Abstract: A vending machine system includes at least one vending machine having a central coordinating unit, at least one management technology, and at least one communication technology facilitating communication between the at least one vending machine and the at least one management technology. Optional features that may be used alone or in combination with the vending machine system include: the ability to provide users with a promotional discount; the ability to provide users with multilevel pricing; the ability to track, time stamp, and keep records of activity at the at least one vending machine; a unique user interface; the ability to allow a user to report vending machine problems from a “report problem screen” on a unique user interface; unique vending machine-to-server communications; and the ability to remotely issue a refund to the user.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are found in a method for collecting information associated with a vending machine. The method has the steps of detecting a vending event associated with the vending machine; storing a dataset stored in a standard format associated with the vending event; retrieving the dataset; parsing at least one data field from the dataset; transmitting the at least one data field. In one embodiment the standard format is the DEX format. Further the data field may be sent in a data packet. The data packet may be compressed and encrypted before sending. Further, the data packet may be transmitted with an identifier associated with the machine. The data field can be transmitted to a handheld circuitry, which could be wireless in nature. The at least one data field may be transmitted to a central monitoring facility. The data field may be transmitted by wireless communication and/or through an interconnected network.