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It is a different meaning. People are being asked to think about their expectation. So let me examine mine. The last time I had a vending machine failure was m

It is a different meaning. People are being asked to think about their expectation. So let me examine mine. The last time I had a vending machine failure was maybe 15 years ago. Not sure how many times I've used them since, but maybe once a month on average. So my personal failure rate is well below 1%. And if he's right that vending machines have improved, perhaps my current/future rate is well lower. Are the failures memorable? Sure. Super frustrating. But at least in my experience, they work just fine. So although I too would laugh at a vending machine joke, I get why he feels the stereotype is unfair. My failure rate with computer software is much higher; I'd guess I have an app crash or a reportable bug about daily these days.

Animats 4y ago
> The last time I had a vending machine failure was maybe 15 years ago. Vending machines became much more reliable once electronics for checking was added. The spiral wire pushers now have an infrared beam across the delivery area. If something doesn't fall, there's no beam break, the software notices, and the spiral gets turned a bit more. If there's still no object detected, the program returns the money and marks that row as empty.
- IIsi50MHz 4y ago
  I wish these advancements were more common. )-: Not only do I still see people struggle with failures, some machines seem to have received as their only upgrades a card reader and maybe a camera. Anecdata: one recent failure I'd never seen before is that a machine's card reader started charging $5 USD per transaction on top the advertised price. This showed up only on users' transaction records, but not on the machine itself.. The vendor blamed the credit card processing company, and the building's management taped an "OUT OF ORDER" sign over the card reader for a couple weeks while it got fixed. The people who noticed the overcharge and complained got refunded, but I don't know about the rest.
JoeAltmaier 4y ago
That explains it. I've stopped using vending machines about that long ago. So my experience was with the older machines. Which doesn't make my experience wrong; just out of date. And yes that comment about super frustrating is right. You dug around for coin or currency the machine will accept then got cheated, you were out of luck. Wasted 2 or three minutes and you're frustrated and still hungry/thirsty and out of options. Probably why the memories stayed fresh so long.

Animats 4y ago

> The last time I had a vending machine failure was maybe 15 years ago. Vending machines became much more reliable once electronics for checking was added. The spiral wire pushers now have an infrared beam across the delivery area. If something doesn't fall, there's no beam break, the software notices, and the spiral gets turned a bit more. If there's still no object detected, the program returns the money and marks that row as empty.

IIsi50MHz 4y ago
I wish these advancements were more common. )-: Not only do I still see people struggle with failures, some machines seem to have received as their only upgrades a card reader and maybe a camera. Anecdata: one recent failure I'd never seen before is that a machine's card reader started charging $5 USD per transaction on top the advertised price. This showed up only on users' transaction records, but not on the machine itself.. The vendor blamed the credit card processing company, and the building's management taped an "OUT OF ORDER" sign over the card reader for a couple weeks while it got fixed. The people who noticed the overcharge and complained got refunded, but I don't know about the rest.

JoeAltmaier 4y ago

That explains it. I've stopped using vending machines about that long ago. So my experience was with the older machines. Which doesn't make my experience wrong; just out of date. And yes that comment about super frustrating is right. You dug around for coin or currency the machine will accept then got cheated, you were out of luck. Wasted 2 or three minutes and you're frustrated and still hungry/thirsty and out of options. Probably why the memories stayed fresh so long.