People getting change

[MEP001]

If we do the dollar coins we'll have to do something about the vending as some of the product is .50. Guess we could double up as far as what drops.

Are they mechanical vendors? If so, they won't take dollar coins at all. You can get a coin mech insert for them that will take the .984 tokens as well as quarters, and the vendor will work with those tokens. They're slightly larger than a quarter, but not large enough to upset the machine.

I had plans to add credit card acceptance to our vendors, so in preparation I switched to the best towel I could find and vend them for $1. Sales dropped about 20%, but we make twice as much per towel, so it's more profitable than before.

I really believe that mixing quarters and tokens 3:1 will have less of an impact on your customers than dollar coins. A lot of people get more change than they need with the plan of using the extra quarters elsewhere, and if they get a few tokens they'll just use those up first.

Does anyone know if Sensortrons will take a dollar coin? If they won't you'll still have to change out your acceptors.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I just realized that my dollar coin suggestion was a bad one. You will have to go to the bank and buy ALL of your dollar coins. They are a one way street. They only walk off, no carry-ins. I buy about 3000 a week for my washes. If you are unhappy about buying quarters I know you won't like busting open the dollar coin rolls.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I don't mind buying mine due to the fact that it has quelled changer abuse. Just my .02

 

[Mr.Aap]

Well right now we're having to "buy" $500 a week, that's how many are walking off. We've NEVER in 3 years, ever deposited quarters! So right now we're on the fence weather to go to .25 tokens or dollar coins. If we do the dollar coins we'll have to do something about the vending as some of the product is .50. Guess we could double up as far as what drops. Otherwise everything else should be easy enough.
Tokens should be easy enough as well as all the acceptors can be converted. We have Laurel machanical vending machines and I'd like those to take either quarters or the tokens though.
I'm wondering what the fall-out will be from the customers: Tokens VS Dollar coins?

Make sure your not being ripped off......Employee theft...Strung...etc......

 

[DbltheBbls]

Is it a smoother transition going to tokens, customer wise? If I chose the token route do you suggest I stick with .25 tokens or go to the $1 tokens? I'm thinking that the switching to tokens AND forcing them to spend a dollar a time may be too much.

Personally as a consumer, I'd rather drop dollar coins than be forced to use tokens, but that's just me. I think the transition to .25 tokens would be easier that $1 coins, especially since my mechanical vending would work with the .25 tokens. I think I can use either .25 tokens OR quarters on the vending if I remember right. I think they have to be the .984 sizes.

I must admit the prospect of watching the apartment folks coming for quarters and winding up with a handful of tokens is pretty enticing!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Most people regret going with quarter tokens. You must buy a cheap token if you sell it for a quarter. When you have a cheap token you will inevitably get tokens that are not yours. You must go with high security, dollar valued tokens. Changing tokens midstream is a huge pain...been there, done that.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Most people regret going with quarter tokens. You must buy a cheap token if you sell it for a quarter. When you have a cheap token you will inevitably get tokens that are not yours. You must go with high security, dollar valued tokens. Changing tokens midstream is a huge pain...been there, done that.

That is exactly right!

I never had a problem going to the bank to get dollar coins like I did when I had to get quarters. By getting dollar coins I was preventing changer abuse instead of encouraging it by filling my changers with quarters.

Good Luck!

 

[DbltheBbls]

That is exactly right!

I never had a problem going to the bank to get dollar coins like I did when I had to get quarters. By getting dollar coins I was preventing changer abuse instead of encouraging it by filling my changers with quarters.

Good Luck!

How often are you having to replenish your dollar coins?

 

[DbltheBbls]

Most people regret going with quarter tokens. You must buy a cheap token if you sell it for a quarter. When you have a cheap token you will inevitably get tokens that are not yours. You must go with high security, dollar valued tokens. Changing tokens midstream is a huge pain...been there, done that.

Won't the sensortrons recognize the difference between the .25 token that's staged in the sensortron and the one trying to be used if they're different? Even if it's "cheap'?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

About once a week. We actually get alot of our dollar coins back. If we give out $400 we will usually have to get about $150.

Not if they are the same size. That is how the sensortron works I think.

 

[DbltheBbls]

About once a week. We actually get alot of our dollar coins back. If we give out $400 we will usually have to get about $150.

Not if they are the same size. That is how the sensortron works I think.

I thought it looked at the markings on the coin as well. I thought so anyway.
I'm just torn between switching to dollar coins or tokens....I want to do whatever affects my clientel the least.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Like MEP suggested, I put the signs up and got a negative reaction from a few of my regulars. I never actually put tokens in my changers, just posted the sign, so I just kind of blew it off. When we went with the dollar coin/quarter mix, we posted signs letting our customers know about the switch. The response we got was much more positive this time. Our customers liked not having to get ten dollars in quarters (we gave $3/Q and $7/GD). I don't have any specific numbers, but it is always nice to hear five or six of the gold dollars getting dropped in your meterbox. I don't think they would stand there dropping in 24 quarters.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

They read the metal makeup of the token. There are not that many different cheapy tokens and the overlap is common. Don't do it, you will regret it.

I have to buy dollar coins every week. They are the best as far as customer service and will stop the change milkers. It just depends on how much trouble you want to go through to stop them.

 

[DbltheBbls]

They read the metal makeup of the token. There are not that many different cheapy tokens and the overlap is common. Don't do it, you will regret it.

I have to buy dollar coins every week. They are the best as far as customer service and will stop the change milkers. It just depends on how much trouble you want to go through to stop them.

Is there an adapter I can buy for the vending that will accept dollar coins? I have the Laurel 2100 (single colume)

 

[DbltheBbls]

Like MEP suggested, I put the signs up and got a negative reaction from a few of my regulars. I never actually put tokens in my changers, just posted the sign, so I just kind of blew it off. When we went with the dollar coin/quarter mix, we posted signs letting our customers know about the switch. The response we got was much more positive this time. Our customers liked not having to get ten dollars in quarters (we gave $3/Q and $7/GD). I don't have any specific numbers, but it is always nice to hear five or six of the gold dollars getting dropped in your meterbox. I don't think they would stand there dropping in 24 quarters.

I'm assuming you've got to upgrade your change machine to be able to dispense quarters and dollars?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Can't help you on the vendors. I've been using glassfronts since the early 90s.

It was a simple conversion on my dual Hamilton to dispense a combination of quarters and dollar coins. I dispense

4 quarters for a $1
4 & 4 for a $5
4 & 9 for a $10
4 & 19 for a $20

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I have the Rowe BC-1400 that has the two different hoppers. In one is the quarters, the other is dollar coins. The programming was simple, I actually found instructions here on the forum in the library.

 

[DbltheBbls]

We have a Standard Changer model MC500RLDA. I wonder if it can be retrofitted to dispense both dollars and quarters? Anyone know?

 

[washnvac]

I vote for $1 high security tokens. That is all I dispense, even in my auto cashiers as change. No quarters are dispensed on my sites. The high security token, with a 100 mile protected radius, cost 19 cents per. So you make 81 cents per on the 1-2% yearly "walk away". No stringing, no empty changers, no bs.

 

[DbltheBbls]

I vote for $1 high security tokens. That is all I dispense, even in my auto cashiers as change. No quarters are dispensed on my sites. The high security token, with a 100 mile protected radius, cost 19 cents per. So you make 81 cents per on the 1-2% yearly "walk away". No stringing, no empty changers, no bs.

How did your customers handle going to the $1 tokens?