Vending machines

[johntea]

Are vending machines at train stations still being installed / used?

At Leeds for example there are quite a lot across the various platforms but I don't think a single one of them actually works, yet they have just sat there for years and years now showing out of order!

Other stations have those red ones which still do seem to be stocked up and used, but even for vending machines aren't a cheap snack these days! Some have the naff coffee machines too!

Japan seems to love a vending machine but we seem to have fallen out with them a bit!

 

[jon0844]

They do still exist. Many now take contactless card payments.

As far as I can see, they still fail to dispense products due to a pretty shoddy design (the coils) and so I would sooner starve or die of dehydration than use one.

Even these old designs should be capable of having a simple sensor to know when an item fell down successfully, but I'm sure they make a packet from people not complaining.

I tried when I was silly enough to use them and only once did I ever get a refund. The other times I had to leave a message and got no contact, and obviously didn't chase for a quid or whatever it was.

 

[175mph]

I've seen some at Hull Paragon Interchange and Grimsby Town station recently.

 

[mmh]

They do still exist. Many now take contactless card payments.

As far as I can see, they still fail to dispense products due to a pretty shoddy design (the coils) and so I would sooner starve or die of dehydration than use one.

Even these old designs should be capable of having a simple sensor to know when an item fell down successfully, but I'm sure they make a packet from people not complaining.

I tried when I was silly enough to use them and only once did I ever get a refund. The other times I had to leave a message and got no contact, and obviously didn't chase for a quid or whatever it was.

In the real world, nobody is making a packet out of unvended bars of chocolate, and for every person who's not got something out of them, there's someone else who's had two for the price of one.

 

[jon0844]

I wasn't seriously suggesting it was intentional, but Selecta don't really seem to care (or whoever operates them now) about them. They rarely restock them and don't seem in a rush to fix them when either the cash validators or card machines fail. As such, they must lose a lot of money becuase people people either can't, or won't (because they lost money before).

 

[TheSeeker]

Here in Belgium most larger stations will have several vending machines. The ones for drinks will always vend cans of beer. Up until a few years ago there were no checks, so a person of any age could buy alcohol. Then the law changed (or was actually enforced) and beer could not be bought by anyone under sixteen. Now the vending machines for drinks have a second slot where you must insert your ID card to prove you are over sixteen if you want to buy beer. I was once waiting for a train and a group of American students discovered this and one said "No F%^king way! You can buy beer in a vending machine!"

 

[jon0844]

The opposite of us going to the US and saying similar about the ease of buying guns!

 

[skyhigh]

At Leeds for example there are quite a lot across the various platforms but I don't think a single one of them actually works, yet they have just sat there for years and years now showing out of order!

I always enjoy looking at those machines - I know the bottles at the front are for display and wouldn't be vended, but who would even try when they look this bad?! Since I took this photo about 6 months ago the Diet Coke has become almost clear too...

(Image shows Fanta that has discoloured to white, and faded Coke)

 

[route101]

Usually the Selecta ones on the stations , hardly ever use them . Seen them take contactless though i worry that someone could rig the pad.

 

[Parallel]

The ones at Bridgend are well looked after and usually fully stocked. I think they are maintained by the Express Café next door rather than Selecta.

The vending machines at Cardiff Central see a fair amount of use from my observations too.

 

[sprunt]

That Fanta looks like they've put lemon Fanta in an orange Fanta bottle.

There are loads of vending machines at stations in Germany, both on the national network and on the U-Bahn stations in most places I've visited.

 

[Ih8earlies]

I always enjoy looking at those machines - I know the bottles at the front are for display and wouldn't be vended, but who would even try when they look this bad?! Since I took this photo about 6 months ago the Diet Coke has become almost clear too...
View attachment 57586
(Image shows Fanta that has discoloured to white, and faded Coke)

The machine on platform 16 has bottles of coke promoting the forthcoming 2016 European Cup tournament. (unless I'm mistaken, in which case it's for the 2012 cup!)

 

[backontrack]

I've certainly used the Selecta ones at Strood and Ashford International (old, coin-only machines), and probably a couple of others too. Station vending machines seem to be the only places that stock Cadbury's Snack Shortcake, which must be one of the most underrated chocolate bars in existence.

I always enjoy looking at those machines - I know the bottles at the front are for display and wouldn't be vended, but who would even try when they look this bad?! Since I took this photo about 6 months ago the Diet Coke has become almost clear too...
View attachment 57586
(Image shows Fanta that has discoloured to white, and faded Coke)

That Fanta looks, and probably tastes, like Orange Calpol.

 

[ess]

Remember the old Cadbury ones which they had in the 80s/90s with 5 varieties if Cadbury chocolate including a mint one?

 

[backontrack]

Remember the old Cadbury ones which they had in the 80s/90s with 5 varieties if Cadbury chocolate including a mint one?

Before my time, but a quick Google tells me that they still do make them in Australia and New Zealand (with six flavours: strawberry, orange, pineapple, coconut ice, Turkish Delight and caramel); no mint one. You can order them on Amazon if you're so inclined, as well as inventive treats that Cadbury make outside Britain.

