Ventra vending machines are self-service kiosks located at CTA rail stations and select Pace bus terminals in the Chicago metropolitan area. These machines allow customers to purchase and reload Ventra card, as well as add value to their existing cards.
At CTA Rail Station, Ventra vending machines are typically located near the station entrance or on the station platform. They are designed with a blue and white color scheme, and are easily recognizable with the Ventra logo displayed prominently on the front. These machines accept cash, credit, and debit cards as forms of payment.
To use a Ventra vending machine, customers must first select their language preference on the touchscreen display. The display will then guide the customer through the process of selecting the desired fare product or adding value to an existing card. The customer can then insert their payment method, such as cash or a credit/debit card, into the machine. The machine will then dispense the purchased card or reload the existing card with the added value.
At select Pace bus terminals, Ventra vending machines are located inside or outside the terminal building. They are similar in design to the machines at CTA rail stations, and also accept cash, credit, and debit cards as forms of payment.
Customers can also find Ventra vending machines at the Ventra Customer Service Center located at 567 W. Lake Street in Chicago. This center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and offers additional services such as registering a Ventra card, resolving account issues, and obtaining a reduced-fare permit.
Finding the right locations for your vending machines is an important step in running a successful vending business. Here are some tips for finding locations for your vending machines:
Overall, finding the right locations for your vending machines is a crucial part of running a successful vending business. By conducting market research, identifying high-traffic areas, contacting property owners and managers, attending trade shows, and using vending machine locator services, you can increase your chances of finding profitable locations for your vending machines.
Here is our list of possible locations where vending machines could be located:
| List of Locations: |
|---|
| Airport |
| Amusement Park |
| Apartment Building |
| Assisted Living Center |
| Auto Brake Shop |
| Auto Dealership |
| Bank |
| Bingo Hall |
| Bookstore |
| Bowling Alley |
| Bus Station |
| Business Office Building |
| Car Wash |
| College/ University |
| Community Center |
| Computer Store |
| Dental Office |
| Department Store |
| Doctor’s Office |
| Dormitory |
| Driver’s License Division |
| Dry Cleaner |
| Fire Station |
| Fraternity/ Sorority |
| Furniture Store |
| Gift Shop |
| Golf Course Lounge |
| Government Office |
| Gym |
| Health Club |
| Hospital |
| Hotel |
| Humane Society |
| Ice Skating Rink |
| Industrial Park |
| Laundromat |
| Library |
| Mall |
| Manufacturing Plant |
| Medical Building |
| Meeting Hall |
| Military Reserve/ Guard Center |
| Military Enlistment Office |
| Military Treatment Facility |
| Miniature Golf |
| Motel |
| Motor Vehicle Division |
| Motorcycle Shop |
| Muffler Shop |
| Night Club |
| Nursing Home/ Retirement Home |
| Oil & Lube Center |
| Police Station |
| Private School |
| Public Utility Office |
| Railroad Station |
| Recreation Center |
| Rental Yard |
| Rest Stop Facility (off Highway) |
| Roller Skating Rink |
| School |
| Senior Center |
| Shopping Center |
| Ski Resort |
| Stock Brokerage |
| Telemarketing Office |
| Tire Store |
| Tourist Attraction |
| Truck Stop |
| Trucking Company |
| Veteran’s Affairs Facility |
| Veterinary Office |
| Waiting Room (any kind) |
| Warehouse |
| YMCA |
| Youth Center |
| Zoo |
These vending machine locator apps can be useful for both vending machine operators and customers looking for vending machines in their area.
There are basically two ways to obtain vending locations: you can find them yourself, or you can hire a vending locator to do the work for you. I have done it both ways and can tell you that both ways can be right or wrong for you depending on how you approach the task.
If you are going to locate yourself, there are a few questions you should ask yourself, such as:
If you answered “no” to two or more of these questions, then locating yourself may not be the right solution for you. Finding good locations takes a good sales pitch, good people skills, self-motivation, and time. Another great tool that many vending guys recommend is having a local charity in which you sponsor. I will discuss this in a future blog posts. For now, I will say that most of my prized locations are ones that I found on my own. I have found locations by making cold phone calls as well as just walking into the business and talking to the manager in person.
Both ways can be effective. If you are a regular customer of that business and they know that, then your chances of getting in will increase 10-fold. Don’t be afraid to ask as you are leaving your gym when you are done working out, or when you’re shopping for a new car. Sometimes these impromptu opportunities are the best and take no effort at all. Lastly, you need to hit up your friends. Whether they are the business owner or an employee, they will have the ability to get you into their business and they can keep an eye on your machine for you too.
If you don’t have any friends, don’t like making the cold calls yourself, or if you just don’t have the time for it, then you should consider hiring a vending locator. I have tried this mechanism and there are lots of great vending locators out there. I would Google ‘vending locator’ and call around to find the vending locator that will best serve your needs. Be sure to ask for references so you can find out the quality of their work.
