AKnght Trade Co.

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The machine

A custom trading card vending machine, configured for sealed Pokémon product and collecting supplies rather than snacks.

Overview

Built for cards, not candy bars

Standard snack machines drop product down a chute. That is fine for a bag of chips and rough on a sealed Elite Trainer Box.

Our machine was custom ordered to be gentle with trading card products. A lifting delivery system carries each item down to the pickup tray instead of dropping it, and the rows and compartments are sized for card product rather than standard vending items.

  • Touchscreen interface for browsing and selecting
  • Multiple product rows and compartments
  • Lifting delivery mechanism instead of a drop chute
  • Card payment reader
  • Capacity for everything from single packs to booster boxes
Close view of the vending machine touchscreen next to the stocked product rows
Preview image. Browsing happens on the touchscreen. Ours will show our product list and prices.

Current status

Our first machine has been purchased and is working its way through production and freight. We are lining up a Portland area host location for it now. If you want to know when it goes live, send us a note.

Inside the machine

What it stocks

The mix depends on the location and what is selling. A busy coffee shop and a family entertainment venue will not want the same lineup.

Entry price points

  • Individual booster packs
  • Penny sleeves
  • Toploaders

Mid range

  • Booster bundles
  • Sleeve and toploader bundles
  • Collection boxes

Larger items

  • Elite Trainer Boxes
  • Booster boxes
  • Singles in toploaders and graded cards in their slab, as available

Selection varies by location and by what is in stock. New sets get added as they release.

Management

How we run it

The host location provides floor space and an outlet. Everything else is on us.

  1. We supply the inventory

    Product is bought, priced, and loaded by AKnght Trade Co. The host business carries no inventory cost and no risk on unsold product.

  2. We restock on a schedule

    We check levels and refill on a regular visit schedule, and adjust the mix based on what is actually selling at that location.

  3. Payments come to us

    The card reader is on our account. Your registers and your staff are not involved in any transaction.

  4. We handle service

    If something jams or a screen acts up, that is our problem to fix. We give host locations a direct contact for issues.

Questions

Common questions

How much space does the machine need?
Roughly the footprint of a standard vending machine, against a wall and near an outlet. We will confirm exact dimensions and power requirements with you before anything is scheduled.
Does it take cash?
Not at the moment. It is set up for card payment, which means no cash box for anyone to service and no float to manage. There is a real tradeoff there. A kid holding a few dollars cannot buy a pack without a parent tapping a card. If a location turns out to have a lot of younger customers paying cash, we can look at adding a bill acceptor.
Who pays for the electricity?
The host location provides the outlet and the power, the same as any vending placement. The machine runs on a standard household circuit and has no refrigeration, so the draw is modest. We will confirm the exact figures with you before anything is installed, and if the cost is a concern we can factor it into the arrangement.
Are the products authentic?
Yes. Sealed product goes in factory sealed and untouched. Singles are pulled from packs we opened ourselves and go straight into a toploader. Graded cards stay sealed in the grader's slab. We do not sell repackaged or resealed items, and we do not sell anything represented as something it is not.
Can you really buy a single card or a graded card from a machine?
That is the plan. Alongside sealed product, the machine can carry singles in toploaders and graded cards in their slab, so someone can pick up a specific card instead of chasing it in a pack. Selection depends on what we have on hand at the time.
What stops the products from getting damaged?
The lifting delivery system lowers items to the tray rather than letting them fall, and compartments are sized so product is not crushed or wedged. Sealed boxes are handled the same way as small packs. Singles are in toploaders and graded cards are already in a rigid slab, so both are well protected before they ever go in the machine.
Is this appropriate for a family location?
Yes. Everything in the machine is trading card product and collecting supplies. There is no age restricted merchandise.
Can we choose what goes in it?
Within reason, yes. If your customers skew toward a certain price range or product type, tell us and we will build the mix around that.

Want one in your space?

Send us a few details about your location and we will get back to you with what a placement would look like.

Request information