Many vending machine manufacturers exist, but few have achieved the level of notoriety as the Coca Cola Company. Coke vending machines are easily recognizable the world over, which translates to bigger advantages for vendors. There are many places you can purchase vending machines at a reduced cost, but nothing is better than getting one for free unless you are getting one for free from Coca Cola, which would make a great deal even better. Coca Cola provides free vending machines so long as their products are the ones being sold. Ownership of the machine still belongs to Coca Cola, but you are free to use the machine.

If your plan is to install Coke vending machines in your workplace or at a place that is serviced by your vending business, a new machine would be the best choice. Aside from the obvious visual appeal that a new machine has, the reasons why are because newer versions have some amazing features like automated "back-to-base" monitoring, surveillance cameras, and credit cards as a form of payment. These units are also supported by Coke's superior customer service. Whether it comes to cleaning the units, stocking them or routine maintenance and repair, a dedicated customer service officer addresses it for you. Besides Coke, you can contact an establishment like vendingsolutions.com where you will find free machines with no rental or startup cost and use the Vendtrak System to monitor the machines.

However, sometimes budget is a concern, and rightfully the recession we're currently in. That is when purchasing pre-owned Coke vending machines makes sense because the buyer can get a discounted price for a reliable machine. But it could also be for nostalgic reasons. Older machines can also add the perfect touch of nostalgia to a themed restaurant that displays items from years gone by. It is not unusual to see an antique Coke machine (even functioning ones) at restaurants. The red and white colors are reminiscent of old as mom and pop shops. Great deals for these machines can be found at antique shops or eBay.

Conditions range from mint to heavily used. It is suggested to look no futher than heavily used though as this could be a troublesome area and put an owner's investment at risk. Refurbishing a poorly maintained machine could mean more time, money, and frustration making them more trouble than they are worth. The older the machine, the more difficult it may be to find parts to replace the older components assuming one wishes to have one operational.