minor vent

[beergut]

I own a vending machine company with my brother. Nothing major, just a few machines that bring in enough passive income every month for it to be worth it. We give part of our gross revenue to a charity we both believe in. 

Anyways, 99% of the time I am the person who goes out and services the machines. 

I stopped by a thrift store today where we have one of our highest grossing machines. When I visited last month, a clerk in the store told me some kid had jammed 'putty' (gum is more likely) into one of the slots, so you can't turn the quarter in the machine to get any candy. I cleaned out that section of the machine of candy, filled the other two sections, and collected the money from the machine.

When I arrived back at our shop, I looked into the inside of another machine to see if there is a way to remove the damaged portion, and replace it. The damaged section is melded into the machine, so the only option is to put another machine there. 

When I went in today to fill the machine with candy, the same clerk was there. When I filled it up, and cleared out the money, she started asking if I was going to fix the slot. I explained it was impossible to replace that part, and I'd be bringing in a new machine. 

She copped and attitude and said, "Oh, so that's what we're doing now? We're going to just have a broken machine sitting there, with only two working sections?"

Okay, first of all, why the hell should she care? It is MY company's machine, not hers. If we're losing revenue because people aren't putting money into that middle slot, WE are the ones who are hurt, not her. She isn't the owner of the store or his wife, because I know them, and they have no issues with me. At the risk of sounding like a complete snob, she's a freaking clerk. If I have a broken machine or the most amazing machine in the world in that store, it does not affect her life one iota.

When I mentioned what happened to my GF later, she said she was probably just having a bad day and decided to take it out on me. Bad life is more like it.

Why is it that people who have little to nothing are the most vocal about things that have nothing to do with them? 

/rant over

Thanks for reading. 

[whoisjohngalt]

Well, it also could be that anytime someone tries to get something out of the broken slot, they go to her for either getting money back or bugging her to get the candy or asking her 500 questions about when will it be fixed, etc etc etc.

She might be just a "clerk", but she also might be the one dealing with it on a daily basis.

I hope you were nice to her, bc the bitchy part of me would be jamming your entire machine if I were her and you were being a jerk.

[hoops902]

Or as someone who works at a thrift store they're already a little sensitive to being viewed as cheap/run-down/whatever.  Having a broken machine sitting there kind of adds to the ambiance of that.

Or, because it's a high grossing machine, they have to deal with customer complaints about it being broken and now they're annoyed by it (because while it's your machine, i doubt people annoyed at it not working at calling you directly to complain, they're complaining to the clerk).

::If I have a broken machine or the most amazing machine in the world in that store, it does not affect her life one iota.::

Sure it does, she's probably getting the same attitude from customers that she gave you and she's tired of it.  That doesn't mean she handled it the right way, but it probably affects her day-to-day job more than "zero". 

From her point of view it could easily be "I have this shitty job, and now on top of it I have to listen to people bitch and moan at me about this broken machine every day".  I doubt customers are calling you to complain when the clerk is right there and it's in her store.  It's probably boiled-over frustration.

[Deleted]

Maybe she's like me and doesn't like to be around broken things.   It doesn't bother most people, but it does me. I would be staring at that machine every single day.

[TheHaitian]

I will tell you the same thing I tell the merchandisers or category managers: when you mess up, customers don't come complaining to you...

No. They complain to my clerks, my cashiers.... And when that is not enough they ask for the store manager.

We get the brunt of it. It might be just a broken machine to you but she is the one most likely getting all the complaints from the customers and having to refund them the money.

Her frustration just boiled over and yes you sounded like a snob.

[Opti]

Why is it that people who have little to nothing are the most vocal about things that have nothing to do with them?

In this case, its probably because that assumption is incorrect. She probably deals with the machine and complaints from customers more than the owners or you do. Its a rare patron that actually . calls the vending machine company.

Cut her a break next time.

[Opti]

May 28, 2015 8:19:50 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

How many times could she conceivably be asked for refunds on an empty machine that people can't get money into in the first place

Hopefully not many, but the non-working section had candy in it per the OP.

"I stopped by a thrift store today where we have one of our highest grossing machines. When I visited last month, a clerk in the store told me some kid had jammed 'putty' (gum is more likely) into one of the slots, so you can't turn the quarter in the machine to get any candy. I cleaned out that section of the machine of candy, "

If a machine is mostly empty but one section, there are people who will try to put money in it even if you say it is broken, out of change, etc.

[hoops902]

May 28, 2015 8:40:10 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 8:34:52 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

I will tell you the same thing I tell the merchandisers or category managers: when you mess up, customers don't come complaining to you...

No. They complain to my clerks, my cashiers.... And when that is not enough they ask for the store manager.

We get the brunt of it. It might be just a broken machine to you but she is the one most likely getting all the complaints from the customers and having to refund them the money.

Her frustration just boiled over and yes you sounded like a snob.

