Choc off

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.)

"Chris Read" <chris117@>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...

--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk
Edgware.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read"
<chris117@> 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?

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


Admits to working for London Underground!

"Helen Deborah Vecht" <helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:313030303736393543EE623013@zetnet.co.uk...
> "Chris Read" <chris117@>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...

Perhaps they think that they are a terriorist risk!

tim

"tim (in Sweden)" <tim_in_sweden2005.uk> wrote in message
news:45782vF549vlU1@...
>
> "Helen Deborah Vecht" <helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:313030303736393543EE623013@zetnet.co.uk...
>> "Chris Read" <chris117@>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...
>
> 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.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read"
<chris117@> 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.

--
James Farrar
. @

On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read"
<chris117@> 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.

--
James Farrar
. @

James Farrar <james.s.farrar@>typed


> On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:09:42 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Read"
> <chris117@> 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: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk
Edgware.

Anyone remember Superfine? Sounds like another product commonly sold
via vending machines, but was in fact a slab of very dark, plain
chocolate (Nestlé IIRC). Mmmmmm...


Steve Adams

Chris Read wrote:
> 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

Ah that explains it!

The last two times I tried to get a chocolate (having not used a
machine in years), I lost my money. I only complained once but they
gave me a £1 voucher for a 50p loss (as compensation).

The third time I tried to get a chocolate, the machine didn't accept my
coin. When it rejected it, I found a pound in the change tray! So, I
collected my prize, my original 50p and walked away.

Maybe they're now programmed to be like fruit machines.. some people
lose money, others win it! Now if they could only make them pay out
fruit...

Jonathan