Prices in vending machines rose recently, but don’t expect it to happen again in the near future.
OU’s agreement with Coca-Cola and Great Plains Coca-Cola, the local distributing service in charge of vending machines, includes scheduled price increases. Prices increased on Aug. 1, but won’t increase again until after July 2018, when the contract expires.
Last year, a 12-ounce bottle of Powerade cost $1.15 at a campus vending machine. This year the same drink costs $1.25. 20-ounce bottles of carbonated drinks increased from $1.35 to $1.50, according to the contract.
Most of the prices increased by 10 or 15 cents, and none of the price increases surpassed 25 cents. The items that increased by 25 cents were cold food and 16-ounce cans of energy drinks, according to the contract.
The agreement between OU and Coca-Cola and Great Plains Coca-Cola began in August 2008. The recent increase is the last one in the contract, which runs through July 2018, according to the contract.
These price increases apply only to items in vending machines, not the items bought at restaurants around OU, according to the contract.
Though other companies provide products for vending machines, they are still required to sell them at the prices specified in the contract, said Dennis Murray of Great Plains Coca-Cola, because these companies are working with Great Plains Coca-Cola, Murray said.
Petroleum engineering senior Jaemin Jang said she only uses the vending machines if she forgets to bring a water bottle with her to campus. A 20 oz. bottle of Dasani water costs 15 cents more after the price increase.
