40 Unorthodox Things Sold in Vending Machines

The person who thought of the vending machine is a genius for two simple reasons: you don’t need to hire personnel to man a vending machine like you would need for a store, and it keeps things in stock and available for the masses 24/7. While most vending machines you are used to would dispense coffee, soft drinks, packaged food, and snacks, these days we can find a lot more variety being offered.

Whether it’s for convenience, practicality, or to drive a concept or an idea home, here are 40 things you probably don’t expect to find in a vending machine, but now can.

Live Crabs

Who would have thought that we’d see the day when crabs can be made available in vending machines? And they are alive! Grab one on the go if you are in China.

Source: The Atlantic

Ice cream

I scream, you scream, we scream for ice cream in a machine. This one is from Japan, but you might have come across the ones from Ben and Jerry’s.

Source: Wikimedia

Pizza (cooked)

Want to get a steaming hot 9-inch pizza within 3 minutes? Then, keep a lookout for a Let’s Pizza vending machine. Most of these can be found around Europe and, lately, in America.

Source: Aol

T-shirts

If you are a fan of Uniqlo T-shirts, this vending machine in Harajuku, Japan, dispenses the whole line via vending machines. Shame it’s no longer there, though.

Source: Wired

Noodles

Instant cup noodles aren’t the healthiest of snacks, but if you still have a hankering for ramen or udon, this particular machine in Japan dispenses a hot bowl of these noodles complete with meat and veggies. Yummy!

Source: Techeblog

Baguettes

Get fresh baguettes 24/7 with this particular vending machine, thought up by French baker Jean-Louis Hecht who got fed up with his customers knocking on his door on all hours of the day (and night) to get their hands on his delicious baguettes.

Source: Yahoo

Guitar strings

For when you are on your way to a night gig and realize that your guitar needs a fix. It also dispenses guitar picks and drumsticks. This machine resides in Portland, Oregon.

Source: The Beer Chaser

Bike parts

Cyclists will love this particular machine as it dispenses bike parts to replace the ones that broke in yours. You can also get your punctured tire pumped or grab a quick snack. It first appeared in Brooklyn, New York.

Source: Pop-Up City

Cupcakes

Satisfy your sudden midnight sweet tooth cravings with this heaven-sent machine by Sprinkles Cupcakes. The machines can be found in New York, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas.

Source: New York Post

Burgers

It’s official, fast food cannot get any faster than this machine in the Netherlands. If you prefer having your burger cooked, though, you can try Japan’s burger vending machine.

Source: Complex

Bananas

When this vending machine first came out in Japan, people went bananas over them. I’d go bananas if I saw this machine, too.

Source: Tofugu

Eggs

This vending machine is found in the mountains of the Northern Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, and is the perfect way to keep eggs fresh and readily available for the residents there, 24/7.

Source: Tofugu

Salad

Healthy and goodness, in a salad, in a jar, in a vending machine. Not all vending machines dispense fast food. While we’re on the subject…

Source: Daily Mail

Caviar

Ain’t nobody got time to dress up, fight for reservations, and light candles for some fine gourmet dining no more. Want some roe? Just grab them from the machine and go. More commonly found in upper scale neighborhoods in LA.

Source: NBC News

LEGO

Is there a reason why this is only found in Germany’s train stations? LEGO has some explaining to do.

Source: i am bored

DIY Toys

A project built by development specialists Squibbles Ink and toy store Rotofugi, this DIY machine in Chicago allows you to make your own toy.

Source: PSFK

Rice

Being the staple food of the Japanese people, this machine makes sense. Why isn’t this machine found in more rice-loving Asian countries?

Source: The Wiki Gullet Project

Fantastic Delites

Love Fantastic Deletes crackers? This guerrilla marketing tactic dispenses the snack for free if you would do the things the machine tells you to do. Check out how the public reacted in this video.

Source: Coloribus

Fresh Lettuce

Lettuce doesn’t get fresher than this, in this machine in Japan, that is. Perhaps this will help encourage more people to eat their greens rather than falling back on processed foods… naah!

