Antares Vending Machine Combos

How to change prices of Antares snack & soda machines

2008-02-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Have you had fits trying to change the prices of snack and soda selections on your antares refreshment centers? Those little plastic coin mechs are really simple once you understand them.

This video should help...

Antares Bill Changer - filling it properly

2007-12-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

The Coffee Inns dollar bill changer that is sold as part of the Antares refreshment centers uses coin tubes to vend quarters, dimes, and nickels.

To make sure that you do not shortchange a customer, there are a couple of things to know...

There are 7 coin tubes, but you only fill the ones you plan to use. 4 of them can hold quarters, 2 can hold dimes, and the last 1 holds nickels. So, if you filled all of them, you'll be giving $1.25 in change for each dollar inserted! Probably not what you had in mind :-)

Normally, you'll want to fill either all 4 quarter tubes, or you'll want to fill 3 of the quarter tubes, both dime tubes, and the nickel tube.

However, the most important point to know is that your rear quarter tube at the end of the slide must have fewer coins than any of the other individual tubes. That's because this last quarter tube engages the trigger letting the brain know when it is running low on change. So, the changer depends on this column to make sure it does not accept bills if it does not have adequate change to return. If another tube has fewer coins than this trigger tube, it will be allowed to vend eventhough the other tubes may be empty! ...your customers will get shortchanged.

As long as you keep this in mind, these change machines really do a great job. These changers have been basically the same for over 10 years. Every now and then, one may need a new board, but that is a cheap and easy repair to do on your own.

The only negatives with them are the cabinet construction and price for a new one. You can buy comparable changers for much about half the price, yet they have a much better cabinet construction to help lessen simple break-ins.

For more common sense in vending,
visit www.USEDvending.com & www.4MEGA-Vending.com

Vending Combo needs freon?

2007-11-08T06:51:00.000-08:00

"Elfmuse said...
I have the opposite, I need to recharge the freon I think. I can't find a manual anywhere online or howto's ....So do you know how to do this?"

Elfmuse, if your Antares machine needs freon, that is not something you would do yourself.
Call a local refrigeration repair man to look at it.

Good luck,
Eric

Antares Machine - soda machine freezes up

2007-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

"Hi Eric,
I saw your message and was wondering if you could help me. I bought a used Antares combo machine manf. 2000, and it keeps freezing up on me. Do you have any sugg. on how to stop it? do I need to turn it down? And how? I can't find a manual anywhere."

Teddie, if it is an Antares machine, this can occur for a few reasons:

- First check the front door seal for damage. The rubber seal between the drink machine door may have a break or may be damaged where it is allowing hot air in and the machine has to keep running. Look for cuts or warped areas.
- Sometimes this occurs because the snack machine mounted on the front pulls on the door causing it to sag and not fit correctly against the seal. When the door is closed, check all the way around it to make sure there are no gaps where air can get around the seal into the drink area.
- Then, the tilt of the machine can sometimes keep the front door from closing completely allowing air inside. If so, use the front leg levelers to raise the front of the machine slightly.

If everything looks fine with the door seal, you can try turning the thermostat down. It is located on the back side in the opening right above the square base.
It could be that it just needs adjusting. If not, it may need to be replaced.

Hope this solves it for you.

Eric Normand
USEDvending.com

Antares combo jamming on bottom cans?

2007-08-24T20:27:00.001-07:00

If you've ever had problems with the bottom 3 selections of an Antares drink vending machine where the cans are turning and jamming, here is some insight.

Now this applies to the selections that are slightly wider than the can only columns:
- the bottom 3 selections on 1994 - 2004 models
- the bottom right selection on 2005+ models

These columns are slightly wider in order to handle items such as 10oz juice bottles, some energy drinks, & other beverages that will fit.

One of our employees was loading an Antares the other day and had a problem with the cans on these wider columns turning while rolling down. They would stall in the middle of the column or slide to the very bottom and block the auger from being able to turn. Since these columns are wider, they allow the cans have enough room to rotate and block the lane.

There were 2 issues here.
- the small metal shim was missing
- he was not loading the cans properly

In order to properly direct the cans through the auger at the bottom of the column, a metal shim is needed to go on the right side wall inside the column by the auger.
This keeps the cans in place to the left side and it also blocks the ability of someone being able to twist the can past the right side of the auger since the can has enough room to rotate in the column and come out without turning the auger.

Secondly, he did not realize that in order to keep the cans rolling evenly down the columns, it is best to put the end of the can SQUARELY against the left hand column wall before letting go so that the can may roll as straight as possible being guided by the wall.

So, if you've ever had this problem, get some shims!

We sometimes have them available pre-owned at www.USEDvending.com or they can be ordered directly from the manufacturer.

See how to service an Antares vending machine

2007-08-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

If you've never seen a mechanical vending machine or never used one, be sure to visit this video that shows an Antares snack and soda vending machine combo in action!

You'll see how the 3 vending machines (snack, soda, dollar bill changer) act as 1 machine. You'll see them inside and out! See how they are filled with product and change. Learn how to use one to vend an item.

This video shows a 2005 model which is the newest style as of today (August 2007).
The video also explains how this newer style differs from 2004 and older models...
Antares vending machine Demonstration video

Update to changes on 2005 model Antares Machines

2007-07-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

On my post a few down, I forgot to list another feature that was incorporated into the 2005+ design of the Antares Refeshment Centers vending machine combos.

