Vending Customer Instructions Are Printed Too Small: Test the Notice Where People Read It

A vending instruction notice can contain the right information and still be difficult to use if the print is too small. Check the notice where customers actually read it, rather than judging a document on a laptop. The practical question is whether someone can find and understand the next step without moving into an awkward position.

Choose one task to test first, such as finding the support contact or understanding how to identify a product. Ask a colleague unfamiliar with the notice to show where they would look. Observe where they hesitate, but avoid coaching them towards the answer. That hesitation can reveal a layout problem that the person who wrote the notice no longer notices.

Check the real reading distance

Put a draft in the proposed position and review it from the ordinary customer approach. Consider whether furniture, reflections or other notices make it harder to see. A larger printout placed behind an obstruction may still be unhelpful. Keep the machine’s controls, ventilation and required labels clear when discussing where additional instructions can go.

Do not assume everyone can lean close to the same spot. Test from more than one comfortable position and ask for feedback from the people who use the site. The purpose is to identify practical barriers, not to declare that one informal test proves accessibility for every customer or satisfies every requirement that might apply.

Reduce the amount before shrinking the print

If a notice is crowded, separate essential customer instructions from background information. A short heading, the next action and the contact route may deserve prominence. Longer explanations can sit in a separate accessible guide, provided customers are not forced to use a phone merely to obtain basic information they need at the machine.

Use plain wording and keep each instruction focused on one action. Avoid dense paragraphs of abbreviations, several competing phone numbers or decorative text that looks like a button. Check that the wording matches the actual equipment and current support process. Making obsolete instructions easier to read would not solve the customer’s problem.

Review contrast and placement together

Print a sample using the intended materials and inspect it under normal site lighting. Look for faint text, glossy reflections and backgrounds that compete with the words. Do not rely solely on how sharp the design looks on screen. Ask the operator before attaching anything to the equipment or covering an existing notice.

When arranging vending for a workplace, include customer guidance in the site discussion. Ask which instructions come with the equipment and which notices the host should provide. A freestanding or adjacent notice may be appropriate in some settings, but its position still needs to respect the customer’s route and the site’s requirements.

Test the revised notice and maintain it

Repeat the same task with the revised version. Can the colleague now find the information without prompting? Check that a clearer heading has not pushed another essential detail into tiny print. Keep a copy of the approved version and note who is responsible for replacing it if the contact route or operating process changes.

Inspect the notice during ordinary site checks for fading, damage or obstruction. Remove superseded copies through the agreed process so customers do not see conflicting instructions. A useful notice is a maintained part of the customer experience. Its success depends on readable wording, sensible placement and accurate information working together, rather than font size alone.

Related guidance: Vending Customer Notices: Replace Old Instructions When the Process Changes.

For help assessing your site, contact Vending-Machines.ie.