I stopped using the vending machines in my office. The prices keep going up up up. I think $.90 is too much for a bag of peanut M&M's.

$0.75 for peanut m&m's over here at my employer.

A couple jobs ago, we had a vending machine that had one mislabeled slot. It was labled 90 cents, but triggered after 35 cents.

I was always in a good mood when it got stocked with something I liked. That is how I met those anorexic Cheetos.

A. You work with honest people. When something gets stuck in our vending machine, there's a mad dash to get change to buy the thing behind it and end up with a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

B. Do you think it's the economy? Our vending machine prices inexplicably went DOWN anywhere from a dime to a quarter, depending on how much chocolate was in the item.

she looks a little too upset!

Agree with Bucky. At my job, but the time you came back with more change, somebody would have either tilted the machine or got a 2 for 1 deal.

Is that story about how you shouldn't "tilt" the machine because it can crush you to death an urban legend or the truth?

I would figure some entrepreneur would run an underground vending machine out of his desk. Would management crack down on something like that?

Joyce,
When I worked in downtown Baltimore, the vending companies bolted the machines to the wall, so you couldn't tilt them.

but like Bucky, there was always a stampede when there was a stuck item. Our lunch room also had a change maker so if you were there at the time, your chances were pretty good of a BOGO.

the guy from the Sports desk, might that be Mr. Schmuck?

He looks like he frequents the vending machines.

Sam Zell's finding more and more ways to capture revenue, eh?

At least you guys have vending machines. We used to, but they were deemed a fire code violation because they were "blocking a fire exit." Apparently they changed the definition of "blocking" and I didn't get the memo, because the machines were under the bottom flight of stairs, in space that is normally either A) full of discarded Diamondbacks or B) full of construction equipment for the University's latest harebrained "improvement" scheme.

I mean it's not a big deal since it's College Park and there are vending machines every-frickin-where, but it's irritating to have to walk to the next building for a Snickers when it's freezing/raining/wintry mixing outside.

/Soapbox. Ugh, can you tell I'm happy to be at work today?

Wow, I look awful there. I wasn't even screaming at the machine -- I wasn't upset because I don't ever eat anything out of it (the food is kind of gross, in my opinion). I went over because I was concerned that whoever was loudly banging on the machine (Justin?!) daily was going to die if and when the machine tipped over.

Not Screaming - How can Peanut M & M's be gross?

EL - not sure if you decided on how you would choose someone for the cookbook...But how about you take an inventory of what is in the vending machine, then whoever correctly guesses the most (based on this picture), wins?

Trixie - exactly my thoughts! Peanut M&M's could NEVER be gross!

PCB Rob,

Speaking as "the guy from the Sports desk," I can tell you that I am not Mr. Schmuck -- though he does, in fact, frequent the vending machines on occasion.