It was supposed to take all forms of payment--credit cards, debit cards, even Apple Pay. It doesn't. It accepts only paper currency. It was supposed to save the City money by eliminating the need to employ people to sell the trash bags. It hasn't. The trash bag sellers are still there, and today, I was grateful for that.
In need of a blue trash bag this morning before the garbage truck made its rounds, I went to the vending machine to buy just one small bag to meet my immediate need. I parked the car in front of the machine and got out, with a dollar bill and two quarters in my hand--$1.50, the price of one small bag. Studying the machine, I could find no place to insert coins. There was only a slot for bills--$1, $5, $10, or $20. So, I went back to the car, pulled a $5 bill out of my wallet, and returned to the machine. I inserted my $5, tapped in the number of the item I wanted, and waited. Coins dropped--three $1 coins and two quarters--but no garbage bag dropped. The wretched machine had taken my $1.50 but wasn't giving me a bag!
Fortunately, one of the unkept promises of the machine allowed me to go inside City Hall (it was now a few minutes after 9 a.m.) and use one of my newly acquired $1 coins and the two quarters to purchase a trash bag from a human being. Happily, I managed to get my trash at the curb before the garbage truck came around.
COPYRIGHT 2017 CAROLE OSTERINK
its a joke
ReplyDeletetourists are fascinated by it though - such an odd thing
ReplyDeleteIn the evening people discover that thing and stand there puzzled, wondering WTF it's supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if that stupid machine is going to eliminate the job of the nice little old lady who has been sitting inside selling bags for years?
a house which Galloway is the landlord has no use for these blue bags They just put their garbage in front of 348 Warren st . The DPW awnser to this constant eyesore was to remove the garbage bin, thinking that would stop the Trashers . NO it has not.." IF THE GARBAGE MAN DOSE NOT COME AROUND ,SHIT PILES UP "
ReplyDeleteWe go to the county transfer station on Fish and Game now. Buy the bags at the County Clerk. That vending machine sucks.
ReplyDeleteWhy does this supposed convenience continue to be an object of ridicule. Why isn't it living up to its expectations. Surly there's a committee of at least one responsible for ordering this machine that can respond to its failings.
ReplyDelete