Once again,  how many times could she be approached to refund money on an empty section of a machine that you can't put money into

I agree it's probably not the refund at this point, it's probably all the regulars who complain because their favorite machine is STILL broken, or why doesn't the store fix it's machines, or anything else that causes randoms to complain.

[hoops902]

May 28, 2015 8:54:49 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 8:47:41 GMT -5 Opti said:

Hopefully not many, but the non-working section had candy in it per the OP.

"I stopped by a thrift store today where we have one of our highest grossing machines. When I visited last month, a clerk in the store told me some kid had jammed 'putty' (gum is more likely) into one of the slots, so you can't turn the quarter in the machine to get any candy. I cleaned out that section of the machine of candy, "

If a machine is mostly empty but one section, there are people who will try to put money in it even if you say it is broken, out of change, etc.

Perhaps you should go back and reread the OP. 

Beer was informed candy machine was broken so that no money could be inserted into the slot  
Beer cleaned out candy
Beer leaves and investigates possible fixes to machine
Beer returns to returns at a later time to refill remaining functional sections
Grumpy clerk asks if/when the broken section will be fixed
Beer informs GC that it can't be fixed the entire unit would have to be replaced
GC bitches at Beer

Perhaps you should go back and reread the OP.

Money could be inserted into the slot, but the slot could not be turned. 

[thyme4change]

Why is it that people who have little to nothing are the most vocal about things that have nothing to do with them?

At every place I have ever worked I have noticed that the majority of the complaints come from the people with the lowest amount of power, and holy moly - they will complain about the weirdest, most meaningless stuff.  Sometimes I think it might be a control thing.  Maybe they don't feel like they have any (or enough) control in their work situation, so they try to control anything they can - the arrangement of the tables in the breakroom, or the location of the coffee supplies or whatever. Maybe a desperate grasp at feeling like they have some power over something.

I don't know if that is the case here - but I try to be ridiculously cool about meaningless stuff (and I have tried to broaden my range of what I consider ridiculous) so people like that can get the benefit.  

[Opti]

OK, I got fooled by skimming and saw today and missed last month on the last read through. Ideally people should not be complaining about an empty section, but if it is a thrift store with weekly customers they might whine to the clerk about lack of refills on the stuff they liked.

[Formerly SK]

I recently bought a granola bar from a machine and found out the wrapper was torn and the bar hard as a rock.   It was $1.25.  I very nicely let the clerk know about it, but obviously he couldn't fix the situation for me.  I didn't bother calling the machine owner.  I was already down $1.25, I didn't want to spend 15-30 minutes of my life trying to get it back.

I imagine the clerk in OP's situation gets tons of complaints.  Whether they're valid or not doesn't mean she doesn't still have to hear them.

[bobosensei]

beergut - why do you care so much about what this clerk said that you complained to your girlfriend and then on YM  you seem a bit temperamental for a vending machine tycoon and all...

and it is pretty short sighted to get snippy with people that could influence your profit.  Tick this lady off and she might try to stop every customer from using your machine.

Believe me, the way you think of this person is coming through on the post so no doubt it's coming through when you talk to her.  But maybe she doesn't realize you are the owner of the machine.  Maybe she just thinks you are "just a freaking maintenance man." 

[hoops902]

May 28, 2015 10:45:43 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 10:38:55 GMT -5 Formerly SK said:

I recently bought a granola bar from a machine and found out the wrapper was torn and the bar hard as a rock.   It was $1.25.  I very nicely let the clerk know about it, but obviously he couldn't fix the situation for me.  I didn't bother calling the machine owner.  I was already down $1.25, I didn't want to spend 15-30 minutes of my life trying to get it back.

I imagine the clerk in OP's situation gets tons of complaints.  Whether they're valid or not doesn't mean she doesn't still have to hear them.

Serious question,  why would you tell the clerk at all especially if you already knew he couldn't help you? 

Because they might not be able to give you your money back, but they might have impact or feedback when it comes to the vendor.

[hoops902]

May 28, 2015 11:51:56 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 11:43:17 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Because they might not be able to give you your money back, but they might have impact or feedback when it comes to the vendor.

Instead of the handy phone number to call them directly?  

I must be in the minority as to my expectations of vending machines and those people who are in the random vicinity of the machines.  That and I guess I don't really consider their working order as an indicator of my personal well being enough to make a big deal out of eaten money, no gumballs, or stale granola bars.


  

You can call them directly to get your money back.  Calling them directly doesn't do anything to tell the business you are in that you are unsatisfied with their choice of vendors.  The business you are in is providing a service to customers by having vendors in their store.  I'd think a business would want to know when those vendors are performing poorly.

[hoops902]

May 28, 2015 12:20:05 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

over a stale granola bar.. Yeah,  ok.  I still don't know that I'd invest the time or effort on it. 


