Drives You Round The Vend

(The “employee” in this story is a vending machine, but my experience with it certainly left me feeling like a customer in a NAW story! It’s a hot afternoon and I’m feeling thirsty, so I stop by one of the vending machines in the university building I’m at. One of my favorites is available, but the price isn’t displayed, so I push it.)

Vending Machine: “$1.75”

(I have change, so first I put a dollar in.)

Vending Machine: “$1.00”

(I put a quarter in.)

Vending Machine: “$1.00”

(I’m a little confused, but I put two more quarters in.)

Vending Machine: “$1.00”

(I push the COIN RETURN button. The vending machine gives me back the three quarters I put in, but not the dollar. I put in another dollar bill instead.)

Vending Machine: “$2.00”

(I push the drink I wanted again.)

Vending Machine: “SOLD OUT. Please select another drink or push the COIN RETURN button.”

Me: “Oh, come on! You didn’t tell me that until AFTER I put money in?”

(I know that the machine won’t give me my money back if I push the COIN RETURN button, so I find another drink I like and push it.)

Vending Machine: “SOLD OUT. Please select another drink or push the COIN RETURN button.”

(Those are the only two beverages available that I know I like. Defeated, I push a third that I don’t really like, and the machine dispenses it without problem. It also gives me my $0.25 change… in the form of two dimes and a nickel.)