A Vending Machine is an automated machine that aids in the production of different products. Maybe you have probably come across a vending machine, or you have not even heard of it before. This article comprises different vending machines and their usages.
A vending machine is an automated machine that provides its user with items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or a specially designed card is inserted into the machine.
Vending machines exist in many countries and, in more recent times, they have created specialized vending machines that provide less common products compared to traditional vending machine items.
A vending machine is a 24×7 standalone unit that requires a standard power supply connection to function. It comprises simple electro-mechanical systems which help to automate the entire vending process.
Below are different vending machines based on their usages with descriptions.
1. The Change Vending Machine
A change machine is a vending machine that accepts large denominations of currency. Also, returns an equal amount of currency in smaller bills or coins.
Typically, these machines are used to provide coins for paper currency, in which case they are also often known as bill changers. In the United States, they typically see these devices near machines that will not accept paper currency.
This can be in a parking facility that has parking meters, in . It can be near vending machines that lack bill validatory and don’t accept paper currency.
Additional Information
Before the onset of coinless slot machines, casinos would sometimes have been a change machine that would accept the paper currency. Also, return coins or tokens that could be used in the machines.
A similar arrangement has often been found at . Sometimes, a machine may subtract a small amount (e.g. 5 cents) as a surcharge for the transaction.
2. The Cigarette Vending Machine
A cigarette machine is a vending machine that takes cash in payment for packs of cigarettes.
Bans and Restrictions On Cigarette Vending Machines in Different Countries
In order to aid the restriction of the sale of tobacco to minors, cigarette machines are regulated in many countries. Here are different countries with different restrictions and bans under the legal backings of the country;
i. Japan’s Restrictions and Bans
Companies in Japan may face prosecution if found selling tobacco to anyone under the legal age of 20 years old since July 2008.
To avoid this, Japan has introduced a government registered electronic smart card, called Taspo. This allows the user to purchase from the machines.
To get a Taspo card, the purchaser must present their passport or ID to any government-authorized business offering the service. As an automated way of determining the age.
The is developing a technology that allows the vending machine to determine, using a digital camera and based on the facial wrinkles and sags of the potential buyer, whether the buyer is old enough to purchase cigarettes.
ii. Australia Legal Restrictions and Bans
The Sales of tobacco are prohibited in Australia for people under the age of 18. They can only sell it in liquor licensed and gaming venues.
And, must also display health warnings and cannot contain images of the product (only a description and price on a black and white label).
iii. Austria Legal Restrictions and Bans
They prohibit sales of cigarettes in Austria for children under the age of 18. Vending Machines must attempt to verify a customer’s age by requiring the insertion of a or mobile phone
iv. Belgium Legal Restrictions and Bans
In Belgium, they prohibited their verification Sales under the age of 16. Vending machines need to be locked/unlocked by a responsible adult.
v. Bulgaria Legal Restrictions and Bans
They banned cigarette Vending Machines in Bulgaria.
vi. Canada Legal Restrictions and Bans
Canada Regulations vary by province. Either banned outright or restricted to licensed facilities restricting admission to those above the age of majority.
vii. The Czech Republic Legal Restrictions and Bans
They prohibit Czech Republic Sales for people under the age of 18 for vending machines in bars and similar places only.
viii. Denmark country Legal Restrictions and Bans
In Denmark, they prohibit sales of tobacco for people under 18 years of age. Staff monitored machines in restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies including age verifications.
ix. Germany Tobacco Regulations
They prohibit cigarette sales for those under 18 years of age. They must provide machines for age verification. This is usually with a German identity card. Also, with European driving licence or Electronic cash-Card for the verification.
Until 2007, they prohibited the sale to under 16. Since 31st December 2008. All public cigarette machines must have an age verification to prove that the buyer is 18 or over.
x. Guernsey Cigarette Legal Restrictions and Ban
They approved a ban on 1 July 2010, following an amendment to the existing tobacco advertising law. A full ban never took effect, but a 2013 law prohibits vending machines for the sale of tobacco products in public areas.
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3. Birth Control and Condom Vending Machines
It also known birth Control and Condom Vending Machines as condom machine is vending machine for the sale of condoms.
They often place condom machines in public toilets, subway stations, railway stations and airports. This is as a public health measure to promote safe sex.
Many pharmacies also keep one outside, for after-hours access. Rare examples exist that dispense internal condoms.
