Ice Vending Machines

Vendors can turn a cool profit operating ice vending machines. Thanks to improvements in temperature control technology, ice vending machines can now service consumers 24 hours a day, requiring little more than an electrical outlet and product restocking. Responding to the needs of their customers, ice vending machine manufacturers are now also offering units with never-before-seen features that can attract more customers, thereby increasing profits.

Features to Look For in Ice Vending Machines

Most ice vending machines you’ll encounter are a little like portable ice houses. They will automatically weigh and bag ice for a customer once payment has been entered. The best of them are designed to service the needs of both individual and bulk consumers, since flexibility is the key to maximizing revenue.

Thus, units which allow for scaled pricing, giving discounts to customers who buy more ice, are usually the most profitable. While most of the ice vending machines available for a modest price are coin-operated, units that permit customers to purchase ice using a credit or debit card are certainly worth considering, for two reasons. First, the convenience of being able to pay with a card can win customers who might otherwise have gone elsewhere to buy ice. Second, higher-end units with electronic payment capacities can help you recoup your up-front investment costs faster, since operators generally increase the price of ice when offering the ability to pay by card.

Ice vending machine manufacturers who offer their customers state-of-the-art technology also provide management support tools. With the rise of electronic communications, ice vending machines that permit operators to monitor sales remotely are gaining greater and greater popularity with vendors. Using a hand-held communication device such as a Blackberry, or a standard Internet connection, operators can interface with their ice vending machines to track sales and anticipate any service needs. As part of their warranty plans, some manufacturers even offer round-the-clock technical and mechanical support to customers, should a problem ever surface and affect the operation of the machine.

Other features that you can find in top-of-the-line ice vending machines include:

• vending of both bagged ice and bulk ice (for coolers)
• machines that seal bags automatically
• variable production capacity (the amount of ice dispensed can be customized to be as small or large as you choose to allow)
• computer-operated ice delivery systems

Ice vending machines can also be custom-painted to include a company name, graphic or logo. For a modest additional cost, available either from the manufacturer or from a private party specializing in sign and graphic design, you can customize your ice vending machine to attract more business. By accessorizing your ice vending machine with clear, strong lettering and attractive graphics that display the price of ice, people will spot your machine from further away and take notice of it, even if it’s just for another time. Ice sales remain relatively constant throughout the year, and vending machines that service the consumer’s need for ready-made ice are becoming an increasingly popular way for vending machine operators to make money.