But hey... who knew I'd invest the time and effort in a thread about vending machines 

To me, that's actually when it makes the most sense to just tell the clerk.  I'm not going to call the company to tell them I spent a buck on a stale granola bar just to get my money back, the time on the phone just isn't worth it...but I might say "hey Joe, this granola bar is a freakin rock, it sucks".  I spent less time than eating the granola bar would have taken.

[whoisjohngalt]

Vending machines are not always owned by 3rd parties.  Sometimes they are owned by the establishment where they are located.

There are about 5-6 of gum ball/toys machines at our grocery store.  My 5 yr old tried to get a gum, a toy and some candy.  Three machines ate his quarters.   I asked the manager about it and she was very nice and gave him his money back, and I can guarantee you that my kid was not the only one who had this problem.

So, if the clerk is sitting there all day, there is about 99% chance that she gets asked various things about that machine.

It's human nature to ask/complain to the person that is there!  Who really wants to call about a candy bar?  But if someone is RIGHT THERE, that will be the  person who hears all the crap about it

[Formerly SK]

May 28, 2015 10:45:43 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 10:38:55 GMT -5 Formerly SK said:

I recently bought a granola bar from a machine and found out the wrapper was torn and the bar hard as a rock.   It was $1.25.  I very nicely let the clerk know about it, but obviously he couldn't fix the situation for me.  I didn't bother calling the machine owner.  I was already down $1.25, I didn't want to spend 15-30 minutes of my life trying to get it back.

I imagine the clerk in OP's situation gets tons of complaints.  Whether they're valid or not doesn't mean she doesn't still have to hear them.

Serious question,  why would you tell the clerk at all especially if you already knew he couldn't help you? 

So that he'd mention it to the machine owner.  I assume my incident was a fluke, but figured the owner might want to keep an eye on the quality of his supplies when he restocks the machine.  

[beergut]

May 28, 2015 8:21:00 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Maybe she's like me and doesn't like to be around broken things.   It doesn't bother most people, but it does me. I would be staring at that machine every single day.

This is the funniest reply in the thread 

I can just picture you, glaring at the machine, thinking, "I hate you more than I hate Kick Six and Bo Over The Top combined!!" 

[beergut]

May 28, 2015 10:51:49 GMT -5 bobosensei said:

beergut - why do you care so much about what this clerk said that you complained to your girlfriend and then on YM  you seem a bit temperamental for a vending machine tycoon and all...

and it is pretty short sighted to get snippy with people that could influence your profit.  Tick this lady off and she might try to stop every customer from using your machine.

Believe me, the way you think of this person is coming through on the post so no doubt it's coming through when you talk to her.  But maybe she doesn't realize you are the owner of the machine.  Maybe she just thinks you are "just a freaking maintenance man." 

I mentioned it to my GF and on here for the reason that is the title of this thread: I needed to vent.

I can't say anything to her, because she is the employee of a client, so I come on here to vent. 

[Shooby]

There are lots of people everywhere you work who continually comment on things that aren't their business or their dept. Their lives would be much happier if they simply focused on their own jobs.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2015 11:51:56 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 28, 2015 11:43:17 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Because they might not be able to give you your money back, but they might have impact or feedback when it comes to the vendor.

Instead of the handy phone number to call them directly?  

I must be in the minority as to my expectations of vending machines and those people who are in the random vicinity of the machines.  That and I guess I don't really consider their working order as an indicator of my personal well being enough to make a big deal out of eaten money, no gumballs, or stale granola bars. 

You are obviously not a schoolteacher who has forgotten her lunch and dug through her desk, her purse, and into the sides of the stuffed chair at the library to dig up 85 cents only to lose it all because the danged crackers didn't drop.

[Cookies Galore]

May 29, 2015 9:14:04 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

May 29, 2015 8:32:06 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

You are obviously not a schoolteacher who has forgotten her lunch and dug through her desk, her purse, and into the sides of the stuffed chair at the library to dig up 85 cents only to lose it all because the danged crackers didn't drop.

Not a school teacher,  but been in the exact same position.  Except it was between meetings,  5 min, no lunch, and next meeting 2+ hours long.  

On the flip side, I've often been the recipient of someone else's 'donation' when I get a bonus drop.   Vending machine karma.   

I miss the bonus drop. I loved when our vending machines would hiccup because that meant two for one! It would start to turn, then stop, then do a complete turn, which allows two things to drop. :-) Now we have one of those "smart" vending markets where we either use a credit card or put cash on a little key ring card. Prices also went up. I think a Milky Way is 70 cents now. Boo.

[mojothehelpermonkey]

When I was a kid, my grandmother spent an extended period of time in the hospital. While she was there, my cousin and I figured out that if you put a quarter into a certain vending machine in the basement and then pressed the coin return lever, the machine would spit out four quarters instead of one.
We were very young and thought of it more as winning a game than stealing. Our parents must have been really distracted at that time because they would send us into the basement with four quarters and we would return with as much candy and soda as we could carry. I don't think either of our moms would have let us pull that off under different circumstances. 
Now every time I lose money in a vending machine, I consider it karma.