The 2016-’17 school year has a new change for the vending machines that have been at Niles North since the very beginning of time. The vending machines are finally able to accept debit/credit cards. Before, students were only able to use the vending machines unless they had cash. In this day and age, kids are usually carrying a piece of plastic rather than a wallet full of cash.

Student government has had a solid relationship with the Lean Green Vending Machines Company and finally a representative from L.G.V.M.C released more information about the new vending machines.

“Please inform your student leaders that card readers on all machines at North will go live on Monday the 29th. I think they will be quite happy with the wait. I have been holding out for this new service from a company called PayRange based out of Oregon,” Brian Lucas said.

The way to pay using your debit or credit is very similar to the Starbucks app. You download the app which is called Pay Range, (available on both iPhone and Android). You then register your debit/credit card, and then add money as you need. When you want to buy something, you walk up to the machine, your phone connects to the vending machine via Bluetooth, and then you simply buy the product as you normally would. That amount is deducted from your balance. When your balance gets low, you can reload with any amount you want.

“This is amazing, finally the vending machines finally accept debit/credit cards. There have been plenty of times where I forgot to ask my mom for money and all I have is my debit/credit card,”Kayla Nguy, junior, said.