Why don't vending machines accept credit cards?

Question

And when will they start? I mean, come on, they have to eventually!

Answer 1

I've actually seen ones that do accept credit cards.

Answer 2

Depending on what the machines are vending. Some do accept credit cards for big ticket items. I think you were thinking about the machines that sell candies and sodas...I don't think you will ever see that...

I believe the main reason is that credit card companies charge the vendor a fee each time a credit card is used. For small items, the charge may be too high to be profitable.

This is the same reason some gas stations (say ARCO) won't accept credit cards at all or some stations will charge you more for credit card transactions.

Answer 3

actually, some vending machines at the mall do accept credit cards, such as the iPod vending machines, and the Proactiv vending machines... the machines that do not accept credit cards are those that sell junk food and those who think that a dollar is nothing to make a fuss about with cards.

Answer 4

Many already do! Ever been to O'Hare or Atlanta-Hartsfield airports? They have vending machines that sell higher cost items for travellers -- voltage convertors, wireless network cards, etc. and all of them accept credit cards.

For lower price items -- pop, candy, snacks, etc. -- the fees involved are generally too high to make credit and debit card sales profitable.

Answer 5

I don't know. Half the time they don't except dollars.
Probably because people would find a way to scam the machine or use stolen credit cards without someone readily to identify them.

Answer 6

The problem is that...they can have it there but most people would not feel secure using it. Have you seen the ATM reader scam where an additional reader is placed just right outside the atm feeder, thus reading all your card information and make it easy duplicating it and withdrawing the cash.

I would feel more secure if it's biometric.




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Answer 7

Actual Some do. Like the another poster said. Most people would not use the cards in the machine. I wouldn't at least until they can stop fraud.


I would not use biometric either.

Answer 8

In Madrid they do I am the manager of this girl who's becoming a model and we're in madrid they accept credit cards

Answer 9

some do already, particularly for transportation tickets. The technology is there but hardly worth it for small items like canned drinks and sweets

Answer 10

when i was in college, our ID cards were "smart cards," that is, they were our ID both visually and electronically, they scanned us into meetings and on and off campus, and they were loadable with money, so we could do our laundry or buy stuff, or get stuff off campus. we could also have them encoded to act like a debit card for our bank account, and have a PIN attached to them.