The first thought that comes to mind when thinking about vending machines is they are for convenience, and meant to make things easier for people.

What happens when they break down, take your money, have sold out lights that don’t work, or simply no selection to choose from? That’s not exactly the average person’s idea of convenience. Unfortunately, this is a problem that some of the students are dealing with on the Mt. Hood Community College campus.

Students enrolled at MHCC, and who have night classes, rely on the vending machines as a means by which they can get a snack or drink before or after any given class. What are they to do if the nearest vending machines don’t function or haven’t been stocked? Sure, they could go find another one, but is that convenient? NO! Students don’t always have a lot of time in between classes and if they are forced to go hunting for a working machine; then it could cause them to be late.

Sold out signs that don’t work…what is up with that? I put my dollar and twenty-five cents in only to find out that my selection is SOLD OUT. Then to top that off, I have to end up buying a drink I didn’t want in the first place because there is no dollar return button or lever. There is, of course, a coin return, but not many people have pocketfuls of change. And why is it that it costs a dollar and twenty-five cents? Why not just a dollar? People are left with one of two choices. They can carry change with them, or they can break another dollar.

Losing money to a vending machine is the most frustrating thing that can happen. At least when you have to get something you don’t want, you still get something. Such is not the case if a dollar is gobbled up and nothing is forthcoming from the vending machine. If that happens, what do you do? Well, after getting the phone number and vending machine number from the malfunctioning dispenser, you can call up the company and give them the number of the machine in question. You will then be asked for your home address to which your dollar will be sent.

There seems to be a lack of vending machine variety to go along with everything else. Nowhere on campus is there a place for students to buy cigarettes. Instead of having the MHCC students go off campus to purchase smokes, wouldn’t it be much nicer to have a few cigarette-dispensing machines that cater to their needs? It would help to increase vending machine income because of the sheer amount of students that smoke.

Another vending machine that sells supplies for classes would be a nice add-on so students wouldn’t have to walk so far if they ever needed something. The current one is above the bookstore. That seems rather pointless unless you’re a student who has night classes.
To top it off, why not have condom dispensers in the bathrooms? MHCC would be doing the general public a favor.

New vending machines would solve most of the problems that students are having with the old, decrepit ones. I say most because how often the machines are stocked has nothing to do with the quality of the vending machine. Nor does the level of variety.