54Kviews
50 Times People Came Across An Unusual Vending Machine And Just Had To Share It (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertWhen you think of a vending machine, we tend to imagine a candy bar or perhaps row after row of bottled beverages. But have you ever seen, for example, a machine stuffed to the brim with blankets? We’ve gathered some of the weirdest and most interesting vending machines from around the internet.
We also got in touch with Lisa Yaszek, a professor of science fiction studies in the school of literature, media, and communication at Georgia Tech to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, be sure to upvote your favorites and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
This post may include affiliate links.
My Local Community College Has Free Emergency Contraceptive Pills In The Vending Machines
Thanks. That's really is good. Put it next to the condom machine 😉
My Airport Has A Book Vending Machine
A Cheese Vending Machine In A Mountain Village In Switzerland
Bored Panda got in touch with Lisa Yaszek, a professor of science fiction studies in the school of literature, media, and communication at Georgia Tech to discuss vending machines and science fiction. Firstly, we wanted to know why this relatively old piece of technology still can feel like it’s from the future.
“Even though vending machines have been around since 1888, for over 103 years, I think they still feel like science fiction to us for three reasons. First, of course, vending machines are machines, which have been symbols of the future ever since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the late 1700s.”
This Bakery In Japan Puts Their Leftover Bread In A Vending Machine To Sell After Hours
They Have Baguette Vending Machines In France
A Local Farm Sells Eggs At A 24/7 Vending Machine On Their Driveway
“Second, vending machines embody everything we associate with utopian visions of a post-scarcity society, where everyone has enough food, shelter, and clothing: they offer us a variety of pre-made goods ranging from everyday essentials like ChapStick, fishing bait, and razors to little luxuries like chewing gum, makeup, and champagne to health product like sanitary napkins, condoms, at-home tests and first aid kits.”
Grocery Store Near Me Has A Sticker Vending Machine With 90s Stock In It
24/7 Pizza Vending Machine In Finland
A Shop Repurposed An Old Cigarette Machine To Sell Local Artisans' Work
Saw a documentary about this. North Carolina, I believe. There is a fellow refurbishing old cigarette machines, which really have no purpose anymore. Artworks, drawings, prints and so forth in packages the size of cigarette packs.
“This is especially true of the most recent generation of smart vending machines that use sensors, cameras, and algorithms to detect preferences and tailor recommendations—these are machines that offer us the future with a human touch,” she shared with Bored Panda.
Baby Supply Vending Machines With Diapers, Snacks, And Parenting Essentials At O’Hare Airport
Short Story Dispenser At Los Angeles Public Library Central
I need this for my house, just hook it up to Wattpad or something for infinite stories
A Blanket Vending Machine At My Local Movie Theater
“Second, we associate vending machines with science fiction because they have been prominent aspects of science fiction across media for nearly a century! For instance, fans of visual science fiction might know the baby vending machines of the 1930 Hollywood sci fi musical Just Imagine!, the suicide booths in the 1999 animated comedy series Futurama, or the law enforcement vending booths in Robert Findlay’s 2023 sci fi short film “Change Return.””
Farmer's Vending Machines In Germany Offering Fresh Eggs, Potatoes, Milk, Jams, Jarred Meats, And Noodles
Yarn Vending Machine In Philadelphia
There Are Wine Vending Machines In Austria
Put it next to the bread and cheese machine, and the blanket. I have a ew home
“Science fiction readers have likely encountered the all-too lively “Padre Booths'' and “Homotropic News Vending Machines” of Philip K. Dick’s “Galactic Pot Healer'' (1969) and “The Game Players of Titan” (1963), and fans of Japanese light fiction might think about the sentient vending machine protagonist of Hirukuma and Itsuwa Kate’s Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon series (2016). Meanwhile, tabletop gaming fans can purchase whole sets of resin vending machines for sci fi games including Cyberpunk and Shadowrun on Etsy!”
This Life-Saving Vending Machine In Oklahoma
This is part of a harm reduction campaign. I believe the items are free of charge.
A Public Library Vending Machine At The Train Station. I Love This
In The Netherlands, There Are Vending Machines For Fresh Flowers
Yup! Perfect for grabbing on the way home to apologize for not taking the chicken out of the freezer!
Load More Replies...There are similar machines in some American airports and hospitals.
I pretty recently saw wending machine, where you can buy bouquets in Brno, Czech Republic.. Pretty, but expensive.
Saves lives if you remember your anniversary 5 minutes after closing and your wife is on the way home.
Seen them in Poland too next to street filled with bars. Genius idea! If you get too drunk you can her flowers.