The bottom right selection can vend 12 oz cans, but it is slightly wider in order to accept things like Red Bull cans. It can probably also still do the 10 oz juice bottles, but I haven't tried one.

We'll be putting a video on the blog very soon showing the new style Antares snack & soda combos both inside and out. If you're not sure how they work or how they are serviced, be sure to watch this video.

Change to changer attachment in 2002

2007-05-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

The 2002 Antares refreshment vending machine centers had a slight change from previous years. This was simply adding an additional support bracket for the side mount dollar bill changer. It attached to the top lid of the existing "L" bracket and went across the top of the machine before folding down the left side wall a few inches. Just like the main "L" bracket, it only attached to the soda vending machine via a double sided adhesive tape.

It probably adds a little more resistance if someone is trying to remove the changer from the combo, but I personally do not think it made much difference. As long as the adhesive tape is applied correctly the first time on the main bracket, it is extremely strong and is further backed up by the metal cable that connects the changer to the bottom base feet.

For more common sense in vending, visit www.USEDvending.com & www.4MEGA-Vending.com

Major change to Antares Vending Machines in 1998

2007-04-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Another substantial change to the Antares machines came in 1998 when they changed the construction material of the snack vending machines. Previously, they were all metal casings, but due to the heavy weight of the snack machine (90 lbs) pulling on the soda machine door, there were problems with the door seal and air leaks.

From 1998 to now, 2007, these 9 select snack machines are made primarily of plastic. The main outer casing is black plastic and now weighs half (45 lbs.) what the metal machine did. This did solve the door seal issue on the drink machine.

New Style for Antares Vending Machines in 2005

2007-04-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

In case you're wondering about the Blue machine at the top of the blog and the grey Antares machine farther down the page, the difference is the year model. Machines manufactured in 2005 or later have the blue graphics panels on them. Antares machines from 1995 to 2004 have the grey & black graphics as shown in the lower picture.

Along with the color change, these 2005+ blue machines do have a different configuration on the soda machine for the size items they can vend. The grey combos had 4 lanes for 12 oz. cans in the top half of the machine and 3 lanes for either 12 oz. cans or 10 oz. juice bottles in the bottom half of the soda vending machine. The newer blue ones have 6 lanes for vending 12 oz. cans (3 on top and 3 on bottom) as well as 1 lane (runs from top to bottom) that can vend larger items such as gatorade bottles.

Before 1995 Antares / Orion machines also had blue graphics that were gridlike and looked completely different from the new models. There aren't too many pre 1995 machines around these days :-)

On Vending Machines, Size does matter

2006-12-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

One of the areas that is not explained by Antares & other companies is the ROI timeline. Return On Investment will make or break you. Compact mechanical vending machine combos are designed for smaller locations, but they should also have a "compact" price!

Smaller locations can be a great avenue for a new vending business, but only if the cost of your equipment can be justified by the revenue of vend sales from that location. The Antares machines Brand New run $6,000+ for each combo with changer. Yet, they only have a capacity to handle an account with up to 65 employees (45 comfortably)(white collar at that). So, if you can't go into a location any larger than this, with 1 combo, then you should expect a very long ROI for that $6,000 machine. Sure, you could go into a 100 employee account with 2 combos, but now you have to recoup $12,000 off 1 location.

Did you know that for $6,000 you could also purchase a huge 49 select electrical snack machine and a huge 12 selection drink machine (holding 750 sodas) that would accomodate a location of 100 employees (maybe even 100 blue collar). This machine setup would also not kill you because you wouldn't have to service it every day or two as you would with a mechanical combo.

The point is, small locations can be easy targets, but don't tie your life savings up in them. You can find pre-owned Antares vending machines for approx $1000 - $1500 per set or get similar brand new snack & soda combos with changers for between $1250 - $1650 per set.

This means your ROI will be 400% faster!!
So, you can actually make money rather than just paying a note.

For more common sense in vending, visit www.USEDvending.com & www.4MEGA-Vending.com

Antares Vending Machines - Look Before You LEAP!

2006-12-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

Vending machines, as it is well known, can be great money makers. Many people know this and many of those people get into the vending business every year. Some do very well while others spend the first 3 or 4 years trying to recoup the excessive startup cost when they jumped into a business of their own.

The benefits of having your own vending business can be great, but think things through before you shell out tens of thousands of dollars to a company that sent you a postcard out of the blue or that you found by accident while browsing the classifieds!

Regardless of how they try to convince you into making a decision today, always know that if you call them in 3 months and want to send them $20,000, they will never tell you "No"!

Some companies act as though they will only allow a certain number of distributors or vending route operators in your area. So the pressure comes in that if you don't act now, you can't get in later.

Antares Refreshment Center vending machines by Natural Choice are sold through this method.

However, they fail to tell you that they promote in your city Every Single Year and will continue to do so. So, if it is truly limited, there is no reason that they would continue to target your city every year. But if you don't know this; you'll Leap before taking time to Look.

Look into other sources for buying your vending machines. I highly recommend USEDvending.com, www.USEDvending.com , as I own the company and have saved a fortune for many families in helping them to find pre-owned, sometimes New (never used) Antares snack & soda machines still in their original boxes for as much as 80% off the high price of brand new ones.

You can even hire a vending machine locator to find locations to place your machines. Our customers have had very mediocre results from mailing the location postcards. There are much better ways to find your locations.

For more common sense in vending, visit www.4MEGA-Vending.com & www.USEDvending.com