Gone are the days ironing dollar bills along the edge of the machine or counting every coin in your pocket to get a refreshing drink from the vending machine, it now takes debit.

Technology is constantly making our lives easier. The Internet can be accessed anywhere these days, so why not make it that much easier to grab a soda? Vending machines across campus are getting a technological facelift too, but this upgrade may be more of an issue than a convenience.

As an alternative to paying with bills or coins, vending machines are now being equipped with card slots. The machines take the major credit cards, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Visa. With a swipe of a card, people make their selection and down comes the soda. The catch to the new feature is pressing the complete button.

Someone in a rush may think that the credit option will be faster and more convenient than using coins or bills. The potential threat lies in that person in the rush forgetting to finalize the transaction. Without pressing the complete button, the machine keeps a running tab and others may purchase their soda.

This last step is the most important step and yet there is no flashing light or real indication that it needs to be completed. If there was more attention placed on this need, then the credit card payment option would be easy and safe to use. At this point, however, it is questionable.

The electronic payment is based on an Internet connection. It is hard to say the extent of the security that has been placed on these machines to ensure hackers won’t tap into the signal during the transaction and reroute the money or capture the credit card information.

Another concern is in the transaction itself. Is there a transaction fee? The user must search around the card slot to see a note in an odd location instructing the user to call a number to inquire about receipts and transaction charges. But be careful not to call when the office is closed.

Similar transactions, like in gas stations, offer the amount that will be charged when using the credit option before the transaction can begin, others have a note near the screen that alerts the buyer whether there is a fee or not. Why can’t the vending machines provide the same service, or something similar? If there is a fee for using the credit option, the buyer will be able to decide if it is worth the extra charge for a soda.

What happens if the transaction is made and the machine does not release the soda? It is already a hassle to settle the dispute with bills and coin currency. Having to call for a credit dispute may be a bigger hassle depending on the problem.

One may wonder what the benefit is to the vending machine companies in installing this new feature. The thought process may be that the feature will provide more revenue through the credit option. However, the feature does add a cost to the company.

The possibilities of having the machines malfunction will be greater, not to mention the training involved, if any, to the service men for servicing the machines. In the end, will the added costs of having this new feature outweigh the expected increase in revenue?

Careful consideration should be made before using the credit option. Is it really necessary to use a credit or debit card for a soda? It would be a lot safer to use bills or change. It is hard to believe that the lack of spare change was so scarce that it has called for the vending machine companies to take such an action.