Abigail Horwitt tells us about the controversy going on in the PVS Upper School. The vending machines are charging $1.25 instead of $1.00 for food and drinks. We find out what the students are trying to do about it and why the 25 cents is such a horrible idea. – Editor Lilah Nick
By Abigail Horwitt, Vending-Machine Objector
Recently, there has been a major problem in the Palm Valley Upper School. About a month ago our vending machines were hijacked. Instead of our drinks and snacks being a dollar, the price was raised to a dollar and 25 cents. This sparked an outrage between both students and teachers. Having to have an extra 25 cents is inconvenient and troublesome. Due to these issues, ASB Co-President Sara Habibipour has taken it into her own hands by putting up signs protesting against the vending machines. With the help of the students, Sara has managed to get many signatures with the hope of bringing back only having to pay a dollar for your Diet Coke. I have heard countless students and teachers complain about not having two dollars, or not having an extra quarter just to buy a snack or drink. The amount of students and teachers going to buy something from the vending machines has decreased due to the pain of carrying around an extra quarter. I used to buy a drink from the vending machine everyday until the price unexpectedly rose an extra 25 cents.
Not only is the food overpriced, some of the food had been reported to be stale. The Palm Valley Upper School students are also hoping for a different variety of snacks in the vending machine, since some of the food has been sitting in these machines for most of the school year. The selection is “not good,” says senior Jesse Denyer. Hopefully, the spark of controversy with the vending machines helps raise enough attention to the school vending market and helps to bring change to our machines.
Bring back our $1 drinks and snacks!
Thank you Abby for spreading our message to the mass media. BRING BACK $1 VENDING MACHINE SNACKS AND DRINKS! We will get our way–it’s only a matter of time. I’m happy to know I have a strong army behind me to pursue this cause if it continues once I graduate.
Your faithful rebellion leader (and ASB Co-President),
Sara Habibipour
I’m wondering if, instead of having our vending machines sourced by an outside company, if we could do it within ours. The machines are probably owned by the company so we probably couldn’t use them, but perhaps we could buy them outright or even if not machines perhaps ASB could start selling their own snacks. The issue with those idea’s of course, is money (i.e. the cost of buying the machines) and/or convenience (i.e. not being able to get something when you wanted it.) *SIGH* – yes the cost of $1.25 has stopped me from getting a drink or two!
Remember vending snacks a business, and the point of a business is to make money in exchange for a service. If the service they offer isn’t making any money, why would they continue offering it? Inflation hurts, and gas prices (which affect the people who drive to Palm Valley to refill the machines) aren’t low either.
One month ago when vending machines were “hijacked,” inflation was at an eye-popping 7.5%. You’d have to look a little further up to see who you’re really upset with because, in truth, the company probably did what they had to do in order to actually make a profit on the service they offer.
Sorry, but, if anything, you should be happy the prices are still as low as they are. These prices are only going to go up.