4. Food and Snack Vending Machines
Different food and snack vending machines exist in the world. Food vending machines that provide shelf-stable foods such as chips, cookies, cakes and other such snacks are common.
Some food vending machines are refrigerated or frozen. They include; chilled so
ft drinks and ice cream treats and some machines provide hot food.
There are some unique food vending machines that exist that are specialized and less common. They include; the French fry vending machine and hot pizza vending machines.
The Caviar Automated Boutique dispenses frozen caviar and other high-end foods.
5. Bulk Vending and Gumball Vending Machines
The profit margins in the bulk candy business can be quite high gumballs. For instance, it can be purchased in bulk for around 2 cents per piece. Also, is sold for 25 cents in gumball machines in the U.S..
Gumballs and candy have a relatively long . This enables vending machine operators to manage many machines without too much time or cost involved.
In addition, the machines are typically inexpensive compared to soft drink or snack machines. This often require power and sometimes refrigeration to work.
6. Full-Line Vending Machine
A full-line vending business sets up several types of vending machines that sell a wide range of products. This include soft drinks and snacks.
A full-line vending company may set up several types of vending machines that sell a wide range of products. Products may include candy, cookies, chips, fresh fruit, and other hot drinks.
They can sell these products from machines that include hot coffee, snack, cold food, and 20 US fluid ounces.
Additional Information
In the United States, almost all machines accept bills with more and more machines accepting $5 bills. This is along with payment from traditional debit and credit cards, or a mobile payment system.
This is an advantage to the vendor because it virtually eliminates the need for a bill changer. Larger corporations with will often request full line vending to supplement their food service.
7. Newspaper Vending Machine
A newspaper vending machine, also known as a newspaper rack, is a vending machine designed to distribute newspapers.
They used newspaper vending machines worldwide. They can be one of the key distribution methods for newspaper publishers.
According to the Newspaper Association of America, in recent times in the United States, circulation via newspaper vending machines has dropped significantly.
8. Photo Booth Vending Machine
A photo booth is a vending machine or modern kiosk that contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor.
Currently, the vast majority of are digital. Traditionally, photo booths contain a seat or bench designed to seat the one or two patrons being photographed.
A curtain of some sort typically surrounded the seat to allow for some privacy. Also to help avoid outside interference during the photo session.
Once the payment is made, the photo booth will take a series of photographs. They provided the customer with prints. Older photo booth vending machines used film and involved developing the film using liquid chemicals.
9. Stamp Vending Machine
A stamp vending machine (SVM) is a mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device that can automatically vend postage stamps to users for a pre-determined amount of money, normally in coins.
They positioned most SVMs in public places to provide a useful service to customers. This is when other sources of postage stamps, such as the Post Office, were closed.
The name Stamp Vending Machine only applies to the internal mechanism. The housing is described by the UK as a “case”. Also, was supplied, installed and maintained separately.
More Information
Many countries still use stamp vending machines. For instance, in Europe, France and Germany do. Their design, fairly modern, is like the electronic interface you may find on a machine selling train tickets.
A set of buttons on both sides of the screen allows selecting the desired option. The process can involve several steps.
These machines normally accept coins, and in France also debit cards. The , in post offices, can let the user weigh the envelope so that the exact correct fare may be selected.
10. Specialized Vending Machines
From 2000 to 2010, the specialization of vending machines became more common. Vending extended increasingly into non-traditional areas like electronics, or even artwork or short stories.
Machines of this new category are called Automated retail kiosks. When using an automated retail machine, consumers select products.
Sometimes using a touchscreen interface, they pay for purchases using a credit or debit card. The product is dispensed, sometimes via an internal robotic arm in the machine.
11. Automobile Vending Machine
In November 2013, online auto retailer Carvana opened the first car vending machine in the U.S. in Atlanta.
In late 2016, Autobahn Motors, a car dealership in Singapore, opened a 15-story-tall luxury car vending machine. It contained 60 cars, dispensing Ferrari and Lamborghini vehicles.
12. Book Vending Machine
Book vending machines dispense books, which may be full-sized. Some libraries use book vending machines. is a book lending vending machine used by libraries in Sweden and the U.S. state of California.
13. Life Insurance Vending Machines
From the 1950s until the 1970s, vending machines were used at American airports to sell life insurance policies covering death. This was in case the buyer’s flight crashed.