Just in case you pissed off your significant other on your walk home. Lol!
a florist local to me has one of these on the outside of their store for after hours and they stock one at the airport. an excellent idea, especially at the airport
We also wanted to hear her opinion on what makes these vending machines interesting for people. “Vending machines appeal to us as modern people because they offer immediate gratification—we don’t have to make a special trip to a store or negotiate a range of interactions with other people to get the goods we want or need. This is especially important to workers who don’t have time to go off-site to get food or other necessities, travelers who are looking for specific goods or services while en route from one destination to another, and people in institutional spaces like schools, hospitals, and prisons that limit the mobility of their various populations.”
Put In A Coin And Get A Random Tattoo. I Was Surprised With A Tattoo Vending Machine Gift For Christmas. I Loved The Concept, And It Was Super Fun To Do
Book Vending Machine At A Local Elementary School
My sons school has these. Every kid starts the year with a few tokens and can earn more as rewards. So they don't even cost money. That means they get to keep the books instead of having to return them to the school library. As parents we can purchase books to include and they are labeled with an "in honor of" message. We did it for our kids birthdays or special moment. The kids love tracking each other down and telling them they picked their book
A Sock Vending Machine
“We also like vending machines because they can provide us with a curated experience: we don’t have to sort through hundreds of different options online—we get a reasonably sized selection that we can actually see with our own eyes before we make our purchases,” she shared.
Heraklion Airport In Greece Has A Seed Vending Machine
I don’t know if Customs in your home country would let you bring them in.
Ramen Vending Machine
A Fried Chicken Vending Machine In Otaru, Hokkaido
“Furthermore, if we are using a very specialized vending machine, we actually might well get more options for the product in question than we would at a general store where there are only one or two versions of the item we want competing with many other items. This can be especially useful when we’re traveling and we find vending machines that connect us with souvenirs and other unique items from the local culture.”
A Sausage Vending Machine In Germany
Thongs Vending Machine In Melbourne
Australian here - thongs (underwear or footwear) it’s the same principle. Strap between 2 protrusions
"Herb" Vending Machine In Italy
Lisa shared some parting thoughts and suggestions. “My very favorite vending machines in the world are the Sista Sci Fi Book Vending Machines in Seattle, Washington and Oakland, California because they literally bring science fiction and vending machines together!”
This Airport Vending Machine Sells LEGO Sets
Vending Machine Just For Skittles
Strawberry Vending Machine. This Is At A Strawberry Greenhouse In The Westland In The Netherlands
“The machines were created by Isis Asare, founder of the online Sista Sci Fi bookstore, which is dedicated to speculative fiction by Black women and nonbinary people. The book vending machines are Asare’s way of getting even more great science fiction into readers hands. I can’t wait until we get one here in Atlanta, Georgia where I live!” You can find more information about Lisa on her webpage.
This Cotton Candy Vending Machine
My University's Engineering Building Has An Electrical Component Vending Machine
Flower Seed Vending Machine In A German City
My Kid's School Has A Vending Machine For School Supplies
I find this a bit sad that the parents or the school don't provide them. No child should have to spend lunch money on these
Pringles Gambling Vending Machine, The Cost Is Slightly Higher Than Buying In A Store But You Have A Random Chance To Get One, Two Or Three Tubes
Germany Has Vending Machines For Meat Products
Vending Machine With Some Juice
This Champagne Vending Machine
A Dispenser That Sells Local Cheese (Fromage) And Morteau's Sausages In The Train Station (Besancon, France)
I saw that while waiting for my train. I tried a Comte cheese, and it was really good. I couldn't finish it, so I gave it to a random homeless dude (who gave it to someone else).
A Vending Machine For Bouquets In France
Great idea if you need flowers during off-hours (visiting a hospital or a sick friend doesn't always happen between 9-5).
My Dentist Has A Vending Machine For Toothpicks And Toothbrushes
"Vending Machine Corner" In Akihabara Contains A Number Of Vending Machines Selling Strange Things Like Popcorn, A Tennis Ball, A Tube Of Carrots, And Mystery Boxes
you can view the contents of some of these mystery boxes in this video. the writing on them is stories. apparently very strange stories. https://youtu.be/SPNfGihTQEc?si=4t2LXhKjEdvKRp98
A Macaroon Vending Machine In Japan
Condom Vending Machine In Japan That Has "I Love You" Written In Many Different Languages
I Found A Jansport Backpack Vending Machine In Mexico City
Ever Been Walking Down The Street Needing A Bottle Of Soup Stock With A Fish Inside? Fear Not. Osu, Nagoya
This Pencil Vending Machine At The Local Middle School
The Men's Bathroom In This Movie Theatre Had A Vending Machine For Pain Meds, Chapstick, Cologne, And Candy
You Can Buy Crutches From This Vending Machine Next To A Local Hospital In Vilnius, Lithuania
Grocery Store I Live Beside Sells Ammunition Out Of A Vending Machine
Posts about interesting and unusual things around the world are the best type of posts!
