# Morals.... and the Vending Machine
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 12, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350 "2002-12-12T22:47:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/21 "2002-12-13T12:40:28Z")
It’s not YOUR fault the machine is broken. Enjoy it while you can.
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/22 "2002-12-13T13:25:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If you choose an item from the second to the bottom row, it will give you two of this item for the price of one.
The machine is clearly having a 2-for-1 sale on second-to-the-bottom-row items. Where’s the confusion?
That may have sounded like deperate rationalizing, but if the machine attendant has been to the machine and collected the money and it’s still not fixed, then it’s pretty clear that this is the way it’s supposed to operate.
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### Author:  [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/23 "2002-12-13T13:58:47Z")
Personal Morals do not apply with anything vending machine related.
A vending machine is basically like me buying a video game from a store for $50, and then selling it to you for $75.
So take advantage while you can, because you will be back to being ripped off again soon…
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### Author:  [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/24 "2002-12-13T14:24:18Z")
I’d tell and feel an obligation not to use that row until a reasonable amount of time has passed (until I thought the machine has been fixed, say until the next time it’s refilled). If it still hasn’t been fixed by then, I’d assume they meant it and not worry about it.
Most vending machines I’ve seen have a number or email address of the person you can contact on a sticker on them.
I’m really surprised at the number of people who are justifying stealing in this thread.
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### Author:  [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/25 "2002-12-13T14:34:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate \*
> \*\*
> I’m really surprised at the number of people who are justifying stealing in this thread. \*\*
It is not stealing… Stealing is when you actually take something on purpose…
This is more a game of chance… maybe you will get 1, maybe you will get 2… maybe none in some cases…
It is up to the people who own the vending machine to check that it works and to keep proper maintenance… I mean that is the least they could do after ripping people off like that…
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/26 "2002-12-13T15:11:00Z")
I have a similar situation. The animal crackers in our machine are in a .75 slot, but the slot is set to accept .45. In my mind, I just say that they must have run out of .45 stickers or something. It’s been like this for nearly a year now. Oh, and it occasionally rips me off for other items, like candy bars or chips or something. And I never get the refund.
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### Author:  [@swingchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swingchick)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/27 "2002-12-13T18:26:00Z")
* * *
Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate
## I’m really surprised at the number of people who are justifying stealing in this thread.
I see your point, however, what is one to do if 2 candy bars fall. Are we supposed to shove one back up or just leave it there in hopes the vending machine guy will come along and put it back in the machine.
Doing it over and over again on purpose, well that is another story.
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/28 "2002-12-13T18:42:46Z")
The first item was purchased by you.
The second item is an unclaimed item you happened to find before someone else did.
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### Author:  [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/29 "2002-12-13T19:39:52Z")
Back in college I was introducted to the concept of the “magic dollar” - a dollar bill with a length of clear adhesive plastic attached to it which would let you feed in the dollar into a vending machine, then pull it back out again. Timing was critical, but I got pretty good at it pretty quickly. There was even one machine that would let you feed in $2, buy a milk for $0.60 and give you the change back. I used to work in the computer lab at night when almost nobody was around and this was how I fed myself almost every night.
Although I’m a very moral person and have almost never stolen anything in my life, I never felt a single pang of guilt in doing this. Aside from the fact that it was really cool, those vending machines had stolen so much money from me and everyone else that I figured they were getting what they deserved.
Please note that dollar bill slots have gotten much smarter in the last 10 years or so and are no longer fooled by such simple tricks. The old, stupid bill readers were already being replaced back when I was pulling this trick. So don’t go trying this now - you’re just asking for trouble.
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### Author:  [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/30 "2002-12-14T00:06:25Z")
Maybe it’s a question of degrees, but I’ve never had a problem with 2-for-1’s from vending machines (and as a student I use them often enough).
It wouldn’t happen if the machine was properly set up (usually the wrong item has been put in the wrong place), sometimes you don’t get anything because either it doesn’t work or the item got stuck on its way down and there was no jock about to tilt the machine.
Also if you report it you’re denying all your fellow students free chocolate bars–chew on that 😉
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### Author:  [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/31 "2002-12-14T00:36:14Z")
I don’t think you should report it. Why? Because when I was confronted with the vending machine in the basement which started both crediting and returning dimes, I did not report it. I headed to the basement with a handful of dimes, and got twenty free candy bars. (I’d have gotten more, but friends had already taken most everything else.)
So I can’t justify telling you to do the right thing when my only thought was “Cool! Free candy!” I know it’s stealing, I know it’s wrong, I have never stolen anything in any other context, and yet for some reason my moral code completely breaks down when it comes to vending machine candy. I turn into a remorseless looter.
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### Author:  [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/32 "2002-12-14T01:39:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by merge \*
> \*\*It is not stealing… Stealing is when you actually take something on purpose…
>
> This is more a game of chance… maybe you will get 1, maybe you will get 2… maybe none in some cases… \*\*
Attempted stealing, then.
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### Author:  [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/33 "2002-12-14T01:58:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by JThunder \*
> \*\*Attempted stealing, then. \*\*
Well, no, that would be _trying_ to steal a candy bar from the vending machine and failing.
I’d probably let it go. Vending machines are subject only to the whims of the gods. ;^)
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### Author:  [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/34 "2002-12-14T03:08:26Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by B.Pants \*
> \*\*Ya know, I operate vending machines as part of my job. That money comes out of someone’s pocket. Mine, and my boss’s. Not some evil corporation. Just think about it. \*\*
Ya know, when that machine takes my money without giving me my product, that money goes into someone’s pocket…
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