Coke vendo 110

[ZMonet]

Well, I've bought my third machine in a little over two months.  This time it is a Vendo 110 (newer style -- white and red).  Supposedly everything works but the coin mechanism.  My wife is going to kill me because this is a beast, but I thought $375 was a very good deal for the machine.  Did I do ok?  I'm going to try and pick it up (not literally) and bring it to my in-laws cabin as I just don't have a place for this monster inside our townhome.

You guys have any thoughts on how best to go about restoring this machine (i.e., what I will need).  Does anyone know if Fun-Tronics sells racks for this thing as it appears that some are missing.

Finally, I know this thing takes 6 to 12 oz bottles, but will it take plastic bottles or are they too big?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Here is a link to the machine: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260022920760

[ZMonet]

OK, this is interesting...and probably not totally uncommon to EBAY.  I wrote the SELLLER back (womeldorf2plz) by clicking on ask seller a question.  I asked the SELLER how much it would be to bring it to a certain location since the SELLER said it would be .60 mile.  I received an e-mail back from another bidder in the auction (ellen8411) telling me an amount!  I notice that this ELLEN8411 bid on the item a number of times, driving up the price and I also noticed that the SELLER and ELLEN8411 had some transactions in the past as well.  I think this is a clear case of a seller (illegally) trying to bid up their item using another EBAY user name.  I can call the seller on it, but if I'm, getting a good deal I'll just go and pick the thing up and be done with it.  Any thoughts?  Here is a printout of the last minute bidding:

   jzeldis( 190Feedback score is 100 to 499)    US $375.00    Aug-26-06 12:55:56 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $370.00    Aug-26-06 12:49:54 PDT    
   mtroy1369( 84Feedback score is 50 to 99)    US $351.00    Aug-25-06 09:25:51 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $349.00    Aug-24-06 12:32:54 PDT    
   ajsroom( 161Feedback score is 100 to 499)    US $300.00    Aug-22-06 05:29:41 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $299.00    Aug-23-06 10:29:34 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $250.00    Aug-22-06 14:18:27 PDT    
   ajsroom( 161Feedback score is 100 to 499)    US $200.00    Aug-22-06 05:27:11 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $200.00    Aug-22-06 14:18:08 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $149.00    Aug-21-06 13:22:41 PDT    
   stooge_man( 8 )    US $105.00    Aug-21-06 17:15:12 PDT    
   ajsroom( 161Feedback score is 100 to 499)    US $100.00    Aug-21-06 04:14:57 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $100.00    Aug-21-06 09:23:01 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $75.00    Aug-21-06 09:22:47 PDT    
   mtroy1369( 84Feedback score is 50 to 99)    US $55.01    Aug-20-06 23:05:17 PDT    
   ellen8411( 3 )    US $50.00    Aug-20-06 10:10:02 PDT    
   mtroy1369( 84Feedback score is 50 to 99)    US $25.01    Aug-20-06 23:04:33 PDT    
   vaboca( 71Feedback score is 50 to 99)    US $16.00    Aug-19-06 18:45:21 PDT    
   collect-et-cetera( 309Feedback score is 100 to 499)    US $1.01    Aug-19-06 18:08:06 PDT

[collecture]

Fun-Tronics sells shelves (w/o the spring and slide) for $25 each. Original shelves pop up frequently and can be had for $10-$15 each.
Clearly a case of shill bidding! Ebay could have her/him banned and I think you have pretty good proof!
I think $375 if good as long as it is not rusted out anywhere, but I bet you could take them down to $350 with a "I'll report you to eBay" threat.

[ZMonet]

Thanks Collecture.  Apparently the bottom of the glass door has 1 inch rust hole, but otherwise I was informed it was rust free.  Of course if the person is shill bidding then it is kind of difficult to trust anything they say.  I guess what it comes down to is do you think this is a great deal (if working and no rust otherwise) or just that $375 is a fair price?  If it is just a fair price (or just a slightly good deal) than I would rather report the person and risk the deal falling apart rather than have them doing this to other people.  

I really don't want to extort the seller and risk them coming back at me.  Also, remember that I have to go pick this machine up and might need some help (especially since it is 350+ pounds) so bad blood between the seller and myself wouldn't be good (even if I don't need the help).

