Ah, progress. Thanks to advances in vending-machine technology, tiny robotic convenience stores have opened up shop in apartment complexes and on college campuses nationwide. Sure, consumers in Europe and Japan had similar stuff a decade or more ago. But they don’t have the world’s tiniest Kroger, which is about the size of a bus shelter and opened last month on the campus of private Ohio Northern University. [More]
vending machines
Teen Freed From Coke Machine He Tried To Steal From
By 9.28.11
The recession continues to inspire people to do stupid crap to avoid paying money. This week’s case in point, the teen who got stuck in a Coke machine after he tried to get a free can of soda. [More]
Baguette ATM Hits Paris Streets
By 8.16.11
A new vending machine just hit the streets of Paris dispensing freshly baked baguettes. [More]
Walmart Wants In On Pennsylvania Wine Vending Machine Bonanza
By 12.10.10
Remember those wine vending machines at Pennsylvania grocery stores? They’ve proven successful enough to turn heads at Walmart, which is planning to add the machines to some of its stores in the state. [More]
Here's The Vending Machine That Recommends Drinks Based On Facial Recognition
By 11.15.10
Ever stepped up to a vending machine and scratched your head as you mulled over the options? Now there’s a vending machine in Japan that will recommend certain products for you — based on your face. [More]
Are Automated Kiosks The Future Of Retail Shopping?
By 8.18.10
In recent years, vending machines have gone from lunch room relics intent on eating your quarters and holding onto your Sun Chips to high-tech automated kiosks that sell everything from DVDs to ice cream, wine, beauty products, useless Farmville crap, electronics, designer bags and much more. But are they here to stay or is this just a trend? [More]
Should Vending Machines Post Calorie Counts?
By 12.3.09
The Wall Street Journal Health Blog noticed that both health care reform bills currently making their way through our lovely government have provisions that require vending machines to display the calorie counts of items inside. [More]
TombStone Pizza Vending Machine Seen As Harbinger Of Apocalypse
By 9.8.08
The existence of a TombStone pizza vending machine is being interpreted by some as a sign that the end is near.
115F Degree Ice-Cold Coca-Cola
By 6.5.08
Reader Stevenson was doing some grocery shopping in the heat of the afternoon, one summer’s day. Feeling parched, he located a Coca-Cola machine which appeared to him as a merciful desert oasis, or maybe it was just a mirage. Eager to quench his thirst, he hastily fed a dollar bill into the machine. He reached into the machine with the expectation of cool tasty relief, but what he retrieved from the bowels of the mechanical hell-beast was a bottle of Coke that was so f’ng hot he could barely maintain his grip. Shocked and confused, he looked around and caught a glimpse of the machine’s digital readout that mockingly read “ICE COLD COCA COLA 115F.” Stevenson’s letter, inside…
By 5.23.08
../../../..//2008/05/23/after-a-successful-pilot/
After a successful pilot program, Macy’s is putting fancy Japanese-style vending machines in 400 of its stores. They’ll sell things like iPods and cameras. Looks like Macy’s will have to add another list of things excluded from its not-very-valuable coupons. [Reuters]
By 5.1.08
../../../..//2008/05/01/pennsylvania-a-land-ruled-by/
Pennsylvania, a land ruled by the draconian “Liquor Control Board,” may allow wine vending machines with “fingerprints and biometric readings” for age verification to be placed in grocery stores so that people can finally buy wine at the supermarket. What the hell is wrong with Pennsylvania?[Dr. Vino ]
Home Depot Employee Fired For Chasing Shoplifter Sues For $1.5 Million
By 3.18.08
The lawsuit stated:
The Sexy iPod Vending Machine In Action
By 5.1.06
Alright, we were skeptical of the iPod vending machine. But we take it all back — this has to be the coolest vending machine we’ve ever seen.
iPod Vending Machine Spotted in Atlanta
By 4.14.06
The iPod vending machine invasion has already begun. Constantine von Hoffman writes us:
