The Vendera Core sold for $3,695 to $3,995 at four US resellers on October 3, 2026 (D&S Vending6, GeniusVend12). Three of them list a $40 monthly fee and 5.85% processing. GeniusVend lists $43 a month and 5.85% plus $0.22 per transaction.
Vendera publishes a Core spec sheet3 (model LC-510, dated May 2026): 28.94 × 28.35 × 78.66 in, 222.7 lb, 135 gallons, 6 + 1 shelves, 110 V / 60 Hz, R290 refrigerant, and 32°F to 71.6°F. It publishes no prices, fees, or warranty terms. Those figures come from resellers, and the resellers also disagree with each other on specs.
The company
Vendera’s CEO and founder is Kenneth Lin, a 2019 graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, who is based in Dallas. In a UVA Today article dated July 15, 20251, Lin said Vendera had 288 machines in the field and around 500 in inventory, and that the cooler debuted at a candy factory in Dallas in 2023. The article puts the team at 28 people. We found no newer count.
GeniusVend’s listing says the Core is “Manufactured by Vendera in China” and “Ships from the USA” (GeniusVend12).
How it charges
A card or phone tap unlocks the door. Cameras then track what comes off the shelves. GeniusVend’s spec table lists three cameras: two anti-fog cameras with AI object detection at the top, and a snapshot camera in the door. Its description says the door camera captures a full inventory image every four hours (GeniusVend12). Its FAQ says Vendera uses “smart cameras and AI, not weight sensors or buttons”. D&S describes “internal cameras and sensors” and “multi-POV cameras” (D&S6).
Vendera claims 99.5% accuracy on its site2 and spec sheet3, and GeniusVend 99%. Neither publishes test data. None of the four resellers publishes the pre-authorization amount or explains how a sale the cameras cannot read gets charged. How smart coolers detect items covers where camera systems go wrong.
Prices by reseller
| Reseller | Core price | Shown as | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&M Equipment Sales5, Lithonia, Georgia | $3,795 | Sale price; regular $4,095 | Not stated |
| D&S Vending6, Cleveland, Ohio | $3,695 | Price | By truck; freight quoted after you order |
| Atlantic Smart Vending11 | $3,695 | “Limited Time”; regularly $3,995. Atlantic does not name the model; its listed dimensions match the Core | “Taxes & shipping not included” |
| GeniusVend12, Boise, Idaho | $3,995 | Price | Free to the mainland US; arrives 5–9 days after order |
Prices on October 3, 2026. Atlantic also offers a lease “from $149 /mo”, subject to credit approval, and does not publish the term or the total cost (Atlantic11). GeniusVend offers Shop Pay financing and a price match.
D&S is the only reseller we found listing other Vendera models7. It applies the same fees and warranty to all four:
| Model | D&S price | What D&S lists |
|---|---|---|
| Core VD-5S, single door | $3,695 | Specs in the table below |
| Arctic LD-315 smart freezer8 | $4,195 | No specs |
| Apex LC605, single door9 | $5,195 | 24.7-inch display, 160 gal, 32–77°F |
| Atlas C-10, double door10 | $6,495 | 49.2 × 26 × 79.9 in, 260 gal, 10 shelves, 368.17 lb |
Fees by reseller
| Reseller | Monthly | Processing | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&M5 | $40 | 5.85% | Not listed |
| D&S6 | $40, covering internet, AI software, the app, and Vendera’s VMS | 5.85% on all transactions | Not listed |
| Atlantic11 | $40 software subscription | 5.85% | “Image Processing: Free” |
| GeniusVend12 | $43, covering the operator app, remote monitoring, SIM and Wi-Fi connectivity, unlimited operator seats | 5.85% + $0.22 per transaction | Not listed |
On $500 of monthly sales across 200 purchases, the $40 plan costs $40 plus $29.25 processing: $69.25. GeniusVend’s figures add $3 to the monthly fee and $44 in per-transaction fees, for $116.25. The $0.22 weighs more the smaller your average sale, so ask GeniusVend in writing whether it is Vendera’s fee or its own. What $500 a month in sales costs runs the same month through other platforms.
Atlantic’s FAQ says “We do not accept gift or prepaid cards”, and names Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay (Atlantic11). D&S adds corporate accounts and says “No cash” (D&S6). Age verification and EBT are not published by any of the four.
Specs differ by reseller
| Spec | Vendera spec sheet3 | A&M5 | D&S6 | Atlantic11 | GeniusVend12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior | 28.94 W × 28.35 D × 78.66 H in | 29.3 W × 28.4 D × 78.7 H in | 28.4 × 29.3 × 78.7 in | 28.4 × 29.3 × 78.7 in | 23.85 W × 29.33 D × 78.15 H in |
| Interior | Not listed | Not listed | 24.5 × 21.8 × 58.5 in | 24.5 × 21.8 × 58.5 in | Not listed |
| Weight | 222.7 lb | 275 lb approx. | Not listed | Not listed | 222.7 lb |
| Capacity | 135 gal | 18 cu ft | 510 L net, 540 L gross | Not listed | 300+ drinks |
| Shelves | 6 + 1 | 5 + 1 | 5 + 1 | Not listed | 6 adjustable, 6 gravity pushers |
| Power | 110 V / 60 Hz | 115 VAC | 110 V / 60 Hz | Not listed | 110 V / 60 Hz |
| Temperature | 32–71.6°F | Not listed | 32–50°F | Not listed | 32–50°F |
| Connectivity | Cellular | Not listed | SIM on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile | Not listed | Cellular |
GeniusVend’s 222.7 lb matches Vendera’s sheet; A&M’s 275 lb is the outlier. Vendera’s own sheet gives the width as 28.94 inches in its dimensions and 28.35 inches in its doorway note, against the 29.3 inches A&M and D&S list and GeniusVend’s 23.85. GeniusVend’s description says “five adjustable shelves” while its spec table says six. D&S’s 510-litre net capacity works out to 18 cu ft, matching A&M. Get the dimensions from your seller in writing before you measure a doorway.
A&M lists the Core as “Approved for indoor use only” (A&M5).
Warranty by reseller
| Reseller | Parts | Compressor | Labor | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&M5 | “1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty” | Not listed separately | Not stated | Free phone support, Monday to Friday |
| D&S6 | 2 years | 5 years | Not stated | Not stated |
| Atlantic11 | 1 year from purchase | Not listed separately | Not stated | “Lifetime support” through the operator app’s portal |
| GeniusVend12 | 2 years | 5 years in the description; 3 years in the spec note and fine print | “Labor not included” | Remote support in the Vendera Operator App |
GeniusVend also sells an ExtendAssure extended warranty of two or four years that starts when the manufacturer’s warranty ends. Its terms exclude accidental damage and “Commercial or rental use, unless the product was purchased specifically for that purpose”. The product page does not show its price. Ask whichever seller you buy from to put the parts, compressor, and labor terms in writing.
“Zero shrinkage”
A&M lists “No inventory shrinkage” among the Core’s features (A&M5). Atlantic’s page says “No shrinkage” and “Zero Shrinkage”, and its revenue calculator defaults to a 70% increase with the note “Results vary” (Atlantic11). Neither gives a shrink rate or a source. Treat both as marketing. AI vending machines covers what camera coolers miss.
Reviews
We found no independent operator reviews of Vendera. Vendera’s own site2 shows three operator testimonials it selected. GeniusVend’s Core page shows no reviews (GeniusVend12). D&S shows a single five-star rating with no written review (D&S6).
Smart coolers compared puts the Core alongside Haha, Micromart, 365, and the other brands. Haha vending machines covers Haha’s coolers, which GeniusVend also sells4.
