I also put up signs in all the showers telling people to try using nickels

  • Philosoraptor [he/him, comrade/them]
    hexagon
    ·
    2 years ago

    Good advice. I had all my location stuff turned off, and actually posted a screenshot of the picture, not the actual picture. I'm sure that's not much of a hurdle, but it's something.

    I also reset everything before I left. Those machines aren't really for profit at public campgrounds. I mostly just wanted to see if I could do it, and then my whole party got to shower for like 10 cents (along with anyone else who came along in the couple of days we were there).

    Mostly I was shocked at how easy it was. The locks were very simple, and the interface was braindead straightforward to manipulate. If I ever find myself at a private campground, they're definitely staying that way.

    • Thomas_Dankara [any,comrade/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      also reset everything before I left.

      :deeper-sadness: damn, that's sad. nobody else got to benefit

      Those machines aren’t really for profit at public campgrounds.

      Disagree. Private contractors install vending machines (i.e. any machine the provides a service in exchange for currency) specifically for profit. The park then takes a small cut of the money for upkeep of the park, etc. but public parks are mostly subsidized by the public through taxes, so they don't really need the vending machine money. The vast majority of the money gets pocketed by some capitalist who had enough money to buy the machine in the first place. It is passive income for a capitalist.

      Mostly I was shocked at how easy it was. The locks were very simple, and the interface was braindead straightforward to manipulate. If I ever find myself at a private campground, they’re definitely staying that way.

      I wish you the best of luck, but I wouldn't worry too much about the public-private distinction here since vending machines at public parks are privately owned. Especially in America.

      • Philosoraptor [he/him, comrade/them]
        hexagon
        ·
        2 years ago

        The vending machines are, but I don't think the showers actually are. As someone said above, I think they're mostly just there to keep people from wasting water.

        I'll do some research, because I do a lot of camping over the summer. If it turns out you're right, then I'll be hitting a number of them all over the west.