Thanks for your input.  Too bad something I was excited about now has me pretty pissed.

[Creighton]

Tough call. I'd take someone along as witnes/help. Check that it really cools. If not offer less or walk away. If so pay the 375 cash. Don't say where you live. Then report the auction to eBay. If the ISP and/or IP match for the seller and the shill eBay will take care of it.

What a mess. Hope it all turns out well.
Creighton

[SIGNGUY]

As long as the machine is in decent restorable conditin.. since it looks like your going to do paint/body work to it anyway.. 375 is a good deal on this machine i'd say.. as long as you have room for it as they are a beast! I sold my original red/white a few years back for 1800!!!

I like the 110s but just too D(&^*( Big for me.

Good luck

[dr galaga]

You could also report it after you pick it up.

[ZMonet]

Thanks guys.  I think I will report it after I pick it up.   I wonder how often this happens that we don't even know about...Scary.

[TheGarbageHunter]

I have shelves for you machine, springs, sliders, complete.
15.00 ea. Great shape.

Let me know if you need them.

[Eric]

Heck figure $50 for just a crank handle.... $100+ for the coin door, then there's the bezzle, stack and
shelves...  if the mech is complete and nice thats probaly worth a couple hundred and you got a whole machine!
Yeah that friend running the price up is crap! That's why eBay lets people put a reserve on stuff!
I would just be concerned about the shape... I wouldn't give them any money till you look
it over first!
My 110 experience was “She just needs a good buffing out” Ha! I would have buffed
throught the right side.. there was a rat ( I thought was a possum) in it when I went to
pick it up. I got it for $80 took it home, parted it out and stuck the good pieces on eBay.
(That's how I came up with the prices here.)
Again look it over first... they give you any grief about looking it over ask then who ellen8411
is.

[ZMonet]

They might look to back out of this deal now.  I e-mailed the seller (didn't reply to Ellen8411) and asked when I could pick it up, but haven't heard back.  It is early, but I'm thinking they have serious seller's remorse and are concerned about their having e-mailed me as Ellen8411 (if they realize).  Maybe I should have e-mailed Ellen8411 -- she seems to respond quicker '>   I'll keep you guys updated.  

Thanks for the advice Eric.  The consensus seems to be that this is a good deal and I'm willing to go through with it for the $375.  We'll see if they feel the same.

[MoonDawg]

Take a printout of ellen's e-mail with you, along with a copy of the bid history and tell him you think you should only be paying $350. He will be embarassed but will probably accept and still leave a + feedback

[ZMonet]

Not to belabor the point, but I don't care about paying $375 versus $350, but more that I don't like that this person was engaging in this behavior.  I know there are some who compare this to setting a "reserve price" but I just don't see it.  Regardless, I'm happy to get the machine and I'm sure I'll have a great time restoring it.  Now on to machine #4  '>

[collecture]

VENDO / VMC 110 SHELVES FOR SODA MACHINE

ZMonet,
Above is an auction for six 110 shelves that was just listed.
Seller also has a 56 bottle stack (missing cam) for auction if anybody needs one

[ZMonet]

Thanks Collecture.  I need to go pick up machine and make sure there are no problems, but hopefully I can make the auction end time and my picking up the V110 match up.

Am i wrong but looking at the 110 shelves on ebay,with the lip in the back of the shelve the bottles would roll right to left.  on every 110 that i've seen the bottles roll left to right.  am i missing something?

[collecture]

The picture on ebay are viewed from the back of the shelf. i did a double take myself, but they are the left to right type.

[ZMonet]

I finally went and picked the machine up today and am very happy with it.  A lot of surface rust, but I think it will clean up quite nicely.  As for the seller, he was apparently removed from EBAY without me ever raising a complaint.  Someone else must have turned him in for the same type of activity is my guess.  He seemed like a nice enough guy and it sounded like he might have lost his job recently.  He certainly wasn't destitute (big house with two car garage, Seadoo, 5 vehicles) but if he needs an extra $50-$75 that badly he can have it.  All and all, I'm very happy with my Vendo 110 for $375.  Now time to pour money into restoring it.

[Jim]

Glad to hear it all worked out!
 '>