Payment Technology
Multi-Price System
Term from the vending glossary
Pricing logic that enables a machine to charge different prices based on product, time of day, or user group—such as subsidized employee prices verified by credential.
A multi-price system assigns a different selling price to each slot. This seems obvious, but historically it was not: older machines supported only a single price across all slots, restricting inventory to identically-priced products.
Today, multi-price capability is essential for any sound merchandising strategy—and for remote price adjustments when the machine can accept them. When purchasing used equipment, this capability deserves careful scrutiny: a single-price machine permanently fixes your cost structure.
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Related terms
CashlessCashless payment at vending machines via girocard, credit card, NFC, mobile payment or employee ID. Reduces cash handling and vandalism risk.MDB 4.3Current MDB protocol version (2018) with native cashless support, NFC, and mobile payment. De facto standard in European vending operations.Remote Price ControlFeature of vending management systems to change product prices remotely without physical technician visits. Enables real-time price adjustment based on raw material costs, time of day (Dynamic Pricing), or location groups.Dynamic PricingAutomatic price adjustment at the vending machine based on time of day, demand or remaining stock. Example: fresh products become cheaper shortly before expiration; hot beverages cost more in the morning than the afternoon. Technically feasible via remote price control in the VMS; in Germany raises no food-law concerns, though competition-law review is advisable.sell-through rateShare of stocked products that are actually sold within a defined period (usually per stocking cycle). High sell-through rate = well-matched assortment; low rate indicates wrong product selection or overstocking.