Vendtek listed SandStar’s VRK at $5,995 on October 3, 2026 (Vendtek7), and A&M Equipment Sales listed it at $6,095, marked down from $6,195 (A&M9). SandStar publishes no model prices; its FAQ says AI smart vending machines “typically range from $3,000 to $15,000” (SandStar FAQ2).
SandStar says it has “no minimum order quantity (MOQ)” for its standard machines, so one machine is a valid order. Its AI kit is not sold separately, and it offers bulk discounts (SandStar3).
Prices by seller
| Model | Seller | Price, October 3, 2026 | Warranty the seller states |
|---|---|---|---|
| VRK | Vendtek7 | $5,995 | “5-year factory warranty”; spec list says 5-year compressor, 3-year electronics |
| VRK | A&M9 | $6,095 (was $6,195) | 5 years |
| SRK | Vendtek8 | $4,995 | 3-year factory warranty |
| Not model-specific | SandStar2 | $3,000–$15,000 range | See below |
All three prices are reseller prices. Vending Times calls Vendtek a “Michigan-based distributor” of SandStar coolers (Vending Times13); Vendtek quotes a one-week lead time, and takes a $1,500 deposit per machine (Vendtek7). A&M is in Lithonia, Georgia (A&M9). SandStar says shipping and insurance depend on location, and that its “partners and distributors collaborate with trusted third-party providers” for financing (SandStar3).
VendHub sells SandStar equipment to its members under its own name, “Verra Series by Sandstar”, with financing through APPROVE (VendHub11). VendHub says member pricing appears on each Verra product page; the link in its help article is a placeholder, and we did not find a public Verra price.
Monthly fees: the sources disagree
| Source | Monthly fee | Card processing | Recognition fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| SandStar FAQ2 | “typically $30–$60/month” platform and connectivity | “approximately 5–6% per transaction” | None |
| SandStar product page3 | “fixed monthly software subscription”, amount not published | “We don’t mark up payment processing fees” | None per transaction |
| VendHub10 (reseller) | $65 fee plus $9 terminal fee “for the hardware”; billing period not stated | 5.45% | Not listed |
VendHub says its $65 covers cellular data, 24/7 remote support, and back-end software. SandStar’s home page1 advertises “0 Product Recognition Fee”, which separates it from sellers that charge per sale for the AI; AI vending machines lists those charges.
Ask the seller for the fee schedule in writing, naming the card reader you will use, before you pay a deposit.
Payment readers and connectivity
SandStar lists POS devices from Cantaloupe, PAX, WeVend, Apriva, Nayax, and NopayN, and QR payments through Stripe (SandStar3). Its FAQ lists cards, NFC, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and QR codes, with “no cash handling” (FAQ2). EBT and age verification are not mentioned.
Every unit includes a 4G/LTE SIM, and Wi-Fi is supported (FAQ2). SandStar says operators can request a payout at any time with no minimum threshold (FAQ2).
How it charges
SandStar’s FAQ describes recognition by built-in cameras, with new products added by photographing them in the app: “no barcodes, no RFID tags” (FAQ2). Its pages do not mention weight sensors. SandStar claims “99%+ accuracy”, over 1,500,000 SKUs trained, and recognition and checkout “in just 10 seconds” (SandStar3).
When a product is misidentified, SandStar says the operator gets a notification and “can correct the order within seconds — before any charge is finalized” (FAQ2). The VRK has four cameras, and SandStar says it responds to a blocked camera with a lit handle and a sound alert (press release5). Its FAQ says there is “no facial recognition” (FAQ2).
SandStar does not publish whether, or how much, it holds on the shopper’s card before the door opens. Pre-authorization holds compares the amounts other platforms use.
VRK specs
| Spec | A&M9 | AVS12 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 26.8 × 28.8 × 82.60 in | 81.6 H × 31.7 W × 28.7 D in |
| Weight | 200.94 lb | 367 lb |
| Power | Not listed | Not listed |
| Cameras | Four HD | Four |
| Capacity | 378 drinks | Not listed |
| Screen | Embedded video screen | Not listed |
The two resellers’ weights and widths do not match; ask the seller for SandStar’s spec sheet. Vending Times offers a VRK spec sheet as a download behind a sign-up form. SandStar’s own site says only that the machine plugs into a “standard outlet” (FAQ2). The VRK fact sheet on Vending Times describes a six-shelf frame with quick-disconnect compressors and an editable real-time cart (Vending Times6). Vendtek’s VRK and SRK listings could not be checked for specs, so their figures are left out here.
Wittern’s Spectra Pro is listed at 81.6 × 31.7 × 28.7 in and 367.07 lb crated, the size and weight AVS gives for the VRK (Vending.com14), and the Spectra Launch has four cameras and a 378-drink capacity, the figure A&M gives (Vending.com15). Neither company says whether the machines share hardware. Wittern Spectra covers that machine.
Warranty: the sources disagree
- SandStar home page: “a 5-year warranty with 24/7 support” (SandStar1).
- SandStar AI vending page: “3-7 years of warranty coverage” (SandStar3).
- SandStar buyer’s guide PDF: “five years of comprehensive coverage” (PDF4).
- SandStar FAQ: a manufacturer’s hardware warranty “covering defects in materials and workmanship”, no term given, with extended warranty and annual service plans for sale (FAQ2).
- SandStar’s VRK press release: “Every VRK is backed by a 5-year warranty” (Vending Times5).
- Vendtek: VRK “5-Year Compressor Warranty, 3-Year Electronics” (Vendtek7); SRK “3-Year Factory Warranty” (Vendtek8).
- VendHub: no term; warranty, repair, and replacement “are handled by our equipment partner” (VendHub11).
Get the warranty in writing for the model you buy, with what it says about electronics, labor, and on-site repair. SandStar says on-site technician dispatch is available for hardware faults and that its support team works 24/7 (FAQ2).
The company
SandStar’s VRK press release is datelined Charlotte, North Carolina, February 24, 2026, and says the VRK would reach the US and Canada on March 1, 2026, with “24/7 US-based support” (Vending Times5). Its website lists +1 704-503-9046 for North America and Europe, and the footer copyright belongs to 图灵通诺（北京）科技有限公司, a Beijing company (SandStar1).
SandStar’s buyer’s guide says its machines are NAMA certified, offer integration with “Vendsysc and Seeds” (SandStar’s spelling), and use coolers “from American and European brands” (PDF4). It does not say where the machines are assembled.
What SandStar does not publish
- A price for any model.
- The exact monthly fee, or how it changes with the card reader.
- The pre-authorization amount.
- Power draw, on its own site.
- Where machines are built.
- A warranty term on its FAQ.
We have not run a SandStar machine. Smart coolers compared puts SandStar alongside the other brands, and Haha vending machines has Haha’s prices and fees for comparison.
