Message from discussion Choc off

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From: "Chris Read" <chris...@btinternet.com>
Newsgroups: uk.transport.london,uk.railway
Subject: Choc off
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC)
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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.)