Easter find

[cormy]

Hello Everyone:
I stumbled upon this site and glad I did! Just got done reading the saga over this machine. Soda machine buying compared to a religous experience? Is that going to far? Well I can say absolutely not! I to have been in the same position of waiting, trying not to blow a sale by acting too interested, trying to time everything perfectly. Driving by 2 or 3 times a day "staking out" places waiting for someone to be there. Being all consumed with the possible purchase and playing out every possible scenario. I sometimes feel "too pushy" trying to contact/ convince a person to sell an item. I thought it was the end of the world if the owner refused to sell. But have come to understand in the over 15 years of collecting what started out with soda machines now gas station stuff, that either its meant to be or not, there will always be something else down the road. Although it took me a long time to get to this point, and sometimes is forgotten when the only thing I can think about is getting my hands on an item.
Viewing this site reminds me of why I started collecting soda stuff in the first place.

[Bob K]

Hey there, cormy.  Welcome! '>

Tell us about your collection...

Bob

[MoonDawg]

Welcome to SMC.........CMC.  I know the feel. Moved my auto-service buisness to the antique-store part of town 15 years ago.  I had location, showroom, work shop and tools.   Had only one, my first machine a VMC 33.
       I proceeded to hit the swap meets, yard sales. newspapers etc. hunting for inventory.  Was no E bay or internet help back then.  At first I thought I would never find any machines, "they're all dried up"?   Wrong.   Persistance pays off.
       And my 2 cents worth about the moral issue. The buyer worked hard to put this deal together, he deserves to save his 20%.  The seller did not have to photograph, and list this machine on ebay.  He did not have to pallet and ship. The buyer came to his door (literally)        
       They both got a fair deal.

[Vendo Guy]

Sometimes the process works in reverse.....

I got a call from my In-Laws that a neighbor was having a Rummage Sale, and they had an old Coke Machine for sale for $200.

As you can imagine, I drove as fast as I could to get there (10 minutes away) to see what I could find.  (At the time I had just put my first machine, a restored V110, in my game room, and wanted another.)

As I parked my car, I saw it sitting there....an old Westinghouse Standard Ice.  It was in pretty good condition...just some surface rust and a couple dents....it had both top doors, but missing the cap catcher.  I immediately was disappointed...I was hoping for V56...V81, or another V110.  As I started looking at it, the guy approached and we started to talk.  He asked if I was interested, and I said "Not Really"...that I wanted something with a refrigeration unit.  He proceeded to tell me that he was moving 1000 miles away in three days and need to get rid of it.....he said "Give me $100 and it's yours."  Because I really didn't want it that bad, I said NO THANKS, and started to leave.  Half way down the driveway, he said ...."Give me $50...it's gotta be worth $50??"  

I couldn't say no....so I loaded it up and it now sits waiting for a restoration!!   '>

I was able to get my DP Selectivend S48 from a guy who simply didn't want to go through the hassle of listing it on ebay.  He emailed me when I bid and lost on another S48 on ebay.  Wow, a complete, all original, never outdoors S48.  Turns out I got it for far less than my bid for a worse machine on ebay.  Just $500.  May seem like a lot but when I was willing to pay $600 for a worse machine and then pay to have it shipped I really saved a bundle.  It now sits in my living room vending dublin DP in 6.5 oz antique bottles.  Never know how these things pop up, they just do.  
Great job getting the V56!  What a steal!
A J

Great stories Vendo Guy and lonestaraggie! Man, I could listen to (or in this case, read) these stories all day long.
It is so much fun to read about great finds.

[Vendo Guy]

Markito....

My last V110 was located in your neck of the woods....just west of Minneapolis.  I saw a For Sale ad on a website, but the ad was about three months old.  I sent the guy an e-mail to see if it was still available...and it was!!  I made a trip to look at it the next week.  It was a project machine that he had started and didn't finish.  He had bought it the year before in Chicago for $1000.  It was complete, and he had already primed and was ready for paint.  

I GOT IT FOR $400!!  

- V. G.

Wow! I wish I had known about that one!
I can't believe that he took a $600 loss plus the sweat equity he put into it!
Where are you out of Vendo Guy?
I'm finally picking up my $500 V110 on Wednesday! It took me a long time to dig up the expendable cash.
Thanks for the great story.

[Vendo Guy]

I'm in eastern N.D.  '>

[Eric]

Well... Finally getting around to some pictures.
Here she sits in the basement next to one of my Bennett 700 series pumps and Cav 72.
'kito the stuff on top is to honor you! '>
All in all she's pretty straight just 2 small dings on each side of the door.....