Water Vending Machine Review

Hey! you might have heard of ATM?

Water Vending Machine Piso Water – Automated Teller Machines? Does cash dispenser come to mind?

But is not exactly what you’re thinking right now.

Folks who are already in this vending business know long enough that this innovation has been existing quite a while, calling this by its alias, thus the name of Automatic Tubig Machine (ATM)

Before it was Piso Net Computers, Piso WiFi, now it’s Piso Water Vending aka the Automatic Tubig Machine, I’ve seen this one particularly in Cebu, when I was in vacation eons ago, the business really did not cross my mind until a colleague showed and shared to me how it works.

If this doesn’t even sound familiar to you, it’s a business model borrowed and coined from atm machines whose sole purpose is to dispense monetary bills and other paper cash equivalents and denominations, but in this case, it dispenses water-Everybody’s basic need to quench thirst, cooling you down in a hot sunny day.

In layman terms, commonly it’s a vending machine for water simply put period!

So how does this work?

To illustrate how it works, a customer comes by only needing to drop one (1) peso coin in the designated coin slot,  position his/her glass, tumbler or any container point towards and below the nozzle then the water pours out ice cold-so refreshing.

In order for this water vending business model to work, it is placed on strategic areas with the most foot traffic, populated places, in my case in a school canteen that is open and accessible to all, you can also try it too in internet cafes which I did a few summers ago.

The thing is you have to carry it around with a transport vehicle, I hired a motorcycle with a sidecar for travel.

I bought two (2) Water Vending Automatic Tubig Machines (Water Vending ATM Machine). It was deployed in the senior high school canteen, but later on, I moved and transferred it to the Junior High School canteen. I found out it was quite tedious on my part refilling it when the water dries out.

It’s also a blessing for me, most students would come down to the junior high canteen to buy food and stuff they need, and I can monitor closely, troubleshoot it when a need arises.

Customer service representative not available…

Then something embarassing happened…

Somehow the new 1 peso coins got rejected!

A new opportunity was found and a solution to a problem was solved by the owner considering the technical background and experience he has.

Since I like doing things that are technical in nature, but not all.

Then this came…

Listening to feedback

One of the student gave feedback on their issues regarding the coin slot; does not accept new coins, defective and deformed coins got stuck, jamming the coin slot together with other coins.

I was able to find a remedy and hack the coin slot enabling it to accept a new smaller 1 peso coin, a new coin denomination that was released previously a few months ago.

Out from thin air, something creative came out from my mind and found its way to be discovered, a hidden Macgyver skill was awakened, I looked around, found a plastic spoon branding off itself a known fast food joint.

A smooth semi-straight curved handle, it was cut, trimmed down and aligned to fit, plastered a double-sided tape, placed securely along the coin pathway’s side.

Positioned in a way the new coins won’t fall over the side (you get the idea? students would often resort tapping the machine several times, in extreme case to my shock and surprise, all with their raw young strength, smash it with their bare hands knowing their coins got stuck and jammed in the process, the payment made cannot never be recovered, unfortunately counted as void-no water dispense)

Though I was able to refund them only during recess time immediately no questions asked with backup coins on hand and in standby, if there’s a need to break down bills to smaller denominations, a coin is always as needed.

In unforeseen events I was caught off guard while on routine collecting weekly earnings, I found few foreign coins coming from Western and Asian countries almost the same diameter, width a thickness almost the size of 1 peso, defective ones were able to pass through the coin slot.

Moreover, daily monitoring take much of your time, (you can hire someone else to look after your machine) you also have to look after the water vending machine’s containers when it runs out of water, it needs to be replaced immediately.

Containers must be ready and in standby for at least 8-10 water containers with a carrying capacity of 21 litres to ensure continuity of serving clean cold potable water throughout the day.

When managed properly, this could be a potential money-making endeavor, earning you a weekly, monthly recurring income to cover your basic needs and to augment your salary income. Consider this as one of your multiple streams of income.

Price and location

The Water Vending Piso Water Automatic Tubig Machine (ATM Piso Water Machine), is affordable to own, it won’t break your bank’s pocket.

For a starting capital of Php 9,500 and Php500 totalling Php 10,000 including delivery charge next on your doorstep, securing a small business loan from a local bank will do, then off to go, you can start earning.

The water is delivered and sourced locally from the mandug area, all you need is 21 litres each water containers costing Php 25 pesos each, multiply it by 10 pieces, we have Php 250 enough to cover one whole week on a busy day, though it is slow during rainy and cold seasons.

The Water Vending Piso Water Automatic Tubig Machine (ATM Piso Water Machine), is affordable to own, it won’t break the bank pocket. You can secure a business loan for teachers.

The estimated business expenses incurred in a month’s consumables for water are more or less around Php 800-1000, depending on how thirsty people are around that school area and physical training activities require water for rehydration purposes.

The water is delivered and sourced locally from mandug area, all you need is a 21 liters each water containers costing Php 25 pesos each multiply it by 10 pieces we have Php 250 enough to cover one whole week on a busy day, though it slow on rainy cold seasons.

The water vending machine is deployed in the school canteen.

The school population comprises 1000+ junior high and senior school students.

The total amount earned income for that month is charged at ten per cent 10% plus electricity charge of Php 200 running at approximately 8 hours a day within 22 school days.

Please take note the 10% charge is canteen share.

To break it down further, If Php 5,000 is earned income in a month, it would be Php 500 (taken from 10% of 5000) plus 200 electricity charge equals Php 700, water expenses Php 1000, for a mere total of Php 1,700, the net earnings would arrive at Php 3,300, not bad to those who are starting this business.

In addition, the water vending machine atm carries a 1-year warranty on parts and labour, it includes a peculiar key device used for tweaking the water meter and its usage. The key, when used in clockwise rotation, adds extra streams of water, while counterclockwise does the opposite. Each 1 peso dropped is equivalent to a glass of water.

Does this water vending business idea interest you?

Pros:
-Return of Income in 4-5 months
-Strong weekly earnings on high foot traffic area like in school.
-Potential earning capacity for starters in water vending business.

Cons:
-Unable to to detect new coins (fixed)
-Coins can’t be refunded back when machine empty.
-Deformed coins get stuck in the coinslot.
-Needs constant attention and lookouts for any possible issues arising from usage.

Suggestions:
Can the machine’s coin slot be replaced or upgraded with a programmable coin slot to deter coin fraud and refund defective unknown fake coins?

JAN & 3SIS VIDEOKE RENTAL
#50-9 Leon Garcia St. Davao City
ARLENE E. EMPIS – Proprietor
0917-149-9373
0917-501-2853
0908-513-9510
0906-887-1633
In front of Davao Central Convenience Store.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored paid post.