Be a Prudent Investor Obviously you should check out as carefully as you can the information furnished from a promoter. Ask to speak to other operators. Both the honorable and the unscrupulous promoters will usually have selected names for reference purposes. The problem is that some of the unscrupulous promoters give names of people who will answer all of your questions exactly the way the promoter wants them answered, even if the answers are not true. Some of these "references" are not even in the business. Try to be a prudent investor and check out a variety of sources to get a perspective on the industry. A number of our manufacturers, suppliers and distributors advertise regularly in Vending Times and Automatic Merchandiser, trade journals which service the entire vending industry. The phone number of Vending Times is (212) 302-4700 and the phone number of Automatic Merchandiser is (414) 563-1619. Our Association does not carry advertising from its members. We publish a directory of our members and distribute this list annually to members in good standing. The membership list is only sent to members. In any event, do not allow yourself to be pressured by the salesmen who invariably push for an immediate decision which leaves you little or no opportunity to do your research. INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU INVEST! If you already have lost money due to an unscrupulous promoter, we would like to know about it. In 1997, the NBVA approved an Amendment to its Constitution and By-Laws to ban promoters who disseminate false or misleading financial information. We cannot get your money back, but we may be able to protect others. Contact your Attorney General if you believe you are a fraud victim. Some Attorneys General actively pursue promoters to force them out of business.