When I was in Japan, I used a vending machine that makes business cards.
Where I live, there are a bunch of vending machines selling Hot Wheels model cars. I never see anyone buying them. They have been there for years and still in operation. I have the suspicion these are operated by someone involving in money laundering operations. They create a legitimate business to allow them to regularly bank-in sizeable sum of money without rising suspicions to the authorities. Vending business (together with those claw machine booths) is a very low maintenance, low headache cover-up busines.
Malaysia? A friend was wondering about them while in KL
Load More Replies...There's an umbrella vending machine in the train station in Brest (Brittany, France).
Slightly lame but we found a drinks vending machine in the grounds of a Temple in Kyoto, Japan, that offered free Wi-Fi Vending-ma...6c6589.jpg
Many years ago, there used to be a vending machine near where I worked here in Japan that sold psychedelic mushrooms.
ive heard you can buy used panties from some japanese vending machines or was that a rumour?
Load More Replies...We got a popcorn vending machine in college years ago. It played the Popcorn song while it filled up a bag. Unfortunately, it got removed the very next day after falling on someone, or so the story went.
We have one of those, and also one that sells ProActive (acne medicine).
Load More Replies...This might be a way to lessen shoplifting. Have a store with only vending machines operated by a special card. You go in, get the card with x amount, get your stuff, return the card and bag your purchases.
Several years ago when I worked in an Amazon warehouse, we had a vending machine for hi-vis vests, safety knives, and work gloves.
The most interesting ones I've seen were cupcakes at Chicago O'Hare and bread in Belgium, five machines in the same space, all sold out by noon.
Surprised that no-one posted the gold vending machines - I first saw one in the Milan airports, but they've spread since then: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jul/01/gold-vending-machine-westfield
There was a gold vending machine on this list.
Load More Replies...1976, Paris. I was 15. Vending machine in hotel hallways sold beer and wine and snacks. No drinking age limit.
many vending machines in Belgium with eggs, fruits, bread, sandwiches, or even random cornershop stuff when villages dont have a night shop, but i saw my favorite in Switzerland: fondue cheese!
I have made $15000 in one month by working from home.When I lost my office job 5 months ago, I was very upset and an unsuccessful try for a job hunt I was found this online job and now I am able to earn thousands from home. Everybody can do this job and earn more dollars online by follow this site.. GOOD LUCK.:) HERE ====)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝟏𝟐.𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦
Posts about interesting and unusual things around the world are the best type of posts!
When I was in Japan, I used a vending machine that makes business cards.
Where I live, there are a bunch of vending machines selling Hot Wheels model cars. I never see anyone buying them. They have been there for years and still in operation. I have the suspicion these are operated by someone involving in money laundering operations. They create a legitimate business to allow them to regularly bank-in sizeable sum of money without rising suspicions to the authorities. Vending business (together with those claw machine booths) is a very low maintenance, low headache cover-up busines.
Malaysia? A friend was wondering about them while in KL
Load More Replies...There's an umbrella vending machine in the train station in Brest (Brittany, France).
Slightly lame but we found a drinks vending machine in the grounds of a Temple in Kyoto, Japan, that offered free Wi-Fi Vending-ma...6c6589.jpg
Many years ago, there used to be a vending machine near where I worked here in Japan that sold psychedelic mushrooms.
ive heard you can buy used panties from some japanese vending machines or was that a rumour?
Load More Replies...We got a popcorn vending machine in college years ago. It played the Popcorn song while it filled up a bag. Unfortunately, it got removed the very next day after falling on someone, or so the story went.
We have one of those, and also one that sells ProActive (acne medicine).
Load More Replies...This might be a way to lessen shoplifting. Have a store with only vending machines operated by a special card. You go in, get the card with x amount, get your stuff, return the card and bag your purchases.
Several years ago when I worked in an Amazon warehouse, we had a vending machine for hi-vis vests, safety knives, and work gloves.
The most interesting ones I've seen were cupcakes at Chicago O'Hare and bread in Belgium, five machines in the same space, all sold out by noon.
Surprised that no-one posted the gold vending machines - I first saw one in the Milan airports, but they've spread since then: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jul/01/gold-vending-machine-westfield
There was a gold vending machine on this list.
Load More Replies...1976, Paris. I was 15. Vending machine in hotel hallways sold beer and wine and snacks. No drinking age limit.
many vending machines in Belgium with eggs, fruits, bread, sandwiches, or even random cornershop stuff when villages dont have a night shop, but i saw my favorite in Switzerland: fondue cheese!
I have made $15000 in one month by working from home.When I lost my office job 5 months ago, I was very upset and an unsuccessful try for a job hunt I was found this online job and now I am able to earn thousands from home. Everybody can do this job and earn more dollars online by follow this site.. GOOD LUCK.:) HERE ====)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝟏𝟐.𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