privacy | contact | about

Coin Mechanisms & Bill Acceptors

Coin mechanisms and bill acceptors are those machines that have been created to take coins and currency notes in order to check to make sure that they are valid and to identify how much they are worth. These mechanisms work inside vending machines in order to identify how much money has been inserted so that a customer can obtain a product.

The mechanisms come in three different types: electronic, electric, and mechanical, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. For example, the electronic mechanism is a computerized version of the device which requires electricity in order to run its memory and scanning abilities. It is the version of the mechanism that allows for both bills and coins to be accepted. The mechanical and electric mechanisms, on the other hand, accept only coins. The difference between those two is simply that one requires electricity while the other does not.

It is important to know about these mechanisms because they determine how convenient and appealing your vending machine will be to the person who is considering buying a product from it. The more convenient it is to purchase your product, the more likely someone will be to start inserting money.

Once you've determined which type of mechanism is right for your machine, you can then decide whether you'd like it to be made of plastic or metal. Though it would seem natural to assume that metal is superior - as it is stronger and longer lasting - it is important to recognize that there are some good quality plastic options available as well. You need to look into the available options and decide which is best for you; the more expensive but better quality metal, or the cheaper high quality plastic. Never opt for cheap plastic - you will only be disappointed.

Of course, depending on what kind of vending machine you have, you may be offering products that are all being sold for the same price, or you could be selling products that are priced individually. This is another important point to take into consideration as you shop around for the right coin mechanisms and bill acceptors.

That being said, whether you're selling items for many prices or have a single price for everything you sell, it is worth your while in most circumstances (bulk vending excluded) to invest in a coin mechanism that has the ability to make change. Requiring your customers to have exact change will only limit the number of people who will be willing and able to buy. Remember, people use vending machines not because they are getting a good price or even necessarily for the spectacular products. Instead, they are willing to pay a little bit more in order to have the convenience of buying the product right when they want it. If your coin mechanism makes this process more difficult, it will only reduce your profits.

Lastly, the latest development in bill changers and coin mechanisms is the ability to accept debit transactions. This allows customers to use a prepaid card that they can purchase in a set denomination, or one that they can reload in whatever amount they desire. These are becoming very popular as it means that the customer no longer needs to carry cash or exact change in order to use the machine. Though these are not usually worthwhile until you have built a sizeable vending operation, they are well worth investigating so that you can plan for them when you get there.