How to Get Stuck Chips Out of Vending Machine? Easy Guide

From payment methods to touchscreen selection, it’s obvious that vending machines have come a long way. However, with all the technological advancements of vending machines, some issues still happen nowadays as they did back then.

One of the most common and frustrating problems is when items get stuck inside the vending machine after you’ve paid for them.

If you’re wondering how to get stuck chips out of vending machines, then you’ve come to the right place!

So, How to Get Stuck Chips Out of Vending Machine?

The best way to get stuck items out of a vending machine is to buy another item of the same product or buy an item that’s above it. You can also try shaking the flap door to generate vibration or suction, calling someone to help, or waiting for the machine’s sensors to kick in.

Today, we’re discussing why items get stuck inside vending machines in the first place and 6 different ways you can free your item.

RELATED READ: How to Fix Vending Machine Too Many Transactions?

Why Do Items Get Stuck Inside Vending Machines?

Before we get to explaining the solutions, let’s try to understand why items get stuck in vending machines.

The main reason why this happens is because of the incorrect stocking of items inside the vending machines. In other words, the person responsible for loading the machine puts the items in the wrong position.

Improper loading can cause items to get caught in the metal spirals and fail to fall all the way.

When you’re stocking a vending machine, you’re supposed to place each item’s package with both of its bottom corners ahead of the metal spiral.

If you place the item at an angle and one or both of the bottom corners of the package ends up behind the spiral, it’s more likely to get stuck.

6 Ways to Get Stuck Chips Out of Vending Machine?

Vending machines are an excellent solution for buying snacks and beverages on the go. They offer a wide range of options for you to choose from, and you can pay in various forms other than cash including credit or debit cards and phone apps.

Now that you know why items get stuck inside vending machines, it’s time you learn how to fix it.

Here are 6 solutions you can try to free your stuck chips from a vending machine:

1. Buy another item of the same product

The first thing you can try is to buy another bag of the same product. This way, you’ll trigger the dispense of the chips bag that was behind the one that got stuck.

From there, the second bag will push the one stuck in front of it, knocking it down for you to receive. Now, you’ll -hopefully- have two of the same chips that you can enjoy!

2. Buy the item that’s above the stuck chips

If you don’t mind spending an additional bit and you don’t want two of the same chips, you can try buying the item that’s directly above the bag of chips that got stuck. When the item above is dispensed, it can unjam the stuck chips on its way to the bottom.

While this solution should work in most cases, sometimes luck leaves your side like these youngsters who tried to use a chocolate bar to free a stuck bag of chips, only to have both items get stuck when the chocolate bar lands on top of the chips without freeing it.

3. Shake the flap door where items come out

If the vending machine has a flap door over its dispensing area, then you can shake the flap to free the chips. Moving the flap can create a rush of air inside the machine that’s enough to knock down the stuck chips.

All you need to do is reach your hand to the flap, push it so it moves up, then remove your hand so it falls back down. Repeat this sequence a few times until your chips fall free.

When you try this method, be sure to quickly remove your hand once you let the flap go to avoid having it slam against your poor finger.

4. Call someone to help

Next, you can try calling someone who can help you get the chips out or get a refund for your purchase.

In the first case, you need to be at a supermarket, a convenience store, a hotel,  or some other place with staff around. One of these employees is probably responsible for loading the vending machine and can open it to grab your stuck chips.

In the second case when there’s no one around to help, you can call the number labeled on the machine and ask for a refund.

5. Wait for the machine’s sensors to detect the problem

Newer models of vending machines are equipped with sensors that can detect when an item has been purchased but failed to dispense then proceeds to free for you.

If you’re buying from one of these machines, then you’re in luck! All you need to do is wait for a few moments and the problem will fix itself.

6. Avoid items that look like they’ll get stuck

Last but not least, you can try avoiding the whole issue from the start by spotting whether the bag of chips you want to buy is likely to get stuck or not.

As we mentioned earlier, the correct position of items inside a vending machine is when both the bottom corners of the package are ahead of the metal spiral.

If the bag of chips you want is placed at an angle and one or both of its package’s bottom corners is behind the spiral, there’s a good chance it’s going to get stuck.

Wrap Up

There you have it, a complete guide on how to get stuck chips out of vending machines. The best solution is to buy another item of the same product or buy an item that’s above it.

You can also try shaking the flap door where items are dispensed, calling for help, or waiting for the machine’s sensors to detect the issue. To avoid this frustration in the future, you can learn how to spot items that look like they’ll get stuck.