Reliable Vendor: U-Turn Vending Machines, What You Need to Know Before Buying
U-Turn vending review and reader comments on Reliable-Vendor.Com could be helpful for those considering the U-Turn Vending business opportunity. The Reliable-Vendor.com vending industry website seems to be either temporarily down or permanently discontinued, so we have reprinted the U-Turn review and discussion below.
(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) The U-Turn Vending business opportunity is sold as a way for those with no experience to “make their dreams come true.”
The U-Turn Vending website promises:
UTurn Vending is a unique business opportunity. What other business could bring you a successful income with…
No Selling Experience
No Seasonal Restrictions
No Technical Experience
No Fixed Equipment
No Income Limit
No Credit Risks
No Searching for Repeat Business
Get started with UTurn and make your dreams come true: start your own business, support your family, and have time to live your life the way you’ve always dreamed.
We have asked those with experience with U-Turn Vending (good or bad) to share their experiences here: U-TURN VENDING Business Opportunity Complaints
After receiving a disturbing complaint about U-Turn Start-Up Specialist Scott Johnson and their recommended finance vendor Ron Davidson, we tried to find hype-free information on the U-Turn vending opportunity.
We found this article interesting, along with the comments that follow:
U-Turn Vending Machines, What You Need to Know Before Buying
Originally published on Reliable-Vendor.com 05/20/2012
By Rick 21 Comments
U-Turn Vending Machines will pop-up on your radar from time to time; in fact many people get started using these very machines. If you are not one of those who fell for the U-Turns stylish looks, multi product selection feature and slick marketing and sales, well good for you! These are not easy to service machines and will cost you more time and hassle than they are worth in my opinion.
Let’s start with the big picture problems, these machines function fine but when it comes time to service them you have to almost breakdown the entire machine. The coin boxes aren’t locked into place and your quarters are constantly being scattered all over the bottom of the machine, this is one of the main reasons you have to take it all apart, to get your money. There is also some very cheap plastic guides inside to keep the plastic canisters in the correct position but these are a pain to work with and often fall off and have to be realigned.
Another negative feature is the stand, U-Turn stands are a pain to put on and take off. Using a single rod that goes up the pole to fix the base and body together, it leaves little room for error and is best done with 2 people. It can be done solo, but much easier with two.
Now this is the most important part, as unfriendly as these things are to service they have 2 other models, The Eliminator and The Terminator U-Turns. These beasts not only have the same problems but are multiplied by 200-300%. You couldn’t pay me to put these machines onto my route. They are just way to cumbersome, overkill on product and not cost efficient enough for servicing and running.
It’s not all doom and gloom there are some people who loves these machines. Granted they are usually the same people who bought these to get into bulk vending and have never used anything else. So in fairness here are some of the good things about the U-Turn vending machines; they look different enough to get people to notice them in about any surrounding. The tops all include a separate donation slot built into the lid which allows for higher profits for no out of pocket pay out to charity. TheM-90 Celcon coin mechanism does include a fall through mechanism to eliminate jams and to keep the mech free of small denominations. The drawback to the coin mechanism is it’s also plastic and less sturdy than the metal coin mech’s used my other major vending machine manufacturers. There is also a gasket in the lid for freshness.
Now don’t get me wrong, I buy these all the time because I can get them very cheap. I get them cheap because people who bought them to get into the business and have since learned there are better alternatives, well they can’t wait to get rid of them. So I buy them cheap and resell them or their parts for profit. I will never put these out on my vending route, I just don’t care for them that much.
So my suggestion, stay away from these if you can. If you can’t because you already own some, please don’t buy anymore until you look at some of the more traditional machines. Read my other posts, visit Vendiscuss, and learn from others who have made the same mistake and how to recover from it. If after you read the opinions and experiences you want to stay with them , well at least you will be better informed.
Comments [comments about buying/selling parts pave been left out]
Dave says:
12/10/2013 at 12:32 AM
My friend is a Disabled Combat Veteran and this company ripped her off badly.
Lied to her time and time again.
Machines are junk, made of plastic and light metal. The works of the machine, (insides) are plastic, BUT they offer an expensive upgrade to metal, after you call and complain, YES they are expensive and NO U-turn will not give the upgrade free, they charge you!
Machines also can be empltied without paying by rotating the crank back and forth and stealing all the candy, without paying anything at all. Or if that is not happening the machine will not work at all.
The locators that are recommended by u-turn even admit that places don’t want the machines in their business, because they never work.
We have asked U-Turn to return her money but they refused.
IS it okay to rip off a Combat Veteran , that was disabled in war? NO!..it is not right to rip off anyone.
Did you get ripped off as well?
Please tell us your story.