However, this practice gradually disappeared because of the tendency of American courts. This was to strictly construe such policies against their sellers.
They include; the Fidelity and of New York (which later became part of CNA Financial).
14. Marijuana Vending Machine
A marijuana vending machine originally found a niche market as a vending machine for selling or dispensing cannabis.
They sell a wide range of cannabis, hemp and CBD-related products. These products start with th
e THC-based cannabis flowers in countries where the legislation allows cannabis consumption.
The first experiments in distributing marijuana through vending machines started in 2010. They were already in use in the United States and Canada.
Additional Information
The primary challenge faced in selling restricted or controlled merchandise like cannabis is to verify the identity of the user in front of the vending machine making the purchase.
The application of biometrics and smart vending software technology overcomes this. The same technology used to verify the buyer’s age in the automatic sales of tobacco.
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15. Mold-A-Rama Vending Machines
The Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of vending machine that makes blow-moulded plastic figurines.
Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962. It grew in prominence at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. We can still find the machines operating in dozens of museums and zoos.
16. Orange Juice Vending Machines
The fresh-squeezed orange juice contains fresh oranges and a mechanism to cut and squeeze them on order to produce fresh juice.
17. Prize Vending Machines
This type of machine sells a container that may contain a price.
Some such machines advertise the prizes that may be won. Examples include smartphones, holiday packages, and toys.
18. Social-Networked Vending Machines
With the rise of social networks, they have integrated vending machine into social media. This is in order to proliferate the interaction of the vending machine with the users from the physical machine to the social networks.
The common application of social-networked vending machines is that the user can connect his/her social account to a specific social media designated by the vending machine.
The user will get some rewards in return, normally as gifts dispensed from the vending machine.
19. Smart Vending Machines
Similar to the development of traditional mobile phones into smartphones, vending machines have also progressively, though at a much slower pace, developed into smart vending machines.
These smart vending machines enable a more interactive user experience and reduce operating costs. This is while improving the efficiency of the vending operations through remote manageability and intelligent back-end analytic.
Integrated sensors and cameras also represent a source of such data as customer demographics, purchase trends, and other locality-specific information.
Additional Information
It also enables better customer engagement for the brands through interactive multimedia and social media connectivity. Smart vending machines were No.79 by JWT Intelligence on its list of 100 Things to Watch in 2014.
According to market research by Frost & Sullivan, to 3.6 million units by 2020 forecast global shipments of smart vending machines to reach around 2 million units by 2018. Also, and further to 3.6 million units, with a penetration rate of 20.3 per cent.
Unique and Best Vending Machines
They rarely see the unique and best vending machines. This is because some of the major vending machines does their work partially. Below is the list with descriptions and usage of the best vending machines:
1. French Fry Vending Machine
A French fry vending machine is a vending machine that dispenses hot French fries, also known as chips. The defunct Precision Fry Foods Pty Ltd. in Australia developed the first known french fry vending machine circa 1982.
A few companies have developed and manufactured French fry vending machines and prototypes. A prototype machine was also developed at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
2. Pauline’s Pizza Vending Machine
Let’s Pizza is the name of a vending machine that makes fresh pizza from scratch. It was developed in 2009 by Italian company .
The machine combines water, flour, tomato sauce, and fresh ingredients to make a pizza in approximately three minutes. It includes windows so customers can watch the pizza as they make it. They cook the pizza in an infrared oven.
The device was invented by , an entrepreneur in Rovereto, Italy. The vending machine began in Italy and is now spreading into the United Kingdom and becoming popular there.
3. Moet Chandon Vending Machine
You could be at a vending machine that sells 20-dollar bottles of Moet Chandon. While there are only a few select locations across the world, including Las Vegas, New Orleans, and London.
It’s worth stopping in to have some once-in-a-lifetime bubbly for a more than affordable price. Hell, at the very least, it beats the Diet Dr Pepper you grabbed from your company’s machine after lunch.
4. Weed Vending Machines
There’s a joke about having the munchies here somewhere, but there’s absolutely nothing funny about the emerging medical and recreational in the U.S.
Currently, one of Colorado’s most profitable and popular industries, everyone is trying to get in on the action. This is exactly why we’ve seen the introduction of weed vending machines to the equation.
They sell anything from grams to eighths, edibles, rolling papers, and even things like affordable urine screening tests to see how baked you are. If that’s not served on the go, we don’t know what is.
