More Vending Machines Taking Plastic

Soon, you won’t have to dig through your couch cushions, hoping for quarters but instead hauling out all manner of filth (i.e., Fritos) (oh, and Cheerios) (oh, and something wet).  Soon: that vending machine near you will take plastic.  Then, my friends, then: I’m talking Pop-Tarts every day from the SnakZone and a Diet Coke to wash it down.  All with a swipe.

The machines have started popping up with a quickness since January.  Vending machine owners have reported a 5- to 35-percent increase in sales without having to raise prices at all.

"There is always going to be a degree of cash transactions. But we recognize the fact we’re moving more and more to a cashless society. We wanted to offer consumers a convenient way to buy our products out of a vending machine without having change or getting change."  That was Cadbury beverage subsidiary vice president Mark Jackson, speaking to the Associated Press.

While it might be depressing to consider the whole new world of awful food choices opened to consumers with vending machine access (Funyons…Funyons…Funyons…Funyons), what succor is there for the poor sod short of change who then finds out his credit card has been declined?