invention the controller 50 may disable or cause to be ignored any coin deposit card insertion start button depression and or other control inputs usable to use the machine in modes other than the drop off mode however the keypad preferably remains enabled so that a user code may be entered as will be discussed below in addition the connection of the machine to the network or other communications link may be maintained such that instructions or user codes for the machine 20 may be provided from the central control location if needed in an embodiment of the invention if the machine 20 is executing a wash cycle when the drop off activation code is received the machine 20 continues to the completion of the cycle in a further embodiment of the invention an override code may be provided via the user interface 56 or the network connection to halt the operation of the machine 20 mid cycle after the drop off activation code is received and cause the machine 20 to enter the drop off mode immediately the override code may be a sequence or combination of input button key strokes for example one possible key combination usable as an override code is the simultaneous depression of both the 5 and 6 keys other combinatorial and or sequential codes may be used as desired.