# Bonus from the snack machine: what to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415 "2013-10-16T17:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/1 "2013-10-16T17:47:06Z")
I was just at the snack vending machine. I put my dollar in, made my selection, watched the coil spin, and instead of my bag of chips dropping, it’s left hanging at the end of the coil. Fuck! I gave the machine a little shake and it remained stuck. So, figuring I’ll probably want a bag of chips again tomorrow (or some other point in the future), I went ahead and slid another dollar in and made the same selection. The coil spins, the first bag drops, and of course the second bag is left hanging. Fuck! Again, I give the machine a shove, and this time the bag drops, along with a Mr. Goodbar from a lower coil in the machine. I take the 2 bags of chips I paid for. But what to do with the “free” Mr. Goodbar? More to the point (seeing that I already took it), what would _you_ do with the free Mr. Goodbar? a) Take it. The next person to come along is just going to take it anyway. Plus, don’t they owe you for pain and suffering? b) Leave it. You didn’t pay for it, so you have no right to it, no matter what the next person does. c) Pay it forward: give it away. d) Be good. Call the vending machine company. e) Something else. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/2 "2013-10-16T17:49:48Z")
a Well, TSD watch Nazi said that was too short, so I will lengthen it uselessly. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/3 "2013-10-16T17:52:09Z")
a. It’s not like it’s worth the vending machine company’s time to send someone out to collect it. They build a small amount of machine-malfunctioning loss into their prices. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/4 "2013-10-16T17:53:02Z")
The vending machine already tried to screw you. You just fought back and won round #2 plus a bonus. That sounds like a fair fight to me so I say you take it. It is just a temporary victory anyway. The machine will be back to take your money again when you can least afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/5 "2013-10-16T17:53:26Z")
Take it. This has become less of an issue lately as I’ve noticed more and more vending machines have a sensor in the bottom. If the coil spins and it doesn’t sense a drop in a reasonable time frame, it spins the coil again. This usually means you get two of whatever item but I imagine the owners prefer the loss of 75 cents in gross revenue to someone going to town on their delicate machine. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/6 "2013-10-16T17:53:49Z")
Take it, eat it, then leave money and a note explaining what happened.in an envelope at the front desk to give to the vending company. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/7 "2013-10-16T17:55:38Z")
You burned off calories shaking the machine. Even trade. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/8 "2013-10-16T17:59:27Z")
Take the goddamn candy bar, Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/9 "2013-10-16T17:59:51Z")
I think the correct answer would be to feed money into the machine, select Mr. Goodbar and see if anything drops. If it does, yay you! if it doesn’t, then, well you still have that first Mr. Goodbar. The reason I say this is the next person who wants a Mr. Goodbar, probably isn’t going to get one. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/10 "2013-10-16T18:12:50Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I think the correct answer would be to feed money into the machine, select Mr. Goodbar and see if anything drops. If it does, yay you! if it doesn’t, then, well you still have that first Mr. Goodbar. Ah, yes. I meant to add that into, or after, option d. In any case, I did take it, but I gave it away to my coworkers (who like chocolate a whole lot more than I do), so I feel I am at least karmically neutral on this one. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/11 "2013-10-16T18:19:33Z")
If any of the coils are empty, deposit money and spin the empty coil, that’ll keep the “inventory” count in the machine accurate, and you can feel comfortable that the “bonus” candy bar has been paid for ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/12 "2013-10-16T18:23:21Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Take the goddamn candy bar, Jesus Christ. Ditto. Seems like we’ve had a few of these threads lately. I didn’t read the other thread but I remember thinking the same thing a few days ago when I read the OP about someone getting few extra dollars from the McDonalds cashiers. If you’re asking about it on a message board you’re thinking waaay to hard about it. Keep the money, move on with life. If you have to ask then the guilt is bothering you so call them and let them tell you to keep the money and move on with life. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/13 "2013-10-16T18:37:42Z")
Life is too short for worrying about such things - this is the moral answer as far as I’m concerned. Do what you wish with it. I am sorry it caused you trouble. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/14 "2013-10-16T18:41:41Z")
Oh, I had no qualms whatsoever about taking it. Frankly, I just like making polls. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/15 "2013-10-16T18:47:00Z")
Take it. Leaving it is no good. I wouldn’t eat a candy bar I found lying in the drawer part of a vending machine. I was an impressionable kid when the Tylenol poisonings happened and I’m just too paranoid. Taking it or giving it away affects the vending machine folks equally. Technically contacting the vending machine folks is the ethical thing to do, but in the larger scheme of things just not worth the effort. If the vending machine guy was right there I’d probably give it back to him, but he’d probably just eat it! I can’t imagine they could put it back in the machine, so it’s a loss for them no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/16 "2013-10-16T18:49:14Z")
I voted leave it, but only because I don’t like Mr. Goodbar, and it’s not worth my time to try to find someone who does. If it were something better, like say Twix, I’d just take it. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/17 "2013-10-16T18:59:33Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Oh, I had no qualms whatsoever about taking it. Frankly, I just like making polls. You need to make these things clear in your OP \*before \*my head explodes. I saw this thread and was like, “Is there seriously consternation over this kind of thing?” I’m all for starting frivolous polls, however. _reassembles head_ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/18 "2013-10-16T19:04:59Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > If any of the coils are empty, deposit money and spin the empty coil, that’ll keep the “inventory” count in the machine accurate, and you can feel comfortable that the “bonus” candy bar has been paid for That’s not necessarily true. I figure the only reason the Mr. Goodbar fell out was because someone had tried to buy it earlier but it hung on like the OP’s chips. If that’s the case, there was no need to correct the machine’s inventory. If that’s the case, you might ask around if anyone had tried to buy a candy bar and gotten screwed by the machine. The first person who correctly identifies the culprit as Mr. Goodbar gets it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/19 "2013-10-16T19:05:11Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Take the goddamn candy bar, Jesus Christ. Fucking A. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415/20 "2013-10-16T19:10:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > If that’s the case, you might ask around if anyone had tried to buy a candy bar and gotten screwed by the machine. The first person who correctly identifies the culprit as Mr. Goodbar gets it. “They’re _ **all** _ Twix! It was a setup!!” 😃 I’m on a military base; it could be any one of thousands of people, so that probably wouldn’t have worked. ETA: plus, the people in my office already ate it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonus-from-the-snack-machine-what-to-do/671415.md?page=2)