Buy Vending Machines or Choose Free Placement in Chicago, IL

Chicago businesses have three ways to get a vending machine: buy it outright and own the equipment and revenue, lease it, or have Windy City Unique Vending place one at no cost at a qualifying location. This page compares cost, ownership, service responsibility and revenue so you can pick the right one for your site.

• Free placement we own the machine and cover everything. You pay nothing and keep none of the sales revenue. Best for most offices and plants with 40 or more employees.

• Buy the machine you own it, keep the revenue and control pricing and product, and fund the equipment up front.

• Lease spread the equipment cost over time while still controlling product and revenue. Ask about options when you request a quote.

The Three Options in Plain Terms

The Questions That Actually Decide It

Do you want the sales revenue, or do you just want the machine there?
Do you have someone who will reliably stock it? If not, placement removes that job.
Is the location permanent? Owning at a site you may leave in 18 months rarely pays off.
Do you have 40 or more employees or equivalent traffic? If so, free placement is likely available.
Is it customer facing? Owning lets you control pricing, branding and product exactly.
Does procurement require ownership? Some schools, churches and public facilities cannot host third party equipment.

Where Each One Wins

Free placement wins for offices, plants, warehouses and hotels whose managers want the breakroom handled. Buying wins for property managers and dealerships that want the machine revenue, public locations with volume, facilities whose procurement requires ownership, and operators building a route. Leasing wins when you want ownership without the up front outlay.

You Can Change Your Mind

Businesses start with placement and buy later once they see the volume. Others buy, find nobody wants to stock it, and switch to a serviced program. Because placement is month to month with no contract, moving between the two is straightforward and you deal with the same local company either way.

Get an Honest Recommendation

Tell us your headcount, traffic, location type and whether you want the revenue, and we will tell you which option costs less over three years, even when it is the one we make less on.

Who Approves Vending Service in Chicago & the Suburbs

Our customers are the people who make the decision: business owners, general managers, directors, office managers, facility supervisors and operations decision makers responsible for approving vending at their location. You get one point of contact, one written quote and no purchasing, restocking or refund duties for your staff. We serve Chicago and 77 suburbs across Cook, DuPage and Will County, including Naperville, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Oak Park, Elmhurst and Des Plaines. See the service areas page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our vending solutions and catering services.

Is it better to buy or get one placed free?

If you want the revenue and control the product, buy. If you want convenience with no cost, no work and no capital outlay, placement is better.

Do I keep the money from the machine if I buy it?

Yes, all of it, and you set the pricing. Under placement the operator keeps the revenue, which is what makes the service free.

What if I buy and do not want to stock it?

We supply product to businesses that own their machines, and can handle full stocking and service on your equipment.

Can I switch from placement to buying later?

Yes. Placement is month to month with no contract, so you can move to owning whenever it makes sense.

Request a Machine Quote

Call (773) 933-9251 or email customerservice@windycityuniquevending.com with the machine type, whether you want new, used or refurbished, and your delivery address. You get a written quote with model, condition, delivery, installation and warranty terms spelled out.