[Noisebridge-discuss] Soda Machine

[Chris Murphy]

Aspartame, sugar, sodium benzoate, and caffeine are definitely not good for humans and will only serve to degrade the health and well being of the community. Do your own due diligence. 

I suggest we convert the vending machine to vend consumables needed around the space like precision screw drivers, zip ties, glue sticks, and noisebridge t-shirts, and maybe old iPods and things. Items could be stuffed into reusable cardboard tubes the same size as soda cans. People could donate these kinds of items to the space as needed. 

Hat tip to Metrix Create which already has a vending machine of supplies.

If we were to vend drinks, I suggest water or our own tastebridge kombucha. 
 

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 21, 2012, at 2:19, Josh Juran <jjuran at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Feb 20, 2012, at 6:47 PM, Jeff Tchang wrote:
> 
>> Is it still working? Does it need to be stocked?
> 
> Early Sunday morning, I emptied and unplugged the soda machine, after  
> consulting with three other Noisebridgers.
> 
> Chris was opposed to selling sugared water (which as a side note I  
> find amusing because it reminds me of Steve Jobs), and stated a  
> preference for offering healthier fare like (plain) water and  
> something else I've forgotten already (probably juice).  He also  
> waxed a little dramatic (or at least melodramatic), ranting slightly  
> about poisoning members of the community.
> 
> Lief rated the vending machine Off-Topic, since Noisebridge is not in  
> the business of selling soft drinks, although providing drinks on a  
> donation basis (as we've done with kombucha) is acceptable.  Lief  
> also questioned the financial benefits of running the machine.  On  
> January 16, Rob, Evan, and I spent $59 on 148 cans of soda, expecting  
> a profit of $89.  Lief suggests that it costs about $100 per month in  
> electricity to run the vending machine.  Even if we refill the  
> machine promptly and take advantage of sale prices, we're more or  
> less breaking even.
> 
> That's assuming, of course, that money doesn't go missing from the  
> machine.
> 
> On Feb 19, I counted the money in the machine and there was a  
> shortfall of about $90.[1]  Rob reports that about a week ago, he  
> noticed the vending machine key in the right area but the wrong spot,  
> and Amber informed me on Thursday that she was aware that someone had  
> taken money from the machine.  After accounting for unsold cans and  
> purchases in quarters, that leaves 120 cans bought with dollar  
> bills.  If $90 is missing, then the theft occurred about 3/4 of the  
> way through the time period, which is consistent with the timing of  
> Rob's observation.
> 
> I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that the money was stolen  
> by one of the undesirables recently in the space (and even more  
> recently out of the space, thanks to the Rooster Brigade).  In this  
> scenario, the perp observed someone close the vending machine, walk  
> into a small room, and immediately leave again -- thus revealing the  
> location of the key.  Lief offered the theory that perhaps someone  
> hacked his/her way in without a key, and asserted that anyone who  
> successfully steals money from a hackerspace is by definition a  
> hacker and that such actions should be applauded.  I stated that  
> Noisebridge is not DefCon and accused Lief of trolling.
> 
> Despite taking exception with Chris' and Lief's delivery, I agree  
> with their basic positions and (some of) their supporting reasons.   
> Rob, originally in favor of restocking the machine, also agreed with  
> taking the machine out of service.  I moved the five remaining cans  
> (after consuming the last Sierra Mist) to the refrigerator, unplugged  
> the vending machine, and emptied it of all cash, amounting to $123.   
> I will either hand it over to Kelly or deposit it into Noisebridge's  
> bank account.
> 
> I'll be at the Tuesday meeting, in case anybody wants to discuss  
> this.  I for one would be in favor of stocking Hansen's canned  
> smoothies.  Get them shipped from Amazon for $1/can, ask for a  
> donation of $2.
> 
> Josh
> 
> P.S.:  If you want to talk about "poisoning" people or equate  
> stealing with hacking, please add a "[drama]" tag.
> 
> [1] Amounts are not exact because the machine keeps some coins  
> slotted in the change dispenser, and these weren't counted on Jan 16.
> 
> 
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