American changer upgrade

[Master Lurker]

I called American Changer a while back to get upgrade info. for the new 20's. At that time I was told they needed serial #'s to determine which upgrade I needed. They needed to be boards with a replaceable chip to get the cheaper upgrade other wise they swap out the board for a new one with a replaceable chip.
Version 1 new validator board if programing chip is soldered in. Cost $100
Version 2 Chip and upgrade kit if chip is removeable. cost for chip $25 cost for upgrade kit $120. Upgrade kit is a one time charge and will work multiple times.
American determines 7 changers needed boards and 1 needed the chip, so we would go ahead and get 8 boards.
The boards arrived with soldered in chips. I called American and this time they said that was ok because the new chips are larger and will take future upgrades.
I went to install the boards and found 7 of 8 boards in my machines had replaceable chips. The spare board I had in stock also had a replaceable chip. My upgrades should have cost $320 not $800.
I made another call to American to reorder the chips and get an RA# for the boards. I asked again at that time about the boards that were sent me with the soldered in chips. He said all new upgrade boards should have the replacable chip for future upgrade potential. He was dumbfounded when I told him mine were soldered in.
I have gotten multiple strories from these people and still am not sure what is real. If you have upgraded your machines with new boards BEWARE you could be in for a big expense again next time around.
O,ya the single board I have with a soldered chip was a replacement from American for an ongoing problem I was having a year ago.

ML

[Ken]

I guess you have a Coinco,I would update to Mars instead of spend too much money on Coinco.I always deal with Coinco swervice center in my area about the updale and warranty .They are good but Coinco bill acceper is too easy to fish money out.Mars Bill accepter is much more expensive but if someone clean out your changer once,it paid for itself.

[RAM]

You are 100% correct ken,go with MARS they are much better than coinco,you can get mars bill validator on ebay AE2600 series for less than $270.00 for brand new
I do not like American changer,there service su*k,i like standard changer with mars bill validator,also standard service is excellent

[Ken]

Coinco is ok for candy and pop machines or set changer only take $1 and 5.I have a lot American and Standard EC,I am changing them all to Mars next 6 months.
Mars AE2611 is the model to buy but I have not find any new one cheap yet,most Mars on Ebay are AE2511,only take $1 and $5.I saw AE2611 on Ebay but it is used,not update to new bill,will cost you $15-25+tool to remove the chip,if the AE2611 has a white dip switch,you have to send it back to factory to update,the yellow dip switch model can be changed chip yourself.I would buy new or rebuild one with warranty.
I feel all changer machine companys should let all their customers know about the problems with Coinco or othert bill accepters have problems and stop using them until Coinco fix the problems but they don't.
I remenber I had old Standard and Ardac changers 10 years ago,as soon as I know how easy to fish money out of those,I can even do it!I took them out ASAP. Some of my friends still use those Ardac right now,I told them they are looking for problems!

[David]

I have American 1002 with Cashcode validator. I, too, have had problems with parts from American. I bought a spare validator and when I got it, the orings that are on the drive wheels were dry rotten.

I sent the validator back with very specific instructions for repair. It did come back repaired corectly, but I discovered that they sent it back to Cashcode.

[BWJR]

American Changer with a Mars Validator is a good machine.

BWJR