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Ice Vending Machines No Longer Giving Customers the Cold Shoulder

By: Mark Sierra Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Ice vending machines have been around for some time now, but during that time they have received some very innovative attributes. Most machines are still coin operated versions, but there is a trend of newer machines that accept credit card payments. Let's take a closer look.

In this day in age where customers are more conscious of the purity of the water they drinik, the modern day ice machines provide their ice on the spot with purified water. This can be particularly comforting to travelers who are unable to obtain bottled water or filtered water from their regular routine.

A very popular machine in this category is appropriately called the Ice Cube. It is a state-of-the-art in ice vending machines with traits such as fewer moving parts and offsite observation capabilities. However, the most incredible feature is the machine fault notifications that are delivered by phone. The machine's diagnostics are controlled by a top-of-the-line industrial grade computer that will send out phone alerts when an error occurs. This clever characteristic is a particularly strong selling point for owners of these types of machines because it reduces the need to make frequent trips out to the machine to check on its performance. And that's not all, owners can actually monitor the machine's status with a wireless device such as a Palm or Blackberry.

Other capabilities exist as well. Like traditional ice vending machines, the Ice Cube makes ice in bulk. But traditional versions lacked the ability of accurately dispensing the same amount of ice consistently. Today, once the customer inserts their payment, the ice can be weighed and bagged. Yet another feature that reduces maintenance costs is that these machines do not need to be cleaned as often as their predecessors thanks to their design and use of purified water.

All these bells and whistles have a hefty price tag though. A single machine costs approximately $126,000. The installation and utilities will have to be incurred at an additional cost of $4,500. Annual operating costs are estimated to be around $13,150. This includes the utilities, the land lease, insurance, and supplies. Even with financing through private institutions, the price may prove to be too high for the first-time investor.

There are a few ice vending equipment companies worth considering for those interested in investing in such a machine. For instance, Aqua Polar and Iceberg Vending are reputable companies that should be included for consideration. Each company offers attractive deals and advanced machines. For instance, Iceberg provides machines that are essentially theft-proof with the machine made of monolithic concrete. Aqua Polar, on the other hand, offers smaller more affordable units.

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About The Author: About the author: Even though they are considered low-tech, bubble gum machines are commonly used in high-traffic areas such as grocery or convenient stores. Kids enjoy them and owners find the machines to be profitable. Mark Sierra invites you to visit Vending Equipment Online to find out more.