Cleaning your cranes properly
Keeping our cranes attractive and inviting to players is vital for success. Many crane users are repeat players and if the same product has been in the crane for a long time and they have won several already, what incentive is there to keep playing?
There are two options - whole stock change overs or bottom filling. If changing to a different type of product i.e. balls to plush then a complete change is the only method, but if changing a same size plush to another size plush (for example) then they can be bottom filled. The new product is placed under the existing product and when they come to the surface the frequency settings are changed (only needed if they are a different cost price).
For example the table below shows an example of plush layering with size 1 toys in a standard machine:
Standard machine size 1 100 plush
Layer 1 – 50 plush type 1 on top
Layer 2 – 50 plush type 2 underneath
When you walk away from the machine after setting it up for the first time there will be 2 layers of 50 plush each
Layer 3 – on your return refill the machine FROM THE BOTTOM with type 3 plush until 50 is reached – once 50 is reached the top layer should have completely disappeared. When the last top toy disappears pull all stock out and do a physical count and put it back again in 2 layers.
What this means is that you will usually have 3 layers of plush in a machine at any given time, but only 1 layer is accessible to be won.
As each layer surfaces, change the poster and if necessary make frequency and claw setting adjustments.
Advantages
- Always something new coming through
- You can roughly work out your requirements of prizes in each size for each new release and order it when they are available
- Old stock gets used up in machine
- Automatic changes occur
Disadvantages
- Need to remember to change the frequency when the new stock emerges
- If the layers aren't kept distinct then the machine can become a 'jumble sale' or messy looking machine.
| TOTAL | Layer 1 | Layer 2 | Layer 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Machine | Size 1 Plush | 100 | 50 | 50 | 0 - 50 |
| Standard Machine | Size 2 Plush | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 - 20 |
| Jumbo Machine | Size 2 Plush | 60 | 30 | 30 | 0 - 30 |
| Jumbo Machine | Size 3 Plush | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 - 20 |
| Super Jumbo Machine | Size 3 Plush | 60 | 30 | 30 | 0 - 30 |
| Super Jumbo Machine | Size 4 Plush | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 - 20 |
| Giant Maxi Machine | Size 4 Plush | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 - 20 |
Claws used
| Prize Type | Preferred Claw | Other Possibility |
|---|---|---|
| S1 Plush | 3 | 5 |
| S2 Plush | 5 with or without boots | 2-3 with boots |
| S3 Plush | 15 | 5 with boots |
| S4 Plush | 9 | 15 |
| S5 Plush | 17 | 9 |
| S2 Rugby Balls | 5 | |
| S2 NBA Balls | 5 | |
| S4 Rugby Balls | 15 | |
| S4 NBA Balls | 15 | |
| Caps (loose) | 2-3 (boots) | n/a |
| Beanies | 2-3 (boots) | n/a |
| Dreadlocks (1 cable tie) | 2-3 (no boots) | n/a |
| Travel Mugs | 2-3 (boots) | n/a |