How To Use Credit Card At Vending Machine: Tutorials ✅
To use Credit Card at Vending Machine: 1) Swipe your card 2) enter the necessary codes, then hit the “End” button once you’re done.
Today, we’re sharing a detailed step-by-step guide for this process and answering some common questions.
READ: How to Reset Vending Machine Card Reader?
How to Use a Vending Machine: Step-By-Step
- Insert your money or payment method into the machine.
- Select the product you want by pressing the corresponding button.
- Make sure you press the button firmly and hold it down until the product drops.
- Retrieve your product from the dispenser. If it gets stuck, don’t shake the machine or try to force it out.
- Contact the machine operator for assistance.
Nowadays, more and more vending machines are supporting the use of debit and credit cards to buy their items.
How to Use a Credit Card at a Vending Machine
Start by checking your credit card for any apparent damage then check the vending machine and the card reader for compatibility, procedure, and price information.
Step 1: Check your card
First things first, you need to examine your credit card for any excessive bending or visible damage to its magnetic strip, otherwise, the card may be declined.
Also, check the expiry date on your card to make sure it’s still valid. If you’re using a brand-new credit card, you’ll need to activate it first.
Next, you should check whether or not your card is compatible with the vending machine. Usually, you’ll find this information around the card reader.
Some vending machines don’t accept ATM credit cards despite being from major providers (Visa/Mastercard). In any case, this should be mentioned on the vending machine.
Step 2: Check the vending machine
Look over the vending machine’s card reader for any signs of malfunction or damage.
If the device is displaying some sort of “timeout” or “out of order” message, don’t attempt to insert your credit card. Not only won’t it work, but your card may get stuck inside!
Additionally, you should check the card reader for the direction of card swiping. Some machines indicate that the magnetic card needs to face left when swiping, while other machines tell you to face it right.
Step 3: Figure out the code and price of the item(s) you want
If everything seems in order, you should now look for the code and price corresponding to the item(s) you want to buy.
The code can be a bunch of letters, numbers, or a combination of both. You’ll need to input the code to get the correct item.
As for the price, it’s typically shown next to the code. If not, pressing the button for the item will probably display its price on the screen.
Step 4: Swipe your credit card
Once you’ve figured out the code and price of the item(s) you want to purchase, it’s time to swipe your credit card in the card reader.
- Position the card at the top of the reader with the magnetic strip facing the indicated direction.
- In a steady motion, swipe the card until it comes out from the bottom of the reader. Don’t swipe too fast or too slow.
- Wait for an approval message to pop up.
This step triggers communication between the vending machine’s system and your bank to ensure there’s enough money in your account and to authorize the transaction.
Step 5: Choose your item(s)
Select the item(s) you want to purchase by punching in the corresponding code(s).
Double-check the code to make sure you get the correct item(s). In case of a mistake, just push the “Cancel” or “Clear” button.
If the vending machine doesn’t use codes, simply hit the designated button(s) for the item(s).
You choose as many items as you want and the machine will add up the prices to charge you the whole sum at the end.
Step 6: End the process
Once you’re done selecting the item(s) and you grab them from the vending machine, push the “End” button on the card reader to finish the process. This prevents following customers from reusing your credit card, unintended or not.
This step is crucial to avoid unauthorized transactions.
FAQs
What if my item gets stuck in the vending machine?
If your item(s) get stuck in the machine and rocking the machine to the side doesn’t work, you’ll need to call the phone number located on the card reader or next to the money slot.
This lets you contact the vending company so you can explain what happened and request a refund. For future purposes, you should avoid machines that often have items getting stuck.
Why is my credit card not working on the vending machine?
There are more than a dozen reasons why your credit card isn’t working on a vending machine, some of which are related to the machine while some are related to the card. Common issues include:
- Processing problems
- Interrupted card reading
- Connection timeouts
- Damaged card
- Expired card
- Incorrect pin
- Daily limit reached
- Incompatible card
- Insufficient funds
- Inactive card
- Security reasons
What if I forget to press the “End” button?
If you forget to press the “End” button, the machine will either wait for a few minutes then time out, or it’ll end the transaction when you or someone else makes another purchase.
To avoid worrying and potential overcharging, always remember to hit the “End” button once you’re done.
Can I get a receipt from the vending machine after the transaction is complete?
This depends on the model of the vending machine and the card reader. Some machines print out receipts, but some can’t.
If you need a receipt but the machine doesn’t provide receipts, you can call the phone number on the machine and see if you can request a record of the purchase.
Wrap Up
Using debit and credit cards to buy heavily contributes to making small purchases easier, especially when you can’t seem to find any change on you no matter how deep you dig into your bag or pockets.
To ensure a successful, smooth transaction every time, you need to know the proper steps of purchasing with a card.
The process is pretty easy and should go smoothly if you carefully follow the indicated directions.
Be sure to check the machine and the card first, and don’t forget to end the process after you’re finished.