5. Sprinkles Cupcake ATM
Something consistently ranked sprinkles cupcakes one of the best cupcake shops in the nation, and with chains from New York to California.
Their innovative and revolutionary cupcake ATMs should excite everyone. There are 15 cupcake ATMs around the country and also cities, which include places like Austin, Nashville, New York City, Beverly Hills, etc.
But these beautiful magic machines will spit out fresh
, ready-to-eat cupcakes whenever you want them, 24/7. And they take credit cards.
6. Mikkeller Beer Vending Machine
A wide selection of beer is delivered to you through the convenience of a vending machine. The folks at Mikkeller get us, which is why they’ve come out with their own beer-specific vending machine.
Far as we can tell, we can only find them at specific events and in/around Copenhagen (where Mikkeller is based), but it’s the thought that counts, really.
Plus, with the U.S. being smack dab in the middle of a craft beer revolution ourselves, we can only hope more local breweries take note.
7. Uniqlo Airport Vending Machines
You can’t buy beer or pizza or weed from them, but the folks at Uniqlo are trying to help everyone by offering forgetful travellers some last-minute clothing options at airport vending machines across the country.
They unveiled the first machine earlier in August at Oakland International Airport and offers two of the company’s most popular items.
The tops and the UltraLight down jackets are easy to pack and super functional, and also come in varieties of colours and sizes for men and women.
They also slated some of the vending machines for release in several other cities, including , Houston, and New York.
8. Crab Vending Machine
Why wait in line at the grocery store when you can buy your crab from a subway station vending machine? It displayed live hairy crabs in a vending machine at a major subway station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
The machine, which is restocked daily, sells crabs for around 20 RMB ($3.27), along with the condiments (crab vinegar and two bags of ginger tea). You can find it in China.
9. Burrito-Box
Behold the burrito vending machine. Burrito Box gives us a new high for food distribution technology (and perhaps a new low for Mexican cuisine).
“The world’s first automated burrito kiosk” is located inside a Mobil gas station store in West Hollywood, California. You can find this Vending Machine in West Hollywood, California.
10. Farmers-Fridge
Why should junk food be so easy to get, but not healthy food? And who says healthy can’t be delicious, too? No sir, not us. Our big idea is to make slow food available fast.
To deliver a fresh take on fresh. To turn the vending machine into a veggie machine. And make access to healthy, delicious food the rule, not the exception. You can get these Vending Machines in the United States & Canada.
11. Plan B Contraceptive Vending Machine
Students at Shippensburg best University in Southampton can get the “morning-after” pill by sliding $25 into a vending machine.
Besides the Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive, the vending machine also supplies condoms, decongestants and pregnancy tests.
This place is one of the best education centres, And one of the most important things to consider when planning your stay at any university if the accommodation as it’s crucial that you are living somewhere nice, this one in Southampton is a great choice for example.
12. Mashed Potato Vending Machine
Apparently, slushes aren’t enough for 7-Eleven convenience stores, they are now dispensing something a little different. Mashed potatoes.
From a machine that looks shockingly similar to our favourite Slurpee machine. Created by Maggi, a company that sells powdered mashed potatoes, the machine mixes the powdered potatoes with hot water.
13. Kirin Beer & Sake Vending Machine
The name says it all! Two-dollar beer and sake are one of the most commonly vended items in Japan. Although, unfortunately, it’s becoming less prevalent because of worries about underage drinking.Where to find it: Japan
14. Berdoll Pecan Pie Vending Machine
Cedar Creek, Texas is serving up whole pies 24 hours a day. Buy a freshly baked pecan pie from Berdoll Pecan Farm for $17.50 right outside the retail store.
15. FEBO Restaurant Vending Machines
Fast food is faster in Amsterdam with FEBO, a chain Automat that dispenses food through a vending machine. Some of the most popular items include croquettes stuffed with veal or beef.
Everything at these restaurants costs less than $10. Not bad! Where to find it: Amsterdam.
16. InstyMeds Pharmacy Medication Dispenser
InstyMeds, the newest pharmacy vending machine, dispenses antibiotics, inhal
ers, cough syrups, and painkillers in hospitals and clinics across the country.
This immediate, round-the-clock access should ease the burden of emergency departments for conditions that may not require immediate attention beyond obtaining a medication.
