X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sganet
Date:         Wed, 15 Apr 1992 21:49:34 CDT
From:         Brian Lucas <lucas@CCU.UMANITOBA.CA>
Subject:      Re: vend-a-cards
X-To:         SGANET@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU
              "thardy%OYSTER.SMCM.EDU@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU" at Apr 15, 92 6:16 pm

>  we use
> the xeroxing machines in coins. Some other schools have a system that allows
 the
>  student
> ID cards to tally your xeroxing so the student is not forced to carry money
>  around and
> thus,  avoid being potentially robbed. Does any one presently have in place
 such
>  a
> system of vend-a-cards? Even if this doesn't pertain to xeroxing , please let
 me
>  know how
> your system works so I can report this back to the SGA here.
>
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Tom Hardy
>

From the University of Manitoba (approx. 25,000 students in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Canada)....

Such a system exists here for photocopying; it is adminisstered by the campus
libraries.  You pay $1.00, non-refundable, for a blank card with magnetic
stripe.  You can buy a card with $5.00 value of copies (copies cost 5 cents
each) at any library on campus (our libraries are split - there is a central
one, and then libraries in Science complex, Education Building, Engineering
Building, etc.) and some libraries have machines where you stick in your
card and some money, and you can add any amount of value you want to the
card.  All photocopiers in the libraries accept the cards; each library
also usually has one or two copiers that still have coin acceptors but
most copiers no longer take coins.

Our system does not use the student ID card, although it could; there is a
magnetic stripe on ID cards, and the librarian swipes the card when we take
books out.  It was decided to go with a separate card, probably for some
privacy or bureaucratic reasons.  A good idea because it is easy to forget
your copy-card in the copier.  Copy-cards (officially called "Interface Cards"
but everyone calls them copy-cards) have no identifying features on them -
nowhere to put your name or anything, so if you lose it, you lose it.

Copy-cards are not good for anything else on campus, so I wouldn't call
them vend-a-cards.  No-one (to my knowledge) has examined the idea of using
similar cards in Coke machines or similar vending machines.

Overall, the copy-cards have been well-accepted on campus, as far as I can
tell; there are still some die-hards who refuse to shell out the $1.00 for
the first card (note that after you pay your $1, you simply add value to it
or trade it in for a fresh card, but you only pay the $1 once; after that
you only pay for the copies you make, at the standard rate) or use coins
for whatever reason, but most people seem to like the copy-card plan
because it reduces the amount of small change you have to carry around.
I don't think safety (as in carrying around less cash) was ever an issue
in the implementation of the cards, as you suggest in your question; no-one
puts more than a few bucks on their card and their main purposes were
(1) to reduce the cash-handling costs of the university, and (2) convenience
of the users.

Please feel free to follow up...
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU