Expert: Rodger Knutson - 10/1/2009

Question
 Hi I am getting ready to move and need to downsize.I bought a mills coke machine,model45,serial num under 1.000. I have had it since about 1970,and we still use it.It is all original and a nice machine. I talked to the gentleman at the coke museum in about 1990 and he sent all kinds of info about it and also that they did not have this model in their collection then? What is the best way to go about selling this? I do have the vending machine price guide book,but I know prices are not that high?
We also have slots,trade stimulators,duascope and more.
I always have wanted to keep the coke machine,but it needs to find  another collector that will love this like I have.
 Thank you in advance for any help.

  Jennie

Answer
Hi Jennie,

If you read my expertise you know I am not an expert on soda machines and don't claim to be, so If you rate me, please don't rate me for just my answer here on your soda machine as I don't answer soda questions very often. I seen your machine in the book also. It's a neat one by the looks of it. I also find the prices in this value guide as (way high) and mostly far above what most machines really end up selling for. Maybe these are top prices that a retail store front would sell them for, with a guarantee, and other perks. I don't know, but I do not agree with the values in this guide at all. This is also another reason I don't answer soda questions, and information that is available, is not real good, and not very much. I live in Washington also, and maybe I can ask around and see if a local buyer can be found, or maybe someone will see this posting and write me, asking about buying it, that happens, but I need to check with you before hand on this, and get your email, you can write me at Jackpot7@q.com As for other ways to sell your soda machine, this is a really bad time to sell anything, buyers are hard to find and very picky, and they can afford be right now. An example here, I just seen three separate Mills High Top slot machines sell on ebay from 500.00 to 650.00 and all good machines! Two years ago these would sell for 1,200.00 to 1,400.00. You also could try to consign it to an antique store, or put it up for auction, but that can be a blood bath for the seller, I just seen that happen also. A good auction company would be this one; http://www.vcaauction.com/ but now you have a 432 pound soda machine that needs to be crated and shipped, which is going to cost someone some real money to do this. You could also try a free add at: http://seattle.craigslist.org/ which is a real good sight for free adds, and maybe you can find someone locally who wants to buy it that way. My best tip to you would be to market it, let the world know you have it, and that it's for sale, but this takes time. A good magazine for this might be the gameroom at: http://www.gameroommag.com/ and one other thing, you can also put up a free add on my web page at http://www.coinslots.com if you like. Remember to email me if you want me to send possible buyers to you, right now I have someone looking for a Penney slot machine if you have one. My email address again is Jackpot7@q.com My feedback here at allexerts is my reward for the work I do here, so I always aim for 10's, please don't rate me if you feel I fell short on helping you on this soda machine, I normally don't answer these soda questions.
Thank You

Cheers
Rodger Knutson
Http://www.coinslots.com