How do free vending machines work?
We supply the machine, deliver it, install it, stock it and service it. The site pays nothing — no purchase price, no rental, no delivery fee, no service fee and no restocking cost. We earn from product sales at normal retail prices, which is why the site qualifies on foot traffic rather than on budget.
The usual guide is around 25 people on site daily, or a public venue with steady foot traffic. You choose the product mix, we build the planogram, and pricing is set at ordinary convenience retail so staff are not penalised for buying on site.
- Free delivery, installation and commissioning
- Free restocking on a telemetry-driven schedule
- Free servicing, parts and call-outs
- Cashless tap-and-go plus coin and note options
- You approve the product lines before the machine lands
How does restocking work?
Every machine we place reports its sales and stock levels remotely, so restock visits are scheduled by what has actually sold rather than by a fixed calendar. Fast lines get topped up before they empty and slow lines get swapped out instead of sitting there.
If you buy a machine outright, restocking is yours to run — either you buy stock and fill it, or you contract the runs out. Sites that do not want to touch stock at all are almost always better off on the free program.
- Telemetry flags low rows and sold-out selections between visits
- Product mix reviewed after the first few weeks of real sales data
- Seasonal changes — more cold drinks over summer, more hot lines in winter
- Expiry dates managed by us on free-program machines
Who services and repairs the machine?
On a free-program machine, servicing is entirely ours: refrigeration, coin mechs, note readers, card readers, controllers, locks and glass. Faults are usually flagged by telemetry before anyone on site reports them, and there is no call-out fee at any location.
On a machine you own, you get a warranty on new equipment and a tested, refurbished unit on used equipment. We also service machines we did not supply, subject to location and model — send the make, model and fault.
- No call-out fees or service charges on free-program machines
- Faults detected remotely, often before a staff member notices
- Refrigeration decks, coin mechs and readers are all serviceable parts
- Spares and payment-system upgrades available for owned machines
Are there contracts or lock-ins?
No lock-in contract on the free program. There is a short written placement agreement that records the address, the machine, access arrangements and who to call — it protects both sides and it does not tie you to a term.
If the machine does not earn on your site, we remove it at our cost. If you want it gone for any other reason, give us reasonable notice and we collect it. Purchases are a straightforward invoice: no ongoing fees once the machine is yours.
- No minimum term, no exit fee, no service agreement
- Placement agreement covers access, power and responsibility only
- We remove the machine at our cost if the site does not suit
- Owned machines carry no ongoing obligation to us at all
What if I want to buy instead?
Buying makes sense when you want the takings. Refurbished machines start at $1,650 + GST and new machines are quoted per model; both are delivered, installed and tested. Add a payment system and transport, and both are quoted with the machine as one number so there are no surprises.
Finance and rent-to-own are available if you would rather not pay up front. Use the ROI calculator to compare buying against taking a free machine before you commit.
- Used machines from $1,650 + GST, fully tested and refurbished
- New machines quoted per model with full warranty
- Cashless readers from $550 installed
- Finance and rent-to-own available
- Delivery and installation quoted with the machine
Quick price reference
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Used snack machine | $1,650 – $4,950 + GST |
| Used drink machine | $1,950 – $4,950 + GST |
| Used combination machine | $2,450 – $5,950 + GST |
| Specialised / custom machine | $2,450 – $5,950 + GST |
| Credit card reader (new) | From $550 installed |
| Coin acceptor (used) | From $295 GST inclusive |
| Note reader | From $350 + GST |
| Free program machine | No cost to the site |
Machine prices are plus GST, plus payment system and plus transport.
Ask us a question or request a machine
Frequently asked questions
How much does a vending machine cost in Australia?
Used machines run from $1,650 to $5,950 + GST depending on type and condition. New machines are quoted per model. Add a payment system from $295 and transport to site.
Is a free vending machine really free?
Yes. No purchase price, no rental, no service fee, no contract. We supply, install, restock and service the machine and earn from product sales at normal retail prices.
How many staff do you need to qualify for a free machine?
Around 25 people on site daily is the usual guide. Public venues with strong foot traffic qualify with fewer staff.
How much power does a vending machine use?
A refrigerated machine typically uses 4 to 8 kWh a day with energy saving mode and LED lighting. An ambient snack machine uses very little — it is essentially lighting and a controller.
How profitable is a vending machine?
Gross margins commonly sit between 35% and 55% depending on the product mix. Profitability is driven far more by foot traffic and restock efficiency than by machine choice, which is why site selection is everything.
What space does a vending machine need?
Roughly 950 mm to 1,100 mm of wall width, about 900 mm depth including door swing, and a 10 amp power point within two metres.
Can I put a machine outdoors?
Only under cover and out of direct weather. Outdoor-rated machines exist but standard machines fail quickly in rain and heat.
Who restocks a machine I buy?
You do, or you contract it out. If you would rather not handle restocking at all, the free program is the better fit.
Can machines take card and phone payments?
Yes. Any MDB machine can take a cashless reader from $550 installed, accepting tap card, phone and watch payments.
Do you service machines you did not supply?
Yes, subject to location and model. Send the make, model and fault and we will let you know.
How long does a vending machine last?
Commercial machines are built for a decade or more of duty. Refrigeration decks and coin mechs are the wear items, and both are serviceable.
Can we get healthy products only?
Yes. Health-focused planograms are common in schools, gyms and health services, and can exclude nut products or high-sugar lines entirely.
Still have a question?
Call us or send a message. We would rather answer a question now than sell you the wrong machine.