What does a free vending machine actually cost?
Nothing. A free-placement vending machine costs the site nothing to install, nothing to run and nothing to service. The operator owns the machine, buys the stock, sets the retail prices and keeps the takings. You provide the floor space and a standard power point.
There is no purchase price, no rental, no service fee and no minimum spend on your part. If a site is quoted an upfront fee, that is a purchase, hire or finance arrangement — not free placement.
Is there a deposit, bond or credit check?
No deposit and no bond. Free placement is not a credit product, so there is no credit check on your business and nothing appears on your credit file.
The only commercial commitment is that the machine stays in place long enough for the operator to recover its investment — typically 12 months — and that your team keeps the area accessible for restocking.
What does my site need to qualify?
Generally 20+ staff onsite, or high foot traffic (gyms, apartment blocks, universities, hospitals, 24-hour venues). We assess each site individually.
Practically, a qualifying site has: a sheltered indoor position roughly 1 metre wide, a dedicated 10-amp power point within 1.5 metres, ground-floor or lift access for delivery, and access for a technician during business hours.
What is the 8-hour promise?
Every free-placement application submitted through this site is reviewed by a person and answered within 8 business hours. Business hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm AEST, Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays.
The reply tells you one of three things: your site qualifies and here are the install options, your site needs more information, or your site is not a fit for free placement and here is the best paid or finance alternative.
Who pays for electricity?
The site does. A modern snack machine draws roughly 1–2 kWh a day and a refrigerated drink machine roughly 3–5 kWh a day, so typical running cost is a few dollars a week. LED lighting and energy-saving modes are standard on the machines we place.
Who restocks and repairs the machine?
The operator. Restocking frequency is set by sales volume — commonly fortnightly, weekly at busy sites. Faults, refunds and card-reader issues are the operator's responsibility, and a service callout is arranged directly with them.
Your only obligation is to report a fault and let the technician in.
Do we get a commission on sales?
Commission is not standard on free placement and is not offered by default. Very high-volume public sites — large gyms, universities, shopping precincts, transport hubs — can sometimes negotiate a commission with the placing operator. Raise it in your application notes and it will be assessed on the site's volume.
Can we choose the products and the prices?
You can request product lines — healthy ranges, sugar-free drinks, allergen-aware snacks, halal options — and those requests are usually accommodated. Retail pricing is set by the operator because they carry the stock cost, but prices are benchmarked to local convenience-store rates.
How long does installation take?
After approval, a typical metro install is scheduled within 5–10 business days and takes under an hour on site. Regional installs depend on the operator's run schedule and are usually within 2–3 weeks.
What if we want the machine removed?
Give written notice and the machine is removed at no cost to you. Free placement has no lock-in penalty, no exit fee and no removal charge. We ask for 30 days' notice so the run can be re-routed.
