Member Spotlight: D&S Vending Keeping Vending Machines in Service

CAMA is delighted to welcome new member D&S Vending, and to introduce Canadian operators to a company with more than six decades of experience helping the vending industry keep its equipment running. I recently spoke with the President, Jason Greene, to learn more about the company's history, and how they can help operators - especially those newer to the industry - make informed decisions about their machines.

D&S Vending was founded in 1965 by Jason's father Don Greene, and Jason is very proud of that legacy. When the company first opened as an in-house repair shop, machines were being shipped to them from all over the USA. Jason explained that through the 1960s, 70s and into the mid 80s, more than 90% of the company's business was machine repair. The other division, parts supply, was relatively small. But as vending technology changed, the demand for parts steadily increased, and the split between repair and parts flipped. In 2022, D&S Vending closed its in-house repair shop and became exclusively a parts supplier. Today, they stock more than 25,000 parts, making it the leading vending parts supplier in North America.

During our conversation, Jason explained that one of D&S Vending's most valuable capabilities is helping operators keep older machines in service when original manufacturer parts are no longer available. The company has developed long-standing relationships with manufacturers and suppliers, enabling their team to design and create compatible replacement components and, when necessary, have custom parts produced. Jason showed me a couple of examples of parts that had been discontinued by the original manufacturer, on vending machines that were still widely used. D&S Vending had created replacement parts in under four months, to keep these popular machines running. One recent call for help sent a custom part all the way to Australia!

The question of “repair or replace” is becoming increasingly important as technology evolves. I asked Jason about the changes in electronics and vending tech, and he told me that the complexity of modern machines had increased very quickly over the past few years. For operators, this can make repairing or upgrading an existing machine a much more financially attractive option than replacing it. Part of the reason that Jason had reached out to CAMA was the huge increase that he has seen in parts shipping to Canada post-pandemic. While D&S Vending is well established in the USA, he said many Canadian operators are still discovering them for the first time. Joining CAMA is an opportunity to build relationships with Canadian operators directly (with an established deal with Canadian UPS for quick delivery, he noted!), and become a resource for our industry.

I asked Jason for his advice for newer operators entering the business. His recommendation is simple: do your research before buying equipment. Whether purchasing a new or used machine, operators should understand the manufacturer, model and technology involved, but also whether replacement parts are readily available. As Jason explained, a machine may appear to be a good deal when purchasing it second-hand, but if key components have been discontinued, repairs can become much more difficult and expensive. D&S Vending can help operators determine whether parts remain available and, where OEM components are no longer produced, whether a compatible replacement or custom solution is possible. They can also help operators modernize older equipment, like upgrading to a card reader. That library of knowledge is very valuable to operators who are (continuously) learning the technology behind their equipment. 

As our conversation wrapped up, Jason had somewhere else to be (he was heading out to watch his hometown Cleveland Guardians) but he encouraged CAMA Members to reach out to him with questions. Jason said D&S Vending's philosophy has always been based on service, transparency and fairness – a philosophy that seems to have served them well, in light of reaching their 60th anniversary celebration last year. CAMA is glad to have D&S Vending join our association, and we look forward to introducing Jason and his team to more Canadian operators. 

Interviewer’s note: Unfortunately, the Guardians lost that game, but they, just like D&S Vending, will continue on!