Vending machine for workplace
Discussion
I work in a building housing a 24/7 operation made up of rolling staff to the tune of about 200 headcount in at various times.
With the best will in the world, the "tuck shop" has failed. Again.
Non/late payment. Sporadic stock levels. The people running it are struggling to make it work.
I want to help, but would find the lack of payments/dishonesty a spirit breaker and I would come to hate my colleagues.
But what if I could get hold of a cheap/used vending machine and run it myself?
How much is a machine that would have rows for snacks and a couple of rows for drinks? Can they be bought? Where from? My initial research keeps bumping up against the firms who want to rent them out to the organisation and I know they won't foot the bill as they've tried it before.
But if I was to restock it and maintain it, I don't think they would mind as it would be providing a valuable service to the staff.
Not too bothered about making a living out of it, just giving the staff a bit of snacky relief during the dark hours of the night.
With the best will in the world, the "tuck shop" has failed. Again.
Non/late payment. Sporadic stock levels. The people running it are struggling to make it work.
I want to help, but would find the lack of payments/dishonesty a spirit breaker and I would come to hate my colleagues.
But what if I could get hold of a cheap/used vending machine and run it myself?
How much is a machine that would have rows for snacks and a couple of rows for drinks? Can they be bought? Where from? My initial research keeps bumping up against the firms who want to rent them out to the organisation and I know they won't foot the bill as they've tried it before.
But if I was to restock it and maintain it, I don't think they would mind as it would be providing a valuable service to the staff.
Not too bothered about making a living out of it, just giving the staff a bit of snacky relief during the dark hours of the night.
The Gauge said:
K87 said:
Beware that employees will soon learn that if they hold the machine by the corners and rock it that they will get a free vend.
Sssshhh, don t let the cat out of the bag! 
If not just screw it to the wall with brackets.
Getting a serviced and stocked machine will mean that prices will be high.
Doing it yourself brings on the problems of your time and money being tied up. What happens when you find a new job?
With the best will in the world, people get or don't get what they deserve. I struggle to believe that grown adults can't bring in supplies themselves - my backpack is filled with multiple drinks and snacks.
Doing it yourself brings on the problems of your time and money being tied up. What happens when you find a new job?
With the best will in the world, people get or don't get what they deserve. I struggle to believe that grown adults can't bring in supplies themselves - my backpack is filled with multiple drinks and snacks.
vikingaero said:
With the best will in the world, people get or don't get what they deserve. I struggle to believe that grown adults can't bring in supplies themselves - my backpack is filled with multiple drinks and snacks.
this, definitely. Also, dont give credit, if they dont have the money then they can go without. they should try some responsibility in their lives.K87 said:
Restocking of the vending machine is included with the cleaning services contract in my office, nothing mother than cans, crisps, chocolate etc.
Beware that employees will soon learn that if they hold the machine by the corners and rock it that they will get a free vend.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_by_vending_machineBeware that employees will soon learn that if they hold the machine by the corners and rock it that they will get a free vend.
Dont.
We bought a coffee vending machine for similar reasons and it was so much agro it went in the bin after 6 months. Mainly the same members of staff complaining it had taken money and not vended.
Get a proper serviced machine, if nothing else its not your problem when it goes wrong. When it swallows someones quid do you want the hassle of going and sorting out? The machines we currently have are card only and very clever, they never mis-vend and if they do it knows and credits you!
We dont take a profit from the vending supplier so they keep prices reasonable ish.
We bought a coffee vending machine for similar reasons and it was so much agro it went in the bin after 6 months. Mainly the same members of staff complaining it had taken money and not vended.
Get a proper serviced machine, if nothing else its not your problem when it goes wrong. When it swallows someones quid do you want the hassle of going and sorting out? The machines we currently have are card only and very clever, they never mis-vend and if they do it knows and credits you!
We dont take a profit from the vending supplier so they keep prices reasonable ish.
POIDH said:
K87 said:
Restocking of the vending machine is included with the cleaning services contract in my office, nothing mother than cans, crisps, chocolate etc.
Beware that employees will soon learn that if they hold the machine by the corners and rock it that they will get a free vend.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_by_vending_machineBeware that employees will soon learn that if they hold the machine by the corners and rock it that they will get a free vend.
I felt sorry for the cleaning operatives who had to explain why there was a shortfall between takings and stock.
They were taken out in 2025 and a major coffee chain was given a licence to trade from the top floor.
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 14th January 12:30
We use a tuckshop based honesty system. It works really well until someone steals the float every now and then.
Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
I remember a case when i was a Unison Rep for staff in the Blood Service at Bentwood.
As NHS workers, the people out on the collection teams were entitled to daily subsistence allowances if they were working at a location too far away to make use of a Blood Service canteen. The staff back at base had a reasonable canteen for their use, with fresh cooked food, but one day the guys who worked night shifts pointed out that the canteen was closed while they were at work, and by rights they should be eligible for the same allowances as the mobile teams.
Management's response was to install a vending machine stocked with fizzy drinks, crisps and out of date pasties, and claim it made subsistence claims for night staff invalid.
As NHS workers, the people out on the collection teams were entitled to daily subsistence allowances if they were working at a location too far away to make use of a Blood Service canteen. The staff back at base had a reasonable canteen for their use, with fresh cooked food, but one day the guys who worked night shifts pointed out that the canteen was closed while they were at work, and by rights they should be eligible for the same allowances as the mobile teams.
Management's response was to install a vending machine stocked with fizzy drinks, crisps and out of date pasties, and claim it made subsistence claims for night staff invalid.
ChocolateFrog said:
We use a tuckshop based honesty system. It works really well until someone steals the float every now and then.
Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
Regular theft? That's crap how many employees have access? I think I'd put a sneaky camera in to catch them at it Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
ChocolateFrog said:
We use a tuckshop based honesty system. It works really well until someone steals the float every now and then.
Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
Can you not use a card reader and get rid of the cash all together, no float to steal then?Thing is it's so good, the guy running it makes pennies and buys in bulk so everything is really cheap, that whenever stuff is nicked we club together to make up the difference.
Even doing that once a year or so it's much cheaper and more convenient than any alternative.
I'd love to strangle the thief.
As above get a serviced machine.
We have one at work. It only stocks crisps, chocolates, drinks etc but is handy to grab a drink at work.
It’s not cheap but is generally cheaper than the Co op down the road. It’s card only and is pretty reliable.
We used to have a load of children’s air ambulance charity sweet boxes but they eventually got taken away because they were always short by some margin.
We have one at work. It only stocks crisps, chocolates, drinks etc but is handy to grab a drink at work.
It’s not cheap but is generally cheaper than the Co op down the road. It’s card only and is pretty reliable.
We used to have a load of children’s air ambulance charity sweet boxes but they eventually got taken away because they were always short by some margin.
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