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If you're tired of your own job, here's something to think about: from now through the holidays, thousands of people are starting a new one, in buildings that weren't built to feed them. Every one of them takes a break.
The number
125,000. That's how many seasonal workers UPS brought on for the 2024 holidays, according to The Penny Hoarder's roundup of holiday hiring. The same roundup says Amazon is raising hourly pay for seasonal workers to at least $21, and Michaels plans to hire more than 10,000 seasonal workers.
Distribution centers, sort hubs and store back rooms get crowded during peak season. A break room sized for the regular crew now has to feed more people, often across extra shifts.
What's moving in vending
Shoppers are careful, not gone. Americans expect to spend an average of $818 on the holidays, per the Penny Hoarder survey in that same roundup, and Cantaloupe's 2026 report describes buyers as more value-conscious but still spending. Fair prices and full basics win.
Card buyers spend more per visit. The average cashless vending purchase was $2.45 in 2025 against $1.57 for cash, according to the same Cantaloupe report.
Warehouses can be signal traps. Metal, thick walls and the machine cabinet itself can weaken a cellular card reader, Vending Times reports. Check the signal where the machine will actually stand.
What to do about it
Peak season is when a facility manager feels the break room problem most. That makes it a good time to start the conversation, even if the machine goes in after the rush. A manager who remembers you showed up when it was hard is a manager who calls you back.
For a checklist on getting a route ready for the busiest weeks of the year, this holiday prep guide is the longer read.
Do this today
Search a job board for "seasonal warehouse" in your area and list the employers.
Circle the buildings within 20 minutes of home.
Call one and ask who handles the break room.
When the manager says "send me something"
A facility manager in peak season has no time for a long pitch. They want a one-page agreement they can hand to the owner. The Vending Location Playbook ($47, one-time) has the walk-in script, the answers to the objections you'll hear, and the placement agreement to leave behind. All three kits together are $69 in the Get Started Bundle.
Sources: The Penny Hoarder via Yahoo Finance, Cantaloupe 2026 Micropayment Trends Report, Vending Times.
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