OverWorked Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 (edited) I know this isn't IT, but this has fallen to me and EG is the font of all knowledge. We're thinking of a drinks vending machine for the staffroom. Can anyone recommend a company? How are these things financed? Would the school rent the machine, then keep the money it makes, or does it all go to the company? Are they any good or does it taste like dishwater? BTW, we're considering this because at present we have an honesty box, where staff pay for what they use. It's turned out to be naieve . Edited December 2, 2009 by OverWorked
plexer Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 KLIX 450 vending machine - Klix Coffee Vending Machine 1
sidewinder Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Ah, loved those Kilix machines when I worked at Vodafone - they were set on free so free coffee, soup and incredibly sweet starburst drink all day
plexer Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 You can set it for free, subsidised, break even or profit. Ben
K.C.Leblanc Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Are they any good or does it taste like dishwater?. Then are generaly pretty awful, they're just cups pre filled with either instant coffee or a tea bag and whitener. I have once encountered a machine that brewed coffee, but they're few and far between. I remember when I was in 6th form we had one that didn't cost us anything, but the company took it out because we didn't spend enough. You could probably rent the machine, but it'll probably cost more then it takes. I used to work for the company who manufactured MaxPax machines, even a basis machine was several thousand pounds. Also as soon as you start enforcing payment people will just bring their own tea and coffee in.
plexer Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Klix do another model which uses a brita filter as well so if your water tastes bad it'll make it better. Ben
KWestos Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 (edited) Why not one of these: Nice Even better Edited December 2, 2009 by KWestos
CHR1S Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Why not one of these: Nice Now Ive seen everything!!
somabc Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Get one of these! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Vending_machine_dispensing_beer_and_liquor.jpeg
localzuk Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 We used to have a vending machine, and it was a nightmare. So, we got rid of it, and put a boiling water thing in (always has water available), and now staff provide their own. Not had any complaints. We had complaints all the time with the vending machine.
OverWorked Posted December 2, 2009 Author Posted December 2, 2009 Why not one of these: Nice Even better A fresh chip machine! Wonderful.
KWestos Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 A vending machine with fresh fries and Pizza, together with the usual fizzy pop vender, what a perfect IT lunch!!!!
witch Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 We used to have a vending machine, and it was a nightmare. So, we got rid of it, and put a boiling water thing in (always has water available), and now staff provide their own. Not had any complaints. We had complaints all the time with the vending machine. That's what we do, although the school does provide milk
somabc Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 We used to have a vending machine, and it was a nightmare. So, we got rid of it, and put a boiling water thing in (always has water available), and now staff provide their own. Not had any complaints. We had complaints all the time with the vending machine. Ironically Vending Machines were brought in to Factories and the like to prevent disagreements and time wasting over who paid for the milk etc.
localzuk Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 Oh, forgot to mention - we provide milk also.
K.C.Leblanc Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 (edited) Ironically Vending Machines were brought in to Factories and the like to prevent disagreements and time wasting over who paid for the milk etc. The factory I worked at priced the tea/coffee so low that we ended up doing rounds. One person did winge because they drank the 12p nescafe coffee and some other people drank the 14p kenco coffee. This is before we get the people who went to the other side of the factory because the water was meant to be better over there. Oh and the one bloke who had to go to the one machine that sold Kenco really rich, not because he liked it, but because he was a Bristol Rover's supporter. This meant he couldn't drink coffee from a red cup. Then there was the day the paint shop decided washers were legal tender. And guess what this factory made? Coffee vending machines. Edited December 2, 2009 by K.C.Leblanc
john Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 I vaguely remember a discussion about this at our place, and it was looking very costly. NYCC County Caterers were asked and can price if you use them for the school catering which we do. I also looked on eBay for a machine to buy and there are loads on there for sale often with piles of "food" for them from firms as ex-rental and they can service etc. If your get one on contract the problem is they sell you the "food" for it at often inflated prices thus making huge profit if you own the machine and pay a yearly service charge you can buy the "food" from wherever you like instead and save money / make profit for you not the supplier. Coffee Care in Skipton also gave us details on one I think but I could be wrong, I know we get all the fair trade tea and coffee (its foul IMHO) from them now. Another place that I used to work had a Douwe Egberts machine and was good coffee in it, but was costly "sludge" to put in it but didn't make a bad cup either and you put a real mug under it not a paper cup! (similar to the ones you see at Motor Way services from them but smaller). Maybe worth a call to them. We didn't get one in the end, we just have a water urn on the wall and all staff pay a set fee for tea / coffee / milk each term to the finance office job done. 1
elsiegee40 Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 We've got a real coffee filter machine that the housekeeper keeps running so there's always fresh available and the school provides milk too. Honest!
john Posted December 2, 2009 Posted December 2, 2009 We've got a real coffee filter machine that the housekeeper keeps running so there's always fresh available and the school provides milk too. Honest! Can I guess that you work in the Independent Sector by any chance? (not being snobish or anything or against them as I used to work in it!)
tom_newton Posted December 3, 2009 Posted December 3, 2009 Coffee from vending machines... ick. Get a household coffeemaker, replace it every year (£20pa on kit there) and buy your filter from coffee compass (Gourmet Coffee Supplier - Roasted Coffee Beans, Fair Trade Coffee, Green Coffee Beans, UK). Tea drinkers you say? Surely not 1
ahuxham Posted December 3, 2009 Posted December 3, 2009 Coffee from vending machines... ick. Get a household coffeemaker, replace it every year (£20pa on kit there) and buy your filter from coffee compass (Gourmet Coffee Supplier - Roasted Coffee Beans, Fair Trade Coffee, Green Coffee Beans, UK). Tea drinkers you say? Surely not One cup of coffee in the morning, nice and strong, and then tea the rest of the day. I used to hate tea, however I finally realised I no longer have problems sleeping!
KWestos Posted December 3, 2009 Posted December 3, 2009 I finally realised I no longer have problems sleeping! I've cut coffee out for that reason. After weeks of palpitations and restless nights, I realised it was all the espresso's I was drinking during the day, not good! Tea all the way for me now!
plexer Posted December 3, 2009 Posted December 3, 2009 At a previous school they had a catering coffee filter machines and the kitchen staff would make 2 jugs of coffee when it was gone it was gone but it was free. Currently the site manager and I run a filter coffee machine here for all of our needs. Ben
p858snake Posted December 3, 2009 Posted December 3, 2009 With coffee vending machiens unless you pay the really big bucks then most don't make the best drinks. What you want to aim for is one were every option is configurable to the end user since not everyone is the same. If possible try and get a demo unit in for people to test. Although i do know Coca-Cola Amtil do rental of the soda based vending machines.
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