How do you get a free coke from a soda machine?

Answer:

Answer

  1. Find a machine that has an LED screen and that is by "Royal Vendors". There should be a label on both sides of the machine. The small screen will typically scroll a message such as "Ice Cold Cokes". If the machine's LED display simply displays the price, the steps below may not work.

  1. Enter the access code by using the drink selection buttons. The default access code is 4, 2, 3, 1, but the buttons aren't numbered. They will either say nothing or have pictures of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and other Coca-Cola products on them.

  2. If the buttons are in a column, button 1 is the top one. Button 2 is the second one from the top, and so on.

  • If they are in a grid or other format, button 1 is the top left one. Button 2 is the one directly to the right of that, and so on.

  1. Scroll through the menu to find out information about the machine. Once you enter the correct access code, the message on the LED screen will change. Typically it will say "EROR," but on some machines it may simply display a number. Use the buttons to navigate through the menu.

  2. Press button 1 at any time to return to the previous menu or to exit the menu to go back to normal mode.

  • Press button 2 to scroll up through the selections.
  • Press button 3 to scroll down through the selections.
  • Press button 4 to select the displayed menu option.
  • On machines with two panels of six buttons on each side, the same 4-2-3-1 code will access the Electronic Counter for the machine. After accessing this menu, press 1 to see the total lifetime sales, 2 for the total lifetime items sold, 3 for a breakdown of items sold of each selection, 4 for a breakdown of cash generated for each selection, and 5 for the machine's internal temperature. After a while without input, the machine will return to the normal menu. On some machines, the 6 button will close the menu.
  • This only works for Coke machines, which may sell products such as Barq's Root Beer, Sprite, Dasani, Evian, Fanta, Fresca, Frutopia, Full Throttle, Powerade, Hi-C, Minute Maid, Nestea, Odwalla, Mr. Pibb, Planet Java, Seagram's Ginger Ale, Simply Orange, Sparkletts, or Tab in addition to Coke and Diet Coke.
  • This hack also usually works on machines that sell just Dasani water - a product of the Coca-Cola company.
  • In general, these are the only options you can access without having the door unlocked and open. Different machines may list these options in somewhat different formats, so experiment a bit to learn what each new one does.
  • If you need to exit the menu quickly (i.e. when you just can't wait another second to buy an ice cold Coke) press the change (coin return) button. This will normally quit the menu.
  • On some machines, holding the coin return button will display the machine's inner temperature.
  • Vending machine owners or service people have the option to change the access sequence from 4231 to some other combination of buttons, but they rarely do. This is probably because having one code makes it easier for anyone to service all the machines along a route. It may also be because the information you can access through the external menu with the door closed is limited and fairly harmless.
  • There are several videos available on the Internet that show people using this hack. Many claim to be able to change prices or get a free drink, but the videos don't actually show them doing so.
  • In order to get to the same menu in a machine that sells Pepsi products, simply enter 1,3,2,4. All the menu options should be the same. (This does not work on all Pepsi machines)
  • This might also work on some Coke vending machines that have a numeric keypad instead of buttons for specific drinks. Enter in the Coke code as usual, and you'll get to the sales menu!
  • Some machines require you to enter the code twice.
  • Several machines display a list of more codes, but most have the dispense options disabled
  • This will generally be frowned upon by store staff or machine service people, so exercise caution when trying it out, and be sure to follow any applicable laws in your jurisdiction.
  • Don't do this if there's a line behind you, as people may get upset waiting for you.
  • You might waste your time doing this, as Coca-Cola has distributed new firmware to their vendors that would render these instructions unusable.
  • You may be asked to leave or be fined if the owner catches you.
  • Use common sense, don't do it when others are around or in front of a camera.
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First answer by ID3485683557. Last edit by Smbexx. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 24 [recommend question].