work for Coke...That he only plugged it in when his friends came over
to play poker... And that's why he thinks it no longer works.

I told him he sure would make my 40 birthday if he'd sell it to me.
His dad say (joking) well lets start at $15,000 and work from there.
I said wow I didn't know it was full of gold! And we all laughed it off.
He came out and said “6 months ago I'd have sold it no problem but on New Years eve his home burnt to the ground
and he lost everything including some Civil War swords.”
He was living here part time because they just bought another home... ... We talked a lot, for about 45 minutes...
Then I came out and said well... I really want this machine
I'd give you $800 cash right now.... He got quiet then said let me call the boss......
He came back a few minutes later and said he couldn't reach her.... (Ahhhhhhh)
He said he was going on a fishing tournament and wouldn't be back till Monday (today).....
So it was a LONG weekend.....
Well I showed up on his porch this evening at 6:00pm
His father answered the door and said “Well..... he
called his wife and said he was offered $800 should he sell it?”
She answred “Well didn't you just spend $800 on a new
bow for deer season?”

Well guess what's in the back of my '94 Little Ford Ranger?....

Oh yes.... My new toy.... A Vendo 56!!!!!! for $800!!

But as I drove home... I felt funny and still do... I met two really nice men.... They don't collect... It had a lot
of sentamental value to him.... But he had lost a lot, almost everything... and was providing for his family.

Now none of you folks reading this know me... May never meet
in person... but I don't think I'll ever buy a machine like this again... I bought it to have to put in my basement.
To get this did I lie....no, not really...  did I deceive... Yeah I
never said I collected... I didn't tell them I have 3 more sitting in my basement, along with 3 gas pumps, 3 dispensers
and a hord of other things..... I went snooping around
came up with a great story (which though is somewhat true I
won't be getting a birthday present for the next 10 years)....
I was so caught up in this find...

I'm having a religious moment here I think... I had a perfect
oportunity to witness to these two guys... Share my faith,
tell them God has a plan for their life... now maybe selling that
machine, was money they needed... It was all we could give...(as I, unless some one gives me a Pepsi 81, am about done for the summer) but I didn't mention anything... poor judgment, poor witness.
 
Would I buy it again... oh yeah...
Am I going to keep it ? Always...just would have left out the birthday story and just been up front......

I will continue to stop and visit... get to know them better...
A lesson learned.

Wow....Well....That probably blew a lot of you away.... sorry... I'm going through a lot right now spiritually....
I'm a born again believer but I don't always walk my talk...
and with 3 little ones watching my every step... I need to too.

Well.... Thanks for listening...
I'll post images when I can get it out of the truck and into my basement
and if you folks ever have a moment... read John 3:16

Eric

[Jim]

Eric,

Congrats on your long journey both mentally and spiritually with this purchase!
I'm glad you where able to find it in yourself to take the advice of the members and come out with a prized new toy!

[BryanH]

Eric the straight road isn't always the easiest.  For what it's worth, I negotiate deals for a living and am a strong believer and believe you need to walk the walk for yourself and your kids.  I don't think you strayed from either.

Buying and selling is a game.  Buyers try to buy for as little as possible.  Sellers want as much as they can extract.  Whether you collect vending machines has no impact on the value of the machine. Rest assured that everything you heard from the other side of the table wasn't the full or even necessarily the true story.  The fact that Dad started the discussion at $15k is the first tip-off.  For all you know Pa and the son are slappin' each other on the back for selling the machine for twice the price the paid for it. As for John 3:16 - I think your eternal life is still intact, even if I'm wrong you know what they say about forgiveness.

[sodaworks]

Great score Eric,
  you did good buddy. '>

Yep, sleep well tonight. You are just fine.
Congrats! $800 for a V-56... simply amazing!

[joesquid]

Eric, Bryan
It's good to know there are other believers out there.  Eric, I have to agree with Bryan, this is a game and I'll be the first to say that I tend to take at face value anything told to me.  I want to believe that the story told me is true and genuine, when, unfortunately in many cases, it's just another ploy in the game of buying/selling.  It makes me a little gullible to the world.

In any case, I understand your feelings on the venture but you now have a foot in the door to make something truly amazing happen in their lives.  Look at Jacob.  He tricked his elder brother and father into giving him the blessings rightfully supposed to go to Esau.....it was still part of God's plan and came out good in the end.  Did you "trick" this gentleman?  I don't think so.  You got a great price on a nice machine.  If you feel led to make use of the greater opportunity, then go!  Where God leads and what He intends to happen...will.

  Remember He thinks and acts in ways we'll never comprehend....but maybe His plan for you included getting this machine (a pretty trivial thing in the bigger scheme of things) in order to give you the opportunity to witness...and an opportunity for them to hear.  If they come to believe, who got the better end of the deal?  Let's see.......sell coke machine.....recieve salvation.  Yep, I think that's a pretty good price!! :'>

[90grad]

Eric,

I, too, am a Christian.  There isn't one of us out there who hasn't felt he hasn't "walked the walk" at one time or another.  That's how God designed us.  I don't feel you did anything wrong here.  If the guy didn't want to sell it, he wouldn't have -- plain and simple.  He also has done a few things which would ease my mind if I were feeling some doubt:

1. Is going on a fishing tournament.
2. Spent $800 for a bow.

Both of these cost $$$ and he wouldn't be doing it if he were in dire straits.

There are always plenty of opportunities to minister to others.  You have met two people you wouldn't have if it weren't for this machine and your interest in it.  I believe that may have been the "open door" God provided for you to share your faith.  We cannot comprehend Him or His way, but they are truly miraculous.

God bless all.