The return of the ‘UniStore’ unit to Gill Street North has been met with mixed reactions from residents.
‘UniStore’ is a multi-purpose vending machine that allows students to buy sandwiches, ready-meals, milk and even bread alongside your average snacks.
‘UniStore’ is not just for food as it will also vend essential toiletries like face wipes and toothpaste.
In an official statement from Nottingham Trent University accommodation owners UPP the unit was described as: “An enhancement for the student experience that saves students having to walk to the shops.”
‘UniStore’ was previously on campus in May of last year but removed due to a change in supplier with plans from UPP to build more depending on demands.
One student has now complained about the machine’s unreliability.
Ashleigh Holland from Essex was disappointed with her interactions with the machine: “I walk out, in the rain may I add, and it doesn’t work. I thought it would be fixed next time but I tried it over the next week and four times it still wasn’t working.”
The 19-year-old Journalism student claimed the experiences: “Turned something that was quite exciting, new and fun, to something a bit annoying as you never know when it will work; overall I’m unimpressed.”
Psychology with Criminology student Alex Chinn had good first impressions with the new unit: “It’s great for when I come back from work, I get back at around four and if I want a quick Mac and Cheese and a Monster I can.”
The 19-year-old from Coventry praised ‘UniStore’s modern payment options: “It’s good that it’s card only, how many times do you go to a vending machine and it refuses to take your coins?”
Others like Sam Phillips, 19, raised concern with the machines payment function: “There’s difficulty using the contactless payment method because it’s a little confusing and sometimes doesn’t even work.”
Despite technical issues, the Journalism Student from Derby would be happy to see more units installed on campus: “If one accommodation block has one then all of them should just out of fairness as other students can live a fair distance from supermarkets”.
Felicity Henebury, 19, from Coventry was pleased with its 24/7 availability: “It’s really helpful because the Student Union shop shuts, I went there the other day for some coke but it was closed, that’s not an issue with the ‘UniStore’.
The Psychology student’s only concern was of the lack of options for vegan students: “If they’re going to dispense food, including meals, they should be catering for everybody.”
By Alex Mace