Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know why? My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased trading.
The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years (remembering childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines were programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in three attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have been good.
Chris
(ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now the only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
>Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube >platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know why?
I don't but I intend to ask at work on Monday. I haven't seen any announcements.
>My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased >trading.
As it is Cadburys that service and stock them I think we'd have heard if they'd gone bust!
There could be a huge range of issues as to why every machine has had to be switched off. I'm not aware that the drinks machines - part of the same contract - have been switched off so perhaps there is a specific issue with the chocolate machines themselves. I'll see if I can an answer on Monday. -- Paul C
> Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube > platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know why? > My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased > trading. > The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that > the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years (remembering > childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines were > programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in three > attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have been > good. > Chris > (ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now the > only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
I think many are operated by Cadbury who I believe have not ceased trading.
Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
Maybe the machines are being replaced, maybe...
-- Helen D. Vecht: helenve...@zetnet.co.uk Edgware.
Chris Read wrote: > The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is > that the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years > (remembering childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil > me), the machines were programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense > the product' for one in three attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, > but the profit margins must have been good.
35 years ago, I knew of a vending machine that was rather generous from time to time. It just dispensed ordinary chocolate bars. However, it was stuck on a wall in such a position as to get the full afternoon sun in midsummer. This, of course, meant that the chocolate melted. It also meant that when your money had gone in the slot and you pulled the tray out, two melted bars occupied the space of one solid bar. -- http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p12598512.html (37 219 and 37 220 at Gloucester Central, 8 Jun 1985)
>> Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube >> platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know >> why? >> My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased >> trading.
>> The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that >> the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years (remembering >> childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines >> were >> programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in >> three >> attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have >> been >> good.
>> Chris
>> (ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now >> the >> only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
> I think many are operated by Cadbury who I believe have not ceased > trading.
> Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost > money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
> Maybe the machines are being replaced, maybe...
Perhaps they think that they are a terriorist risk!
> Chris Read wrote: >> The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is >> that the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years >> (remembering childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil >> me), the machines were programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense >> the product' for one in three attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, >> but the profit margins must have been good.
> 35 years ago, I knew of a vending machine that was rather generous from > time to time. It just dispensed ordinary chocolate bars. However, it was > stuck on a wall in such a position as to get the full afternoon sun in > midsummer. This, of course, meant that the chocolate melted. It also > meant that when your money had gone in the slot and you pulled the tray > out, two melted bars occupied the space of one solid bar. > -- > http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p12598512.html > (37 219 and 37 220 at Gloucester Central, 8 Jun 1985)
We had one about the same time that was very generous once and didnt ask for any money. To a bunch of 13 yr olds this was a delight. A week later we all had to receive a questioning and lecture from 2 detectives at our local police station.
It must have been a socially well-connected machine. Simon
>>> Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube >>> platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know >>> why? >>> My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has >>> ceased >>> trading.
>>> The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is >>> that >>> the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years >>> (remembering >>> childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines >>> were >>> programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in >>> three >>> attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have >>> been >>> good.
>>> Chris
>>> (ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now >>> the >>> only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
>> I think many are operated by Cadbury who I believe have not ceased >> trading.
>> Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost >> money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
>> Maybe the machines are being replaced, maybe...
> Perhaps they think that they are a terriorist risk!
> tim
Funnily enough, I was looking forward to a choccy bar at Bristol late last night ( delayed because the `Murco' split between Wickwar & Charfield ) and strangely ALL the vending machines have been removed.
Helen Deborah Vecht wrote: > "Chris Read" <chris...@btinternet.com>typed
> > Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube > > platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know why? > > My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased > > trading.
> > The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that > > the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years (remembering > > childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines were > > programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in three > > attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have been > > good.
> > Chris
> > (ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now the > > only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
> I think many are operated by Cadbury who I believe have not ceased trading.
> Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost > money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
> Maybe the machines are being replaced, maybe...
My experience is that Cadburys deny any involvement with the machines, it is just their products that are in them. Also, the phone number is a paid one and charges you for waiting but isn't answered.
(The first in answer to a sarcastic letter from me about the legality of placing such tempting gambling machines in places where young children are allowed.)
Both these things may have changed, but the history of the machines is so bad that I wouldn't dream of touching one.
On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read"
<chris...@btinternet.com> wrote: >The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that >the machines have become *too* reliable.
Funny that. I gave up using them due to money just being swallowed. As recently as a couple of weeks ago, I saw a couple of people having the smae problem (at Oxford Circus I think) and I took to advising people not to put their money in.
The occasional Coke machines are still working, though.
Helen Deborah Vecht wrote: > Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost > money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
They've always been pretty good with me - I think my failure rate on those chocolate machines is probably around 90%.
Taking the best part of 2-3 minutes to vend is a bit of an evil trick though - you do have to hope the arrival times are reasonably accurate!
Does that *09# trick still work? I *think* it was that anyway, used to come back with "EVERYTHING OK!" on the machines...
-- Joel Rowbottom, Chief Bespectacled Village Idiot @ Fotopic.Net 18M+ photos :: 215+ countries :: Free gallery at http://fotopic.net Fotopic 5th Birthday Offer - get an upgrade to Fotopic Plus for a fiver! See http://fotopic.net/about/birthday.php for more info!