Anyway, back to vending machines: my Dad's workplace always had a drinks one with a kind of mini-lift on an arm; you typed in the number, and the mechanical arm would lift up and the drink would be put into the lift compartment. The arm would then move it down into an area behind a little round door, which would open to reveal your drink. Now, my Dad works elsewhere; but little me still loved the novelty of that thing. I wonder if any of those machines ever turned up at stations.

 

[156443]

Hexham has them, payment can be made with contactless or cash as far as i remember having used them only a couple of times

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I always enjoy looking at those machines - I know the bottles at the front are for display and wouldn't be vended, but who would even try when they look this bad?! Since I took this photo about 6 months ago the Diet Coke has become almost clear too...
View attachment 57586
(Image shows Fanta that has discoloured to white, and faded Coke)

I recall seeing one of the machines in Leeds having its front busted open (someone must have been gagging) and a few of the bottles having been swipped. When they had the old Selecta machines someone once left in £20 as I once stuck me £1 and it came up your credit £21.50, so I went mad and vended as much stuff as possible and getting the change for what was left out of the machine.

I wonder what would happen to the machines when Northern install them at the Connect stations? Considering that some will stay unstaffed - will these machines be given the same treatment as the new Northern "videowall" ticket machines where one station had its "videowall" TVM bricked the moment it went in.

 

[johntea]

You just reminded me there was a dodgy Selecta machine on the bridge once, it seemed to have a fault with the sensor or whatever that detected a product had vended so of course being a skint student back then I took full advantage and ended up with about 3 months supply of chocolate and various other things for the price of a quid coin!

 

[Mugby]

Unfortunately the cold milk dispensing machine at Chesterfield station seems to have fallen into disuse during 2018.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Various Selecta machines at Sheffield that seem to be in regular use (not by me).

 

[gazthomas]

Here in Belgium most larger stations will have several vending machines. The ones for drinks will always vend cans of beer. Up until a few years ago there were no checks, so a person of any age could buy alcohol. Then the law changed (or was actually enforced) and beer could not be bought by anyone under sixteen. Now the vending machines for drinks have a second slot where you must insert your ID card to prove you are over sixteen if you want to buy beer. I was once waiting for a train and a group of American students discovered this and one said "No F%^king way! You can buy beer in a vending machine!"

In Japan beer is readily available in vending machines as well as whiskey based drinks

 

[urpert]

The Selecta ones in Southeasternland are reasonably well used and maintained. They are several generations behind the touchscreen wonders going in at a large number of SNCF stations though.

 

[route101]

Unfortunately the cold milk dispensing machine at Chesterfield station seems to have fallen into disuse during 2018.

Was that dispensed in cartons , cups or bottles?

 

[route101]

Before my time, but a quick Google tells me that they still do make them in Australia and New Zealand (with six flavours: strawberry, orange, pineapple, coconut ice, Turkish Delight and caramel); no mint one. You can order them on Amazon if you're so inclined, as well as inventive treats that Cadbury make outside Britain.

Anyway, back to vending machines: my Dad's workplace always had a drinks one with a kind of mini-lift on an arm; you typed in the number, and the mechanical arm would lift up and the drink would be put into the lift compartment. The arm would then move it down into an area behind a little round door, which would open to reveal your drink. Now, my Dad works elsewhere; but little me still loved the novelty of that thing. I wonder if any of those machines ever turned up at stations.

Called the Cadburys Snack in Australia , had one few weeks back , found it in shop in Glasgow.

 

[backontrack]

Called the Cadburys Snack in Australia , had one few weeks back , found it in shop in Glasgow.

Oh, that's cool! Do you remember whereabouts the shop was? If it's close to the main stations (or Scotstoun) then I might be able to try it next time I'm passing through.

 

[Mugby]

Was that dispensed in cartons , cups or bottles?

It was in plastic bottles.

 

[Matt_pool]

When I was a kid I was getting a train somewhere with my dad and we went into the gents toilets.

I saw a vending machine on the wall, studied it for a bit, then said to my dad "£1 for 3 tissues, what a rip off!".

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I recall the old Nestles (as in proper Nessuls) chocolate machines on the Northern line platforms at Elephant & Castle and how it seemed that the dispensing draw would damage the wrapper and take bits out of the bar when you pulled the bar out of the machine. Then in the early hours around 2 a.m. on nights I went up to the platform to get a bar and discovered the real reason - dozens of mice flew out of the machine in all directions. I then realised the 'damage' was gnaw marks. It helped me wean off chocolate pretty sharpish.

 

[takno]

I recall the old Nestles (as in proper Nessuls) chocolate machines on the Northern line platforms at Elephant & Castle and how it seemed that the dispensing draw would damage the wrapper and take bits out of the bar when you pulled the bar out of the machine. Then in the early hours around 2 a.m. on nights I went up to the platform to get a bar and discovered the real reason - dozens of mice flew out of the machine in all directions. I then realised the 'damage' was gnaw marks. It helped me wean off chocolate pretty sharpish.

Well that's wrecked my childhood. The Nestlé machines with the attack drawers were the only machines I ever used

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Had to use one at Gatwick Airport some time ago while on a short connection from an Up London from Brighton, to a North Downs train to Reading.
It was a welcome, nice and cold refreshing Coke!