The vending machines at Shawnee Mission Northwest have orange signs cautioning students to “use at your own risk,” but that hasn’t stopped anyone from buying chips or drinks throughout lunch and passing periods.
Students have kicked and pulled the machines each time they aren’t given what they want. They also complain when the card reader takes their money, or when it eats their bills and coins — even though they’re warned against using them.
“It stole a five-dollar bill from me, and I’ve not used them since,” junior Sam Schill said.
Schill has had many other encounters with the vending machines that have steered him away. He’s witnessed students get yelled at for pushing them, and saw one of the machines get shattered.
Sophomore Hannah Philips pays with a card, and she still says about 90% of the time vending machines malfunction and take her money.
One time, she went to get a bag of cookies for herself and a friend. But when she made the purchase, nothing happened.
Philips bought another bag, thinking maybe she would get two since she already bought one, but she only received one. Phillips still wanted to buy one for her friend, so she paid a third time.
Again, only one fell.
With two bags in her arms, Phillips left after paying six dollars for cookies.
Students have blamed Northest for these mishaps, and according to associate principal Britton Haney make frequent complaints to administration or other faculty.
“I think they need to realize that not the school’s — they’re a third party vendor’s,” Haney said.
Signs and products that can be purchased are provided by the sellers, not Northwest. ARC — Allied Refreshments Company — rents the space for vending machines, so Northwest admin can’t refund anyone.
Haney said that the best solution he can offer is to take a picture of the half-fallen snack and stop the person restocking machines to show them and get a free bag of chips, fruit snacks or cookies.
Still, students like Phillips will still use the machines daily, just to get that extra caffeine from a blue raspberry Ice drink.
“I need my sippy,” Phillips said.
