Token Acceptance-- A Tale of Two Cities (Washes) and Changer Brands

[Uncle Sam]

We recently had a customer (a well know chain operation) that was taking over an existing wash in another city with its own token already in place and with a ShurVend unit already accepting that token. The new owners had their own token that was used in all of their washes, so they wanted to convert the new wash to their token and have the ShurVend accept it also. They didn’t want to cut off the tokens that customers of the old wash had in their possession for a period of 6 months, so that meant the new owners had to accept 2 tokens in the ShurVend machine.

We have been using the Mars CF7512i changer for accepting tokens in the ShurVend vendors for a number of years with good customer acceptance. This changer has these features:

1. Has 5 coin tubes ($,25,25,10,5) for greater change capacity. Accepts both U.S. coins and Canadian coins (Looneys & Twooneys included)
2. Coins can be loaded into the cassette and, upon insertion into the changer, the total dollar amount and number of each coin denomination is automatically sent to the vendor control board for change making
2. Has a digital display that shows you everything is OK (smiley face) and does self-diagnostics on the changer
3. Alerts you with messages when errors arise
4. Can be programmed in the field for up to 6 tokens. All tokens go into the cash box
5. Nickels and dimes (or any coin or slug) can be turned off (not accepted) at operator’s request

There are two weaknesses of the Mars CF7512i: One, it can not “read” certain bi-metal tokens that are in use and, two, it cannot stack tokens in a tube to dispense as change. We have tried to get Mars to stack tokens in a tube for years, but no cigar yet.

The newer Coinco Guardian 6000 6-tube changer has almost identical features, but has one more tube for greater change capacity and does not have any problems accepting bi-metal tokens and dropping them in the cash box. The Guardian also can not stack tokens into a tube to give as change. We have tried to get Coinco to stack the tokens in a tube also, but no cigar!

Cont'd

 

[Uncle Sam]

The tokens that are used by the chain and in the acquired wash were both bi-metal so we tested them in the Mars and the Coinco. The Mars could not read one of the bi-metal tokens. So we tried them in the Coinco Guardian which we could program to accept both of them. Problem solved?? Not quite.

The customer wanted their existing token accepted and stacked in a tube for change making, the token from the wash they were buying dropped into the cash box, and they wanted the nickels and dimes turned off. Since neither the Mars not the Guardian changers can stack tokens, we had to revert back to an older Coinco 4-tube changer that could be programmed to do exactly as the customer wanted; the chain token stacked, the local wash token put into the drop box, and the nickel and dime coins turned off. After 6 months the local token can be turned off and not accepted.

Now everybody is happy!! A great Coinco tech in L.A. helped us achieve this result.

Uncle Sam