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|
{{ define "content" }}
<header>
{{ template "navbar" . }}
<h1>{{ .T "Euro Coin Collecting" }}</h1>
</header>
<main>
<h2>{{ .T "What is Vending Machine Hunting?" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
‘Vending machine hunting’ is a strategy of collecting coins
whereby you continuously insert coins into a vending machine
and cancel the transaction by pressing the return button.
When the vending machine returns your coins to you, you will
often get different coins from the ones you put in, and you
can repeat this process until you’ve searched through every
coin in the machine.
` }}
</p>
<h2>{{ .T "The Test Coins" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
First, you want to make sure the vending machine you come
across actually gives back change — sometimes they don’t!
Throw in a 10 cent coin and press the return button. If it
doesn’t give the coin back, you can move on to the next
machine; there’s a high chance it won’t return higher
denominations either. Next throw in a random 2 euro coin and
press the return button. You should do this because vending
machines may not return 2 euro coins, but rather 1 euro- or
50 cent coins instead. It’s better to find out immediately
as opposed to later once you’ve already put in all of your 2
euro coins.
` }}
</p>
<h2>{{ .T "The Stopper" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
We want to be able to know when we’ve gone through all the
coins in the vending machine. To do this, take out a coin
and mark it with something (drawing on it with a Sharpie
works well), then put it into the machine. Next time you get
the same coin back, you know you’ve gone through everything.
` }}
</p>
<h2>{{ .T "Rejected Stoppers and Coins" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
Sometimes you may throw a stopper in, but you hear a ‘clunk’
sound, as if the coin was dropped into a box (normally adding
a coin should be silent after you throw it in). This means
the coin was not added to the stack properly, and so it will
not be returned. Pay attention to this noise, because you
won’t be getting the stopper back! Throw in another marked
coin instead until the machine accepts the coin.
` }}
</p>
<h2>{{ .T "(Non-)Merging Machines" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
We generally identify between two main types of vending
machines.
` }}
</p>
<dl>
<dt>{{ .T "Merging" }}</dt>
<dd>
{{ .T `
The vending machine merges change together. For example
if you throw in five 50 cent coins, the machine returns
either two 1 euro coins and one 50 cent coin or one 2
euro and one 50 cent coin. This usually means you can
hunt 2 euro coins very quickly but other denominations
only once at a time. A good tip is to throw in an odd
number of euros and 80 cents if you want to search
through all denominations.
` }}
</dd>
<dt>{{ .T "Non-Merging" }}</dt>
<dd>
{{ .T `
The vending machine does not merge change together. This
means if you throw in five 50 cent coins it will return
five 50 cent coins. This makes it very easy to hunt a
large amount of a specific denomination.
` }}
</dd>
</dl>
<h2>{{ .T "Limits" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
There are some limits to vending machine hunts which you need
to be aware of.
` }}
</p>
<dl>
<dt>{{ .T "Maximum Input Limit" }}</dt>
<dd>
{{ .T `
Some machines have a maximum amount you can throw in, and
will reject anything higher. For example machines with a
max limit of five euros will reject any additional coins
if you throw in five euros. You can try to go above the
limit if you throw in, say, %s and then another one- or
two euro coin; the machine will probably accept it.
` (.Printer.M 4.80 false) }}
</dd>
<dt>{{ .T "Maximum Change Limit" }}</dt>
<dd>
<p>
{{ .T `
Some machines will either give back large amounts of
change in bills or will not give back large amounts
of change at all (usually cigarette machines). Read
the labels on all machines carefully since these
limits are usually written there.
` }}
</p>
<p>
{{ .T `
Even if no limits are listed, it’s still advised that
you exercise caution: it is not uncommon for a
vending machine to steal your money. In the case
that a vending machine does steal your money, look
for a label on the machine that contains a support
number.
` }}
</p>
<p>
{{ .T `
For information on Austrian cigarette machines, see
the ‘%sCigarette Machines%s’ section.
` `<a href="#ciggy">` `</a>` | safe }}
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<h2 id="ciggy">{{ .T "Cigarette Machines" }}</h2>
<p>
{{ .T `
In some countries where cigarette machines are legal, you can
hunt through them as well. Unless you’re in Malta, you must
verify your age on them by either sliding an ID card through
a sensor or holding a debit card on an RFID scanner; you must
do this for every cycle. Sometimes you must also select
something to purchase, throw in less money than the cost, and
then cancel the purchase. Note that most cigarette machines
in Austria have a %s max change limit.
` (.Printer.M 4.90 false) }}
</p>
<p>
{{ .T `
For RFID scanner machines it helps to wear a glove and slide
a debit card into the back of it so you can easily use both
hands and don’t have to fumble with a card and coins.
` }}
</p>
</main>
{{ end }}
|
