TIL a vending machine at my gym tried to upcharge me for water because it 'noticed I was thirsty'

I stood there for 30 seconds arguing with a screen about hydration pricing before I realized I was debating a machine that probably makes more decisions per second than my last boss, has anyone else had an automated system try to guilt-trip them into spending more?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_max1mo ago

My fridge already tried to charge me for breathing its air too hard.

nathan1001mo ago

Wait, did you actually toss money at it or just walk away? I had a similar thing happen at a gas station pump last week, it tried to sell me windshield washer fluid because it "detected low visibility conditions." I was standing there in clear sunny weather, and the sensor was probably just picking up dust on the lens or something. I told the screen "nope, not today" and hit cancel like 4 times before it let me pay for just gas. These machines are getting way too pushy, like they're trying to upsell me on a subscription for air or something. Next thing you know my fridge will be charging me extra for late night snack runs.

jamieb801mo ago

Is it just me or is everything turning into a sales pitch disguised as helpfulness now? @nathan100 you're spot on about the subscription vibe, my car's dashboard tried to upsell me on a "premium cabin filter" last week when the check engine light came on and I just needed an oil change. These systems are learning our habits and using them against us, like how my coffee maker now suggests I buy a fancier roast because I didn't touch last month's bag of cheap stuff. It feels like every sensor and algorithm is trying to figure out what makes us spend, not what makes things easier.