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New subscription service lets you have any one drink per day at smart vending machines

4 Comments
By Ben K, grape Japan

Monthly subscription services have been making inroads in the food and dining industry in Japan lately. For example, Yaro Ramen offers a monthly plan for their noodle dishes, and ZeroCafe does the same for a cup of joe. Now, for the first time in Japan, you'll be able to pay a monthly subscription allowing you to drink from vending machines.

every pass Vending Machine Subscription Service

Offered by JR East, the new service called "every pass" will begin on Oct 1. Available at smart "Innovation" vending machines installed at 400 major stations in the JR East railroad network, the service is available to users of JR East's acure pass app.

Every day at midnight, subscribers receive a unique QR code with which they can purchase any drink in the machine once a day. In addition, points can be collected to redeem drinks or offered to other subscribers as gifts which they can them redeem at their leisure.

There will be two subscription plans, the Acure Made Plan and the Premium Plan.

The first will be available for 980 yen a month but only for the first month and allows subscribers access to any product in JR East's original Acure Made brand. (See complete lineup here). The second will cost 2,480 yen a month and will give subscribers access to Acure Made products as well as all other brands sold in Innovation vending machines.

This may seem expensive, but when you consider that many people have at least one drink a day when they commute to school or work on weekdays, 2,480 yen a month works out to 124 yen a day. If you also have one drink on weekends, it's 103 yen a day. Most drinks you can purchase at Innovation vending machines run between 140 yen to 160 yen, so unless you're only drinking water or mini bottles (which begin at 120 yen), the subscription plan represents savings. If you're only drinking 160 ye beverages, you'll start saving after only 16 drinks or 4 drinks a week. The point system and other benefits create additional value as well.

Lottery

For now, there's a 500 member limit to the subscription pool, so you'll need to put your name in a lottery and hope you'll be selected.

If you're interested in giving it a shot, visit the following website and register between Sept 2 10:00 and Sept 16 23:59 (JST). The results will be announced at the end of September and if you're one of the lucky 500, you'll be able to begin using "every pass" from Oct 1.

Source: PR Times

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© grape Japan

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4 Comments
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Just sounds like more tracking opportunities to me. I will pass.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For people with a lot of money to waste. I just bring my own drink (or just of battle of tap water) if I know I'll need one.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I am a ((hiccup) drunk. Put some gin in there nomihodai and sales will skyrocket. (Burp) trust me!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

that sound good and kinda expansive but still one drink per day would be not good thing to have i would say if i would get 2 drinks per day for this price would be fair

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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