What are your opinions on self-service food ordering kiosks?

Roach coaches, I still call them that, and have eaten off of many. And I don't look at the terminology as a bad thing, in my area it is more of an identifier that lunch is here. The wheel of death analogy was kinda funny, I got a chuckle out of it.
 
At the shop my wife works at they have a food service company that brings in fresh deli style sandwiches daily, the problem is is that they have really been slacking off and the food is now questionable and many times spoiled as the daily has turned into a day or two a week, and this is a BIG outfit. At least on a roach coach, odds are it is fresh that day. The vending machines make it difficult to know what you are getting is really fresh, as you normally have to purchase it to see a date. And then what? Call the vending company to get your $5 back? Not saying you run your show like that Billy, just stating what others have told me that have these vending machines in their shops.
 
Mike
 
 
 

Hey Mike, we took this account from a national food service company. I asked a few people what happened in the past and I heard the stories about green food coming out of the machines. We date all of out food and make sure our client is getting a good product. The problem in most places is they are not an on site vending company (like I am) and the machines don't get checked as they should. I pay to have my employees in my machines daily to ensure a quality operation that is fresh and well stocked..............Bill

Billy, the outfit doing the vending at my wife's place of work is a BIG in state company working on going regional. I think they grew to fast, not anticipating that this economy would implode around them, and trust me it did up here in Michigan.
 
Mike
 

The kiosk sales strategy is very prevalent if Japan, which I'm sure you're aware of.  I've heard of Americans entering the Japanese beef market by selling raw meat in kiosks!  Anyhow, I would monitor the Japanese market if you're interested in this.