Blog
Would you stick your card in that?
June 24, 2011 by Daniel Swain — VP/GM, ATMGurus
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Having been involved with the ATM industry since 1988, I have this annoying habit (ask my wife) of over-analyzing every ATM I happen upon, whether on vacation, at the store, getting gas, etc. (I suspect many of you probably suffer from the same disease.)
I want to see if the unit is functional, who it belongs to, what kind of surcharge fee it has, if it is branded, if it is clean, does it look like it has a skimming device, and on and on.
On my most recent business trip (about 800 miles round trip), I stopped for the usual like gas and snacks (convenience store), stayed at a hotel two nights, went out for lunch and dinner and even made a quick run to a grocery store to get some bottled water.
Suffering from the OAATM (Over-Analyzing ATM) disease, I found both joy and great disappointment when I started looking around. To my joy, every place I mentioned above had one of those great modern conveniences for accessing my cash in a prominent position at the front or near the front of each business. However, to my dismay, I was greatly disappointed to see the following with some of the machines.
• ATM with cracked fascia
• Out of service (out of cash error code displayed)
• Out of service (actually had a garbage bag over the top of it- wish I would have snapped a photo of that one)
• Grocery carts parked in front of the ATM
As a member of the ATM fraternity, we all take a hit personally when units are not operational, clean and aesthetically pleasing, or monitored to ensure maximum up time.
Some things to ponder:
• Is it time to upgrade my unit? Many manufacturers/parts resellers provide replacement plastics, new graphics, ADA kits and a host of updates to make existing units more pleasing to the consumer.
• Can my service provider or my own technician do a quick cleaning of the customer control panel, the monitor, clean the card reader, pick up discarded receipt, and general housekeeping around the unit? (How about moving the grocery carts as well?)
• Do I take full advantage of a monitoring package from the ATM manufacturer? This is a simple software tool that can provide valuable data on error codes and even perform a remote reset.
• Am I okay with leaving a unit out of service for extended periods of time? What does that cost me?
• Would I stick my own card into a machine that looks as rough as the one pictured?
• How many more transactions would I be getting with a spiffier machine?
ATMs provide a great convenience and service for the consumer, and help many of us make a living. We have to continue doing our part to keep them operational and looking clean and trustworthy.
Also, I’ll make sure to tip my hat the next time I’m approaching an ATM and see a fellow over-analyzer checking one out. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal your PIN.
About Daniel Swain
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ATMGurus offers a large selection of new, refurbished and closeout parts, repair service and training for your Triton, Tranax, Tidel, Hantle and Nautilus Hyosung units. With over $10M of parts in stock, we have what you need to keep your ATMs running profitably.
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