Buffalo Rock to deploy MEI Cash Recyclers

Buffalo Rock, a Birmingham, Alabama-based full-line vending operator and Pepsi bottler, tested more than twenty MEI VNR units in vending machines located in Columbus, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. The company monitored sales data and compared results to the previous year’s figures. Buffalo Rock tracked sales lifts of 15 to 75 % over the course of the trial, which included locations in manufacturing plants, retail malls, car dealerships and military bases.

“We needed to demonstrate reliable performance, added customer convenience and sales lift before considering widespread deployment of the technology,” said Mike Bunt, general manager of Corporate Marketing Equipment at Buffalo Rock. “In most cases we achieved at least a 15% sales lift since installing the recyclers with virtually no jams or service problems.”

Cash recycling is a new payment technology that enables vending machines to accept us$ 1, us$ 5, us$ 10 and us$ 20 bills for purchases and dispense change in bills and coins. This technology combats the growing problem of vending sales lost to convenience stores and drive-thru chains that offer more payment options.

The MEI Cashflow VNR features a modular design and has the smallest cash recycler footprint available. It includes MEI’s reliable VN2700 bill validator platform, which can be easily converted in the field at any time to include the VNR recycler module. This flexible design allows an operator to efficiently manage payment options to meet customers’ changing needs.  

An optional high-visibility bezel with bright, low-powered LEDs catches the attention of customers and easily informs them which denominations are being accepted. For operators looking to expand payment options even more, they can install the MEI 4-in-1 bezel, which allows the Cashflow VNR to accept cash, MEI coupons, credit card and contactless payments.