Vending machine, snacks (Crane 173) ID:177
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Type | Snack machine |
Make/Model | Crane 173 |
Serial number | ??? |
Original owner | Protospace |
Loan status | |
Arrival date | |
Location | Kitchen |
Functional status | Functional |
Usage permissions | Everyone |
Certification | None |
Wiki-ID | 177 |
Label | 1.0" 1.5" 2.0" |
Specs
- PosiVend™ guaranteed delivery system
- Product capacity up to 672 items
- Free-vend, cash, credit or debit card capable
- Continuous price rolls permit quick changes of product pricing
- Upgraded to accept Protocoin via member RFID cards with Protospace Space-Vend the Cashless Vending MDB Controller Mk. IV: Vend harder.
Usage
⚠ Caution: Never shake, rock, or tip the vending machine. It weighs a lot more than you, and you will be hurt or killed when it lands on you. ⚠
You won't get free product, and if it's jammed, someone with a key can make it right. Do not die for a bag of chips. |
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Cash (Cold hard coinage)
Short Version:
Insert coin(s), make selection, get product.
Longer Bikeshed Version:
- Insert coins to add sufficient credit.
- At any point press the coin return to end the transaction and receive a refund for any credit.
- Make a selection
- If sufficient credit, attempt vend:
- If laser break-beam is triggered, vend assumed successful, transaction finalized and change provided as necessary.
- If laser break-beam is NOT triggered, mark selection sold out, Goto 2.
- Profit?
Protocoin (using member RFID card)
Short Version:
Tap member card, make selection, get product.
Longer Bikeshed Version:
- Establish Protocoin balance on Spaceport Paymaster,
- Tap member card on indicated reader,
- Spacevend controller will query Spaceport and display user's name and Protocoin balance.
- At any point press the coin return to end the transaction and receive a refund for any credit.
- Make a selection:
- If sufficient balance:
- Submit 'spend' transaction to Spaceport for selection value:
- If transaction successful, add cash balance to the vending controller (escrow), and attempt vend:
- If vend successful, Finalize transaction.
- If vend unsuccessful, mark sold out and return to 3.
- If transaction successful, add cash balance to the vending controller (escrow), and attempt vend:
- Submit 'spend' transaction to Spaceport for selection value:
- If sufficient balance:
- Definitely profit.
Stocking the machine
The short version:
- Acquire vendible goods, keep the receipt.
- Load goods in the vending machine.
- Submit receipt to payme@ to be reimbursed.
The longer version with multiple considerations and processes when stocking the machine:
Selecting and Sourcing wares
- Check machine: What is sold out/moving fast?
- Before buying check existing inventory first - Located inside vending machine basement, on top of fridge, and in overstock cabinet located in fabric room.
- Try to get items in wholesale/bulk/on sale. General guideline: Spend less than $1.00/item for chips/chocolate bars, less than $2.00 for premium snacks.
- Consider how fast can we go through a case before expiry dates? Bulk pricing is great until you have 20 pounds of expired nougat.
- What do people want (todo: forum poll, history tracking/analytics)
- Non-snacks: PPE often successful: Safety glasses, n95 masks.
- Physical size limitations - Most standard snacks/chips/bars work, but larger/rigid boxes might not. Check first.
Communicate intent
- Announce purchase plans to ensure not double-buying
Purchase Stuff
- Commonly sourced from Wholesale club, Costco, Dollarama (sells candy as a loss leader), Princess Auto (Bulk PPE)
- Keep the receipt for anything you buy.
- May need to return items.
- Need receipt to be reimbursed.
- Write down the effective cost of overstock on the case so the next person knows the correct vending price/slot.
- eg. 24 pack of chocolate bars for $19.99 + tax = $20.99 / 24 = $0.88 cost on the box.
Effective Pricing
- Aim for low-mid convenience store pricing. Some profit to justify the effort to fill the machine, power, and floor space.
- Usually 25-50% profit margin for snacks, close to 0% for PPE.
- 2024 example: Chocolate bar wholesale cost $0.95. Vend price at least $1.25.
- Consider discounting vend price down to cost to move end-date items more quickly
Loading the machine
- Acquire the key from the wall lockbox using code from the vending squad or directors lastpass
- Use key to unlock door handle until handle pops out slightly, then pull handle fully outward to unlock until door swings out freely.
- Put machine in Service Mode:
- Entering Service Mode will allow pricing/settings changes, as well as automatically reset any 'sold out' or 'jammed' errors.
- Inside near top of electronics area is a cylindrical white pull-switch.
- Pull out: Service mode
- Push in: Normal mode
- Change prices: Outside the scope of this how-to. See manual pdf or instructions printed inside door.
- Pull out and lower product shelf to make loading much easier:
- Slightly lift front of shelf while pulling towards yourself past retention detent (like a desk keyboard tray)
- Pull out shelf approximately 3-4 toast until able to tilt downwards 1.5 toast where it will stably rest.
- ⚠ Do not remove shelf completely, it has wires that need to be disconnected or the machine will be damaged.
- Stock items in slots ensuring each item leans backwards and stays within one 'coil' of the vend helix.
- Lift shelf back to level position, then slide back into machine and lift over detent until secured.
- Repeat steps 4-5 for each shelf, then reverse steps (3-1) to reassemble machine
- Ensure machine is placed back in Normal mode
- Close door firmly (the last few decitoast takes some force
- Remove key and push latch handle fully in to re-lock door.
- Return key to lock box
Troubleshooting
TBD