My Dad has a MC520RL-DA Standard changer and wanted to purchase another one, so we checked out their booth at the ICA show. I was very impressed with how simple the changer is compared to my Rowe changer. This is a comparison of my Rowe changer and a Standard changer.
I believe this is a Standard MC400RL (left picture) which is a little larger then my Rowe BC-200 (which I would swap out in a minute for). The Standard changer is very simple looking, has metal coin hoppers, and uses a Mars or Pyramid bill acceptor. The unit on the right is a MC535RL-CC with is more complicated looking but has a credit card acceptor and a bill acceptor. Very organized looking and plenty of room in the units.
Now here is my Rowe BC-200 tank (actually works). First picture is the changer without the stacker and bill acceptor. The second picture is the stacker and bill acceptor. The third picture is the CCC, while trying to fix any problem with a Rowe changer, the final solution is always replace the CCC.
This coin hopper has to win the most complicated hopper available. Why not make the coin hopper consist of 2 parts? One part (left) consists of a motor (red arrow) and a coin counter (top black thing). Then on the other piece (right, coin hopper) why not have a bike chain with little knobs that snakes up the length of the hopper to spit out the quarter at the top? You also need to clean this once a month or crap will clog up the chain.
Next, add the most complicated bill acceptor (BA-50 transport) that needs to be cleaned every week and sent in to get fixed every year (low volume location). Rowe seems to be in the process of dropping this bill acceptor at this point, which I have to say is the best idea ever. Maybe that’s why every other changer sells their unit with a Coinco, Mars, Pyramid, etc. option?
To be honest I never have any problems out of the ccc and coin hopper, except the coin counter needs to be replaced on one of my units. I do not use the bill stacker and I send my bill acceptor to get fixed every year.
