What to Do If a Location Is Underperforming
Not every location hits the mark—here’s how to troubleshoot, improve, or replace underperforming placements.
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Not every location hits the mark—here’s how to troubleshoot, improve, or replace underperforming placements.
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Track product sales by category and time of day
Communicate with site managers for customer feedback
Test revised product mix before pulling the machine
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Every vending operator will eventually face an underperforming location. Whether it's low sales, poor foot traffic, or lack of product interest, not all placements deliver the returns you hoped for. Understanding how to identify and optimize these sites—before removing them—is key to long-term vending success.
Start by reviewing your sales data. Look at weekly and monthly trends to determine consistency. If sales are routinely flat or declining, it may be a sign the location isn’t attracting enough customers, or the product selection isn’t meeting demand. Categorize product performance (snacks, beverages, healthy items, etc.) to see which areas might be lagging.
Next, engage with your location contact. Sometimes, local nuances like shift changes, new policies, or even construction projects can significantly affect foot traffic. Ask whether they've observed customer use and ask for suggestions. They may offer insights that help you adjust inventory or showcase the machine better.
Before giving up on the site, try repositioning the machine, improving signage, or switching to a different machine type, like a glass-front model that increases product visibility. If product engagement is the issue, experiment with different items, especially popular or trending snacks and drinks. Energy drinks or shelf-stable meals, for example, may attract more attention than generic chips or water.
If changes still don’t yield results after 2-4 weeks, it may be time to relocate the machine. Consider finding a better-performing area using locator services or vending business networks. Regularly reviewing your portfolio performance ensures your machines are earning—or at least showing potential—wherever they’re placed.
Want tips on placing your first vending units? Read our advice on vending machine types for new operators. Or explore how vending compares to other flexible revenue approaches in this vending versus side hustle guide.
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A local vendor typically services one machine or location, whereas a vending management company oversees operations across multiple vendors and locations. They handle vendor selection, performance monitoring, and customer service escalation.
Consistently measure sales, monitor maintenance records, and review customer feedback. Together, they give a full picture of how well the location is working.
Test new products and promotions to increase interest. Customers may not be engaging because the current offerings don’t appeal to them.
Give a location at least 2–4 weeks with changes (product mix, signage, etc.) before deciding to relocate the machine.
Yes. Machines with clear fronts or digital attract screens can grab attention more easily than traditional black box models.
Promoting with signs, window decals, or employee emails can greatly increase awareness and usage, especially in office or school settings.
Sometimes. Enhancing lighting, visibility, and bundling offers (like combo pricing) can revive interest in a slow machine.
Yes. Many low-performing locations improve when machines accept credit/debit and mobile pay, making transactions smoother.
Try new placement before removing completely—relocating within the same building or to a new facility can yield better results.
Use vending location services or brokers that match operators to high-potential, pre-qualified locations needing vending.