ALSO PLEASE CONTACT U-TURN AND ASK THEM TO RETURN THE MONEY THEY TOOK FROM HER , WITH THEIR LIES.
[email redacted]
daniel says:
03/04/2014 at 8:34 AM
Dave dont come to reliable vendor to complain, go to the entity in charge of protecting consumer rights on your country.
Why was he or she ripped off, they sold them a machine made of plastic, they never said it wasnt made of plastic.
CaroleJone says:
03/12/2014 at 12:44 PM
Rick my husband & I are new U Turn Vendors and after buying & locating 24 -8 U Turns, we realize that most locations don’t need 8 selections and we will lose product and profits if they remain 8 head machines. My husband is mechanically inclined and has changed several to 4 selections. But we are left with unused canisters and chassis for the remaining four and need additional parts to convert to a 4 head. You said you have parts and wanted to know if you have what we need to convert our machines?
Carole, Vending in Atlanta
Rick says:
03/12/2014 at 2:02 PM
Hi Carole, I don’t but I would suggest eBay, I broke most of my machines down and sold them on eBay, the parts are worth more as parts than as a whole Uturn, so there are tons of parts there to be had. Good luck to you and your husband.
Chris says:
06/30/2014 at 4:07 PM
Do you have to own a U Turn franchise to operate the U Turn Machines. I was thinking about getting some.
Rick says:
07/07/2014 at 10:51 AM
Hi Chris, no you do not, I owned several U Turns I ran and was not a franchise owner.
Ros says:
11/10/2014 at 9:02 PM
Hi, I bought a used u-turn machine for a coal mine site to use as fundraising for our annual xmas festivities and also Kids Club events.
I was after some metal u-turn coin mechanisms as the plastic i’ve found way too flimsy and jams alot. Can anyone help direct me? I am in australia but happy to arrange shipping if I find a reliable supplier. Thanks!
Vickie Hogue says:
01/10/2015 at 5:34 PM
We have 8 uturn machine. They work great, no problems ever.
Todd says:
06/01/2015 at 2:02 PM
Is anyone making a good living on buying and servicing these machines?
Jack says:
06/25/2015 at 12:03 AM
So, Rick, I presume that maybe the plan is that if you continue to rant on about any and all minor issues for U-T machines, then you will also be able to continue to ” Buy these all the time because I can get them very cheap So I buy them cheap and resell them”. Rick do you work for some other vending co. or just make a living by yourself, passing on what you see as problems, to other people for a few $$$ ?
Rick says:
06/25/2015 at 10:24 AM
Hi Jack,
If you had reviewed my whole site you would have seen my opinions on U-turns has evolved over time. No I do not like them terribly much but in some cases they are great for high volume locations. I have owned and operated just about every name brand vending machine out there and while all have pro’s and con’s, the U-turns had more than most. No I don’t work for any vending manufacturer, just calling it as I see it. But by your defense and obvious vehmenance I am guessing you are a U-Turn employee or one of their operators, sorry if the truth about them hurts; they are normally to large in product volume for most locations, the coin mechs are garbage and jam easily and unlike most others the mechs are plastic. Otherwise they can be great.
ALSO READ:
FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS by Company
U-TURN VENDING Business Opportunity Complaints
ARE YOU A FAMILIAR WITH THE U-TURN VENDING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY? DO YOU THINK IT’S A GREAT VENDING OPPORTUNITY? A VENDING SCAM? OR SOMETHING IN-BETWEEN? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: U-TURN Vending, U-Turn Vending business opportunity, vending scam, U-Turn complaints, U-Turn scam, U-Turn Scott Johnson, U-Turn Randy Francis, finance Ron Davidson, vending opportunity, vending complaints, franchise, franchise opportunity, franchise complaints, unhappy franchisee.
I have 5 machines right now and 3 are the 8 section U Turns in a boys and girl’s club, and 2, 8 section machines in the same Laundromat! Yes they jam, and kids will put random things in the coin slots that cause problems. I always have an extra machine I keep stocked at my house so that if there are ANY problems with machines in businesses I can just swap it out, and I bring the jammed or empty one home, empty it, WASH IT! and do any repaires I need, then get it back out when the next one jams. The most difficult part about these machines that I have found is transporting these things! even with a dollie they are awkward. I drive a full size suburban and they are a pain to get out of the back! the only vehicle I think that would work good for transporting these machines would be a high rise mini van with a lift gate! Thats if you have a route that will pay for a business car payment! lol
I am trying to locate the vendor in Wichita Falls TX with hopes of selling the one U-Turn location he does not have in that area. My sales have dropped substantially since the Covid 19 outbreak, and since I live 85 miles away, it is no longer profitable for me.