Vending machines dispense different prices in different locations
By: Emily Lougee
Staff Writer
Many students go to the vending machines for a quick snack between classes. With several vending machines on campus, students may wonder if they all charge the same amount?
A common trend noticed while checking prices is that the cheaper drinks usually come from Brahan Hall and in the computer cafe in the Siek Campus Center. The cheaper snacks come from the machines located in Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center.
The biggest difference between snacks is 25 cents. When it comes to drinks, the prices can change from between 25 cents and $1. For instance, Welch’s Fruit Snacks are $1.50 everywhere except in Fitzgibbons where they cost $1.25. The vending machines in Siek change from being $1.25 to others costing $1.50.
Prestige Vending Services own all the vending machines that sell food, the differences in prices doesn’t make sense. Especially when it’s in two different machines in the same building.
There is also a gradient in prices with Starbucks drinks. Depending on the machine in Siek, the prices vary. If you were to get one from the Starbucks machine it costs $3, while tne from the machine in the computer cafe costs $2.25. Another one from another machine on the first floor costs $2.50.
Some people might say that the price variations are caused by different companies owning the machines. However, all the drink machines are all owned by Pepsi Beverage Company.
This information was collected while going to every vending machine, except the ones in the Conway Ice Rink, on campus and checking prices. A random selection of snacks was chosen and those items were priced in every machine.
The process for getting prices for the drinks was a little different. There aren’t as many drink options as there are snack options, so all the drinks were priced.
Some prices from buildings could not be priced due to the machine not being stocked or the machine not working, such as the one on the second floor of BTC or the one in the library. The machines in the library are notorious for just eating student’s money without giving them what they ordered.
In the library, there is a sign on the wall saying to contact the Faculty Student Association. FSA is in the Siek Campus Center in room 240 and their phone number is (518) 629-7164.