Soda machine "hack" yields extra beverages
By Darren Murph 
posted September 19th 2006 5:01AM
posted September 19th 2006 5:01AM
C'mon, we've all wondered just what it'd take to nab an extra snack or soft drink from that soulless, computerized vending machine, right? Even if you haven't pondered such mischievous thoughts, you've probably muttered to yourself more than once how the robo-fridge took your money and didn't give you a tasty treat. So this "hack" goes out to you with a bone to pick, here's how to turn the tables on those carbonated money snatchers. In a video documentary shot by two (intelligently) undisclosed individuals, they trick one of those fancy conveyor belt-equipped pop boxes into thinking it has failed at dispersing the requested beverage. Once it believes that you're fuming mad and only moments away from striking the machine, it simply returns your money while the drink remains on the belt. If you haven't figured out the rest, you simply reinsert your recently refunded coinage, and repeat the process until the belt runs out of room (or you hear someone coming). While this one may not be not founded on more idealistic principles, we can bet it sure feels good to know if we really wanted to be, we could finally be on the duping end of the ever-dubious soda machine confrontation -- now, somebody give this a whirl on one of those iPod / digicam vending machines. [Read link possibly NSFW.][Thanks, RedBull Runner]
i tried this today, it did not refund my dollar even after i held the door and the bottle stayed on the belt.
i ended up having to pay $2 for 2 bottles!
is it required to put extra money in like in the video?
these corporations enough money anyway
Hmm... well they really do charge $1.25 for a bottle of Disani at our school. A huge WTF in itself.
I like these kinds of things, but it shouldn't go to as large an audience as engadget, there will be too many people stealing soda which isn't good.
lol!! we've been doing this for months in my high school... and even the security guards seem to dont care because the vending machines are not from the school they are from a guy that pays the school for putting his machines there... but well it was pretty fun... until everyone knew the trick so every soda you choosed it told sold out.... bummer...
Uh neither links work.
the engadget efect....
2.25 for a coke ?? man thats where the real steal is. Here in mexico they come at a 0.60 and we all think they are over priced.
Thats why we drink beer, its cheaper (0.50) and makes you forget that other nations pays twice for soda.
Water? nahh beer is still cheaper
I showed my coworkers on second shift how to do it, and now we're all wired on expensive energy drinks.
God love you Engadget!
Site's down. Someone put up a mirror or upload it to Google Video.
I should know, by tuesday, every single soda machine at school, with the rare exception of Building 10 is sold out, and if you have easy access to a fridge, why bother, I mean, considering all the times it's taken my hard earned money, I'd want some payback...
Why not just hit the button for the drink then as soon as it hits the belt you unplug it and plug ut back in. That's what I've been doing.
LOL i love this USA ROCKS and also ive tried it and it WORKED!!! i went and bragged it about my friends now we do it maybe just hundred times its so cool who gives a shit if you stealing thats their problem as long as you dont get caught your good.
This happens all the time at my school. The Coke people have tried to fix it, but don't seem to be able to. One of our machines does the same as the one in the video, and the other only tries once before it gives up. Plus it doesn't say "sold out" on a particular soda until people have stole 3 or 4.
By the way, if the machine has Powerade in it, don't get that one first, it gets stuck on a 'lil metal bar thing, at least on our machine.
one might think that by pointing out this flaw in these "smart" vending machines, the security issue would then be addressed and less end loss of product would be the result of it's engadget posting, rather than the limited circulation of a video which might only be seen by those who advocate use of such illicit means
*one might think: unless one wanted to talk about their proximity to and knowledge of local drug den's, or perhaps one might want to give friendly old informative engadget kicks in the shin :/
btw, is it engadget's spell checker that is flagging engadget as being misspelled?
someone is now sure to take advantage of this security flaw and use it to bilk engadget of unnecessary online data hosting to keep the resultant furor of posts online!
/me hides from the sure to ensue carnage