-- Joel Rowbottom, Chief Bespectacled Village Idiot @ Fotopic.Net 18M+ photos :: 215+ countries :: Free gallery at http://fotopic.net FotopicPlus for a fiver - upgrade before 16th Feb and get it cheap! Special birthday offer: http://fotopic.net/about/birthday.php
>> Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube >> platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know >> why? >> My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased >> trading.
>> The problem with the present business model for vending machines, is that >> the machines have become *too* reliable. Going back 20 years (remembering >> childhood trips with grandparents who liked to spoil me), the machines >> were >> programmed to 'eat the money but not dispense the product' for one in >> three >> attempts. It was like a cruel lottery, but the profit margins must have >> been >> good.
>> Chris
>> (ps on a choccy theme, Whistlestop, at various London terminals, are now >> the >> only stockists I can find for the elusive plain chocolate Bounty bar.)
> I think many are operated by Cadbury who I believe have not ceased > trading.
> Theye are also good about sending refunds if you report having lost > money. 0800 223879 is the number to ring.
> Maybe the machines are being replaced, maybe...
Most are owned by Cadbury Schweppes. They tried to persuade me to have Coke & chocolate machines on my stations when I was a Station Manager. I turned them down because I thought the booking office staff had enough to deal with without fending off endless complaints from people who lost money in the machines. Call me a cynic if you want.
"John Rowland" <jo...@journeyflow.spamspam.demon.co.uk> wrote: > I don't get the gag in the subject line.... why isn't the thread called > "Chocs away"?
Because if I could come up with witty, relevant thread titles, I'd be working for a tabloid newspaper and not posting to newsgroups.
> My experience is that Cadburys deny any involvement with the machines, > it is just their products that are in them. Also, the phone number is > a paid one and charges you for waiting but isn't answered. > (The first in answer to a sarcastic letter from me about the legality > of placing such tempting gambling machines in places where young > children are allowed.) > Both these things may have changed, but the history of the machines is > so bad that I wouldn't dream of touching one.
0800 is usually free from a landline isn't it?
-- Helen D. Vecht: helenve...@zetnet.co.uk Edgware.
Helen Deborah Vecht wrote: > "MIG" <googles...@doreenbird.co.uk>typed
> > My experience is that Cadburys deny any involvement with the machines, > > it is just their products that are in them. Also, the phone number is > > a paid one and charges you for waiting but isn't answered.
> > (The first in answer to a sarcastic letter from me about the legality > > of placing such tempting gambling machines in places where young > > children are allowed.)
> > Both these things may have changed, but the history of the machines is > > so bad that I wouldn't dream of touching one.
> 0800 is usually free from a landline isn't it?
There wasn't an 0800 number last time I was scammed, nor was there an email address.
This may all have changed, because it's been a very long time since I would have dreamed of touching one.
In message <1139703252.612316.168...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>, MIG <googles...@doreenbird.co.uk> writes
>(The first in answer to a sarcastic letter from me about the legality >of placing such tempting gambling machines in places where young >children are allowed.)
It may be irritating when you have children in tow but I suspect there's nothing actually *illegal* about placing them where children might be. :-)) If there was, then I can't see chocolate sales being allowed anywhere except some pubs, betting shops, night clubs and casinos!
In message <eposu1pdd2tf4vmcc1sqhlvg63t7ei7...@4ax.com>, Paul Corfield <aoo...@dsl.pipex.com> writes
>As it is Cadburys that service and stock them I think we'd have heard if >they'd gone bust!
We've just driven home past the works at Bournville. I'm happy to report - in my capacity as West Midlands Correspondent for uk.transport.london! - that they're still in business! :-) -- Ian Jelf, MITG Birmingham, UK
Ian Jelf wrote: > In message <1139703252.612316.168...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>, MIG > <googles...@doreenbird.co.uk> writes > >(The first in answer to a sarcastic letter from me about the legality > >of placing such tempting gambling machines in places where young > >children are allowed.)
> It may be irritating when you have children in tow but I suspect there's > nothing actually *illegal* about placing them where children might be. > :-)) If there was, then I can't see chocolate sales being allowed > anywhere except some pubs, betting shops, night clubs and casinos!
I think that my sarcastic analogy was that these machines made stations into a gambling arcade, where there would normally be an age limit. Also, that the use chocolate was particularly targeting children as potential gamblers.
>Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube >platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone know why? >My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased >trading.
The one at Northfields Eastbound platforms is still working. The phone number on it is 0800.
> On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read" > <chris...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> >Has anyone else noticed, *all* of the chocolate vending machines on Tube > >platforms, certainly in zone 1, have been taken out of use. Anyone > >know why? > >My best guess is that the company which services/restocks them has ceased > >trading. > The one at Northfields Eastbound platforms is still working. The phone > number on it is 0800.
0800 CADBURY (2232879) to be precise.
-- Helen D. Vecht: helenve...@zetnet.co.uk Edgware.
Chris Read wrote: > "John Rowland" <jo...@journeyflow.spamspam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> I don't get the gag in the subject line.... why isn't the thread >> called "Chocs away"?
> Because if I could come up with witty, relevant thread titles, I'd be > working for a tabloid newspaper and not posting to newsgroups.
If you look in the other thread on this topic, in u.t.l, originally titled "Underground chocolate machines" , you'll see that I have already changed it as John suggests ;-)
|
