A recent article on the IBTimes website discussed an automatic vending machine operated and manufactured by Space International. What made this vending machine worthy of being the subject of its very own article was the fact that instead of distributing Snickers bars, Doritos potato chips or cans of Coca-Cola like your typical snack vending machines, this device sells gold.
That's right; this Japanese computer parts company and manufacturer has begun distributing gold in coin and bar form through a vending machine. The theory is that buying gold or tradable gold funds is a tedious process, which is filled with bureaucratic hassles and a series of commission fees. By offering gold through vending machines, interested parties can avoid a plethora of hassle.
While the theory is sound, we have to admit the idea of walking up to a vending machine to buy bricks of gold is a unique mental image, to put it kindly. It got us interested in some of the other wacky vending machines out there. Here are some of the things we found: Lobster Vending Machine
When we first saw this one, we assumed it was just some sort of basic snack vending machine that perhaps distributed pre-cooked lobster tail or some other sort of ready-to-eat style of lobster dish. Turns out, the lobster vending machine is a tank full of water and filled with live, living, breathing lobsters. Questions such as "Where does the lobster come out of?" and "How do I transport this lobster from the snack vending machine exit to my kitchen?" have yet to be answered.
Cannabis Vending Machine In California, medical cannabis has been legal for a little bit of time now. And while the pot-shops aren't too hard to find, there's still the matter of convenience, something a vending machine can provide. Assuming you have a prescription, it is now possible in California to get a freshly rolled joint right out of a machine. Brilliant Marketing Idea: putting a HUGE snack vending machine filled with a tremendous selection of "munchies" options right next to the cannabis one. That's just smart business.
Anger Release Vending Machine
Every punch a snack vending machine out of frustration cause your pack of peanut m&m's got stuck? Hey, we've all been there. Life is filled with tiny aggravations, not all of them caused by slip-ups in a vending machine. But the Anger Release Machine aims to reverse the animosity, offering small pieces of china for the specific purpose of smashing them. Not 100% sure what the prices are on these things, but if we're only discussing a handful of dollars, it sounds like a winning idea to me.