Coin Machine Journal

74
THE
COIN
MACHI NE
JOURNAL
January, 1933
International News Section
V e n d o r s S e e n as R e lie f
F o r U n e m p lo y e d in G er m a n y
A discussion recently appeared
in D E R A U T O M A T , w idely cir­
culated vending machine publica­
tion in Germany, covering the
subject of autom atization of m er­
chandise sales. There is a school
of thought in Germany which con­
tends that there are too many
vending machines, and supporters
of this idea have given some op­
position to automatic machines.
T h ey contend that machines dis­
place w orking men.
The operating fratern ity in Ger­
many, however, has sought to
prove to the powers to be that
vending machines would be a
great help to the unemployment
problem in that country. I t has
been pointed out in these columns
before that the 7 o’clock closing
regulations in Germany restrict
the sales of merchandise and has,
until recently, restricted the use
of a great many machines. A
movement is on foot to extend
the closing hours or to perm it a
w ider use of vending machines.
Just how far this w ill go is not
known.
The point is made that if the
7 o’clock closing hour were ex­
tended 30 minutes a day it would
result in an approximate 10 per
cent increase in sales, or if these
stores were perm itted to have
vending machines in front of their
places of business it would re­
sult in an approximate 10 per
cent increase in sales.
I f the
proposed plans suggested by the
operating union are put into ef­
fect merchants m ay expect to do
an increase of some 10 per cent
to 15 per cent in business.
The installation of these m a­
chines would, according to a sur­
vey made by the operating union,
provide for some 250,000 more
machines in Germany. T h e bene­
fits are apparent, since several
thousand workm en would be em­
ployed m aking the machines and
other thousands would be em­
ployed locating and servicing
them.
These machines would
also move more merchandise and
as a result would help liquidate
the merchants stocks.
T h e point was made in the
presentation made to the officials
that high rents, particularly in
congested areas; have worked to
the disadvantage of merchants.
The installation of merchandise
machines would be of great help
to these merchants, and German
operators are looking forw ard to
an extention of these regulations
in the hope that it w ill improve
their business and assist in re­
lieving unemployment.
G e rm a n O p e ra tin g P roblem s
S im ila r to O urs
W e often hear a great deal of
comment about strict law en­
forcement in foreign countries.
W e gather from the trade press
in Germany that operators in that
country have about the same
problems and conditions to meet
as in this country.
There is a fight on between
one publisher in that country and
certain factions in the coin m a­
chine business. I t seems th at this
publisher has it in for the trade
stim ulator machines and is al­
leged to have embarrassed the
German operating fratern ity by
Enhanced Scans © The International ' Arcade Museum
adverse publicity which has found
its w ay into the hands of the of­
ficials. T h e operators of amuse­
ment machines in Germany have
contended there should be no
strife among them and have de­
plored the fact that officials
are encouraged to molest games
and certain types of amusement
machines. Despite the fact that
there have been a number of con­
fiscations throughout the country
the prosecution has almost in ­
variably fallen down.
Some of the operators feel that
it is better to leave the subject
alone rather than to stir up the
law and undermine the authority
of the police officials by having
t h e s e prosecutions c o m e to
naught.
'
There is a lesson in this for
operators in this country. W h ere
there is an element of doubt it
would be doing the law enforcing
officials a favor if they were not
constantly harassed into m aking
rash raids and confiscations.
Every time a prosecution f a l l s
down the general respect for gov­
ernment suffers just that much.
In this connection, in . Germany
there has been an element op­
posing the use of trade checks in
any form, and the national gov­
ernment officials have been pre­
vailed on to prosecute users of
trade and no-value checks on
counterfeiting charges.
D E R A U T O M A T , mouthpiece
of the industry, has been in front
of the fight to protect the opera­
tors of machines using trade
checks and has been generally
successful in preserving their
standing.
W a tc h fo r
W H IR L W IN D
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