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Article: Vending machines court the cashless.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- August 18, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Chicago Tribune. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Becky Yerak
Aug. 18--The future of two American habits--consuming carbonated beverages and using credit cards--is likely to be increasingly intertwined as vending machines that accept plastic become more prevalent.
It's a concept that inevitably raises questions about when a convenience might become an enabler, encouraging consumers to drink more soda or buy more candy, and maybe spend money they don't necessarily have.
Within the past week, MasterCard and a Coca-Cola bottling company have finished rolling out 1,000 vending machines that accept all forms of payment, including credit and debit cards, in the Philadelphia area so ...