Should Everything Be Purchasable by All?
Bright lights and flashing buttons on a vending machine usually make people want to buy things from your vending machine. But what if those attracted aren’t the intending consumer base you’re looking for?
Demerit goods like cigarettes might be sold to curious children or rebellious teenagers, exposing them to unwanted health detriments previously controllable by a responsible cashier. ID checks before purchases are not fool-proof; an ID could simply be borrowed from an unsuspecting parent for a few minutes to make a purchase. These very same parents would also not be very pleased if their children could stumble upon a stash of money and buy all the smartphones from a vending machine downstairs while they were at work.
Demerit goods like cigarettes might be sold to curious children or rebellious teenagers, exposing them to unwanted health detriments previously controllable by a responsible cashier. ID checks before purchases are not fool-proof; an ID could simply be borrowed from an unsuspecting parent for a few minutes to make a purchase. These very same parents would also not be very pleased if their children could stumble upon a stash of money and buy all the smartphones from a vending machine downstairs while they were at work.
Automating Theft?
The continued integration of shopping is convenient, as cashless payments and touch-to-pay services continue to take over. It does, however, leave consumers much more vulnerable to ID theft, where information and eventually credit could be stolen by hackers.
Like all other computers, a vending machine could be exposed to viruses or software that could compromise the data of consumers. The risk of this is much higher compared to online shopping, as the servers are open to the public, usually 24/7, and many people will use, or could misuse, the vending machines day by day.
Like all other computers, a vending machine could be exposed to viruses or software that could compromise the data of consumers. The risk of this is much higher compared to online shopping, as the servers are open to the public, usually 24/7, and many people will use, or could misuse, the vending machines day by day.