How unlocks work: free credits, $5 unlocks, and package deals
Every listing on VendingBay has two layers. Anyone can browse the public layer — asset type, photos, headline revenue range, and the general area. The details you need to actually judge a machine stay gated until you unlock the listing.
This article explains what unlocking costs, what it gives you, and how it works on package deals.
What an unlock gives you
Unlocking a listing reveals:
- Revenue proof — the actual screenshots the seller uploaded, not just a range
- Exact location — the specific site, not just the planning area
- Machine condition and operating details — service history, hours, restocking arrangements
- Reason for sale
- Seller contact and direct messaging — you can message the seller straight away
There is no separate "connect fee". Once a listing is unlocked, contacting the seller is included.
What it costs
- Your first 3 unlocks are free. Every account starts with 3 free unlock credits. Nothing is charged and no card is needed.
- After that, each unlock is a flat $5.
Your remaining free credits are shown before you confirm, so you always know whether you are spending a credit or paying.
Package deals
A package deal is one listing that bundles several machines, each at its own location. You do not have to take the whole bundle. When you unlock a package, you choose:
- A single location — $5 (or one free credit). You unlock just that machine's details.
- The whole package — $5 per location with a 10% discount applied to the total.
So a 6-location package unlocked in full is 6 x $5 = $30, less 10% = $27.
Each location you unlock counts as one unlock. Unlocking three locations in a package uses three free credits, the same as unlocking three individual listings.
Where to find what you have unlocked
Everything you have unlocked lives in Dashboard → Unlocked Listings, permanently. Unlocks do not expire, and you are never charged twice for the same listing or location.
Receipts for paid unlocks are in Dashboard → Payment History.
Common questions
Does unlocking commit me to buying? No. An unlock only buys you access to the information and a line to the seller. Buying is a separate step with its own escrow protection.
Do I get a refund if the listing turns out to be a dud? Unlock fees are not refundable as a matter of course, because the information is delivered immediately. But if a listing turns out to be misleading — falsified revenue proof, a machine that does not exist, an unreachable seller — report it and we will review it. See our article on refunds, disputes, and reporting a listing.
The listing sold before I could act. Do I lose the unlock? The unlock stays on your account and the details stay visible, but the machine is no longer available. We do not refund unlocks on sold listings, so it is worth acting quickly on listings you are serious about.
I was charged but the listing did not unlock. Check Dashboard → Payment History first. If the payment shows there but the listing is still locked, contact us with the payment reference and we will fix it manually.
Still stuck? Get in touch and we will help.