Source: Huffington Post

Pet Food

In order to feed its stray dogs and cats population, Istanbul came up with this vending machine. You slot in an empty plastic water bottle, and it’ll dispense food at the bottom for strays.

Source: EarthPorm

Wine

If there are vending machines that dispense beer, why not wine? Now everyone can get their booze, pronto. Pennslyvania first introduced this machine in America in 2010.

Source: Daily Mail

Mashed potatoes

Singaporeans probably loved their tay-toes, mashed and available on the go. Why else would this machine exist?

Source: The Huffington Post

Pies

Yes, you heard right. Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company’s vending machine at Cedar Creek, Texas, dispenses entire honest-to-goodness Pecan pies.

Source: Team Hall & Nass

Umbrellas

Never be caught out in sudden rain again. Just grab an umbrella from this machine, and off you go to your next destination. This vending machine is placed around Hong Kong.

Source: Calvin-C

Condoms

If you aren’t a fan of getting condoms from a supermarket aisle or a pharmacy, this is the perfect solution, like this machine that resides outside an Italian pharmacy. Now, there is no reason why you can’t practice safe sex.

Source: Wikipedia

Socks

This machine is a must-have for all bowling alleys. And the socks should be as cute as these ones from South Korea. (P. S. We hate Mondays too!)

Source: DramaFever

Shoes

You never know when the bottom of your sole may break under your constant jogs, so being able to just dump the old pair and grab a new pair from this Onitsuka Tiger machine in Carnaby Street, London, is a great idea.

Source: Hypebeast

Flip flops

Broke a heel? Overdressed for the beach? Just love walking around in flip-flops? This Havaianas flip flop dispensing machine got you covered in Australia, Europe and Indonesia.

Source: summersinhavaianas

Jeans

If you are a fan of the Italian brand, this is great for getting an exact replacement for the jeans you love. I said exactly because you can’t return purchased jeans once they’re out of the machine.

Source: Annytime

Books

This is a bookstore masquerading as a vending machine – a novel idea indeed. If you are going to be stuck in the airport in the UK or Australia for a while, why not grab a book?

Source: Daily News

Used Books

A great idea to promote reading, pick up a book from this machine in Canada or drop in one of your own. It’s better than leaving them on your mantelpiece, collecting dust.

Source: Oddee

Skincare Products

If you can get it via the store or via the shopping network, why not from a vending machine, right? Keep a lookout for them at any American airport.

Source: Wikipedia

Makeup

You might have come across a few of these in American airports since Sephora introduced them in 2010. They are a boon for the female traveler in need of a touch-up.

Source: Imgarcade

Baby Essentials

Forgetful parents who forget to pack their little one’s diapers (or any other essentials like pacifiers, baby wipes, lotion, powder, etc.) will consider this vending machine a lifesaver. This machine was spotted in Seaworld, Florida.

Source: Strangely Blogging

Envelopes

Not a fan of sending emails? Go old school with envelopes in these vending machines found in Taiwan – stamps included!

Source: midori-japan

Bicycle-For-Rent

Trust the bike-loving Dutch to come up with this very convenient means of transport. The machine allows you to rent the bike from one end and return it at another machine.

Source: Gizmodo

Gold

Yes, this is a gold ATM, you know, a machine that dispenses gold instead of cash. The vending machine comes with security measures to prevent robbery, and money laundering. These extremely valuable machines can be found in New York, Las Vegas, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lisboa, Mendrisio, and Tirol.

Source: Gold to Go

Last Minute Gifts

Found at the JFK airport in New York, this one is very handy for super-last-minute shopping right before you board your flight. Grab items from branded sunglasses and scarfs to cameras and even Beats headphones.

Source: BK Vixen Gone MD

Marijuana

Now, before you all get excited over the possibility of smoking pot easily, you need one thing to purchase the weed in this machine: a doctor’s prescription. Also, they are only available in certain states where medical marijuana is legal, like California and Colorado, as well as Canada.

Source: Vancouver 24 hrs

Everything You Can Find In A Convenience Store

Because, why not?

Source: VendTrade

Which items do you find in the vending machines where you live? Tell us in the comments below.