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Vending
machines date all the way to 215 BC, where Egyptians
used a coin-operated device to obtain holy water. It’s
said that in the United States, vending machines
began in 1888, and the first company who put their product
into gum dispensing machines was the Adams Gum Company.
Since then, consumers purchased more than a gumball, and
almost 50 percent of purchases are beverages or snacks
(candy bars, candy, chips, etc.)
NAMA, (the National Automatic Merchandising Association),
helps vendors, manufacturers and suppliers obtain up-to-date
information about vending and has expo’s to attend
to see the latest in vending machine
technology.
A vending machine is defined as a machine
that sells all types of refreshments and miscellaneous
items in which you pay some change and choose which item
you desire. Vending machines usually
have a panel of letters and numbers and you hit a button
for your selection, which is clearly visible below the
items inside the vending machine. As technology has advanced,
however, and individuals are using plastic credit cards
and debit cards, and usually have small bills, vendors
are creating vending machines that accept all forms of
payment to further entice the consumer.
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There are many
types of vending machines nowadays: Candy
vending machines that sell candy bars, bulk candy,
Runts candy, Skittles or even Hot Tamales; gumball
vending machines that sell assorted gumballs, gourmet
gumballs, spooky eye gumballs or even sugar free gumballs;
coffee vending machines; beverage vending machines;
snack vending machines; pizza vending machines; condom vending
machines; cigarette vending machines; DVD and music vending
machines; sticker vending machines; and toy vending machines.
The list really can go on and on as machines are becoming
the new salesperson and we reply more upon machines to feed
us and provide us what we need on a daily basis.
No matter where you go, chances are you will come across
a vending machine of some type. Vending
machines are carefully and strategically placed based on
consumer needs, and top brand companies, such as Pepsi and
Coca-Cola, pay the big bucks for exclusive placement of
their products in universities, schools and stadiums. Normally,
a soda vending machine is right beside
or not far from a candy vending machine
or snack vending machine because the average
consumer will quickly and unconsciously associate hunger
pangs with a salty snack and cold soda or fruit drink. There
are now even dual vending machines or triple
vending machines with both candy and soda products
in one.
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The future for
some who is interested in purchasing a vending machine
or beginning a vending machine company
is limitless. To accommodate demand and the constant tick-tocking
of the clock (where time is money), vending machines
are improving as well – in functionality, efficiency,
and maintenance. Eventually, there will be cashless purchasing
and consumers will be able to get what they need by selecting
and paying virtually on a twenty-second cell phone call.
Meanwhile, date transmission advancements will allow the
vending machine itself, not a technician,
to adjust in price by peak hours and promotional runs. The
entire vision of vending machine owners
is to provide the best and most popular products while saving
consumers (and the vendors themselves) time and money. With
that being said, vending machines will
be growing and taking over jobs that normally we’d
do on our own, with more to offer consumers.
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