Your vending machine is SO 2010...

Hmm. Sounds gimmicky to me. The fact that they had to make a video to teach people how to use it means it will probably never get used. Certain things people will learn to use, but a vending machine? Sounds complicated, especially if all I want is a quick drink. I assume these are new vending machines or am I getting something wrong and this is a website you go to?
 
Kind of interesting, but I think this is terrible marketing. It works under the assumption that soda is a very important emotional component of people's lives; it's not. When people go to a vending machine it's because they want something to drink, usually quickly. Maybe some caffeine to help the day. That's it. When people see a touch screen covered in obvious marketing and sales attempts, they'll move on to the soda vendor a foot away that just requires a couple of buttons. Then there's the usual rule, more complicated technology means more things can break and more specialization is needed to repair it. This is an example of buzzwords being the final say in decision making- right now it's 'social networking' and 'new media'.
 
On the flip side, though, it's flashy! I always choose the vending machine with the glass front and the arm that you can see going to pick the drinks up. It's the same price, and you get a free show!
 
Sounds like a solution in search of a problem.

While I doubt it will be very popular, at least it probably won't offend consumers as much as variable pricing based on the weather!

In a nutshell, Coke thought it would be a good idea to charge more for soda when it was crowded and hot, and charge less when it was cold and less crowded.

The "Coke is going to try this" article from 1999
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/28/business/variable-price-coke-machine-being-tested.html

The "Remember that bad idea a few years ago that didn't work?" article from 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/27/business/27consuming.html
 
I agree with flashy. I stopped at a rest stop on I80 a while back, it was the nicest one I've ever been to. I got ice cream just because I wanted to see what it did- and it did not disappoint. A freezer box, just like you see in your local 7-11, opened to reveal ice cream, and this mechanical arm with a vacuum on the end picked it up and delivered it. Pretty awesome. These machines also had some detection where it knew when the order didn't work; so when my pretzels got stuck (because the glass was too thick to leave room), I was able to press the coin return and it knew. Plus 'Big Brother Surveillance' had cameras there, which is pretty cool.

For this one, I'd probably mess with the screen if I saw it, but not much beyond that.
 
Cassius said:
These machines also had some detection where it knew when the order didn't work; so when my pretzels got stuck (because the glass was too thick to leave room), I was able to press the coin return and it knew.
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Yeah! My drink didn't dispense on the glass front vending machine, and I was like, "Ah, crap!" Then it gave me my money back to try again! I was so excited. Seriously. I was WAY too excited about it. I guess it stems from my irrational fear that one day, while buying chips or a snack from the regular vending machine, it will not drop. And I'll stand there at a crossroads. If I walk away, the machine will have my money AND my snack. If I try to shake the machine, the 40+ people in the break room will shake their heads at me in disbelief that a corporate employee would do something so terrible to an inanimate object. Hmmm ... If I can just slap a mustache on that vending machine, I very well may have my VillainFest entry.
 
I'm still waiting for Pepsi to do something really cool...

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This is exactly why I drink water. Can't remember how long it's been since I had a soda. I feel considerably better since I stopped the soda habit too. Better health, more money in my pocket, and I don't have to put up with crap marketing like this. What's not to like?
 
Bruce Watson said:
This is exactly why I drink water. Can't remember how long it's been since I had a soda. I feel considerably better since I stopped the soda habit too. Better health, more money in my pocket, and I don't have to put up with crap marketing like this. What's not to like?
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You're absolutely right! When I was playing soccer, our coach had us eliminate all soda. I did, and I felt so much better. I need to get back into that habit. I drink at least 2 a day currently. And I KNOW it's bad for me.
 
Kept touching the monitor to choose products. Didn't work. Disappointed. No Pepsi for Doc. So disillusioned now.
 
regular vending machine = 4.3 seconds
New Pepsi vending = 12 seconds. assuming you pressed the right buttons.

Conclusion: more electricity wasted. :)
 
I don't drink soda, either, and I'm much better for it. I've even managed to not have a caffeine addiction. I do take caffeine pills occasionally, but it's rare. It really makes the whole experience of buying sodas from vending machines seem less worth it, but when they come out with touchscreens... how could I possibly resist? I just feel sorry for housekeeping, since they have to take out the trash packed with full soda bottles I didn't actually want.
 
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