17. SnackBot Corporate Quiz Vending Machine
The Snackbot is a reimagined vending machine transformed into an innovative tech experience. The machine quizzes Campbell’s Soup employees on the renowned company’s history, product offerings and digital marketing efforts.
If an employee accepts the challenge and answers two out of three questions correctly, Snackbot instantly dispenses a delicious reward from Campbell’s product portfolio.
18. Save Our Solez
Two Toronto men have created a shoe vending machine that will dispense flats to women in need of high heel reprieve, Metro News reports.
The flats sold by Canada-based Save Our Solez will retail for $14.99 and come with a bag that can be used to store the user’s other pair of shoes.
The Save Our Solez machine costs $2,500 and holds 80 pairs of shoes. American-based company Flat Out Of Heels, a 2011 startup, similarly provides cool vending machines that dispense ‘emergency flats’ for women on the go
19. Breathalyzer Vending Machine
Here’s how it works: user inserts payment: cash, coin or credit card into the Boozelator® & the Smart LCD Ad Monitor will walk them through the BrAC (Breath Alcohol Content) testing process.
In short, grab a straw, insert into the testing hole, blowhard it for 2 seconds, and see your result on the large monitor!
The Boozelator® can be programmed in any language and is compatible with virtually any currency for nearly any country. We have customers on 6 continents, in nearly 20 countries.
Boundless Beauty’s hair extension vending machine does exactly what you’d think: it vends hair extensions.
Within the last month Marvin Kilgore, the company’s founder, leased 40 vending machines for $130 per month to sell hair around Philadelphia, according to Philly.com.
Kilgore hopes to install more machines in the next few weeks. The machines are solely cashless. Where to find it: Philadelphia.
21. Live Bait Vending Machine
A minnow-filled vending machine has been placed in Montana’s Tongue River Reservoir State Park, according to the .
The machine will ensure minnows are not illegally transported into Montana from neighbouring states. You can find this vending machine in Montana.
22. Hey Buddy Vending Machine
Hey Buddy! Vending machines are saving people everywhere, from accidentally stepping in dog poop.
The machine dispenses everything you might need when hitting the town with your furry best friend. Toys, snacks, and even pick up bags!
23. Loose Leaf Tea Vending Machine
Everyone loves a nice steaming cup of loose-leaf tea, but it can still be so hard to find. Not anymore. Loose-leaf tea can be convenient. In fact, it’s now being dispensed in a manner one might even call the ultimate convenience.
“TeaBOT holds a variety of loose tea leaves and is attached to a tablet that allows for customer selection. This robot proves you don’t need to see a barista in order to get a personalized experience when you order your beverage of choice.”
24. Clean Water ATM Vending Machines
The residents of Nairobi now have convenient access to clean water!
This week, the Kenyan government partnered with a Danish company that installed a series of water ATM Vending Machines in this impoverished community.
The purpose of the project is to bring clean and affordable water to the people of Nairobi.
25. Unique Vending Machines
These Unique Vending Machines are accessible to the community via smart cards, which can store water credits and be used to purchase clean water.
The process is simple: swipe the card, and the machine will automatically dispense clean water. Clearly, these water vending machines will change lives in Nairobi by reducing dehydration rates and water-born illnesses.
The icing on the top is that the water is also incredibly affordable. In fact, it’s the best deal in town–for only half of a Kenyan shilling (5 Cents in the U.S.), these machines can dispense as much as 20 litres of water.
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26. Used Underwear Vending Machine
Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for! For many years now, it’s been an urban legend, but it exists. That’s right, a panty vending machine. And not just any panties, but used panties. You can get this vending machine from Japan.
FAQs About The Best Vending Machines
Listed below are the frequentl
y asked questions on the best vending machines
1. Are Vending Machines a Good Investment?
Yes, vending machines can be profitable. The average vending machine earns $35 a week, but vending machines that are well-stocked and placed in safe, high-traffic locations can generate over $400 a month.
2. How Does a Vending Machine Work?
A vending machine is an automated machine that provides items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card and even a specially designed card is inserted into the machine.
3. How Much is a Vending Machine License?
You must have a license from the Food Protection Program so you can operate a food and beverage vending machine.
4. How to Find Vending Machine Locations?
You can’t just place your vending machine anywhere without permission! Because most locations will require you to follow state and local vending laws.
Also, you will often have to sign a contract with the property owner. Read up on state and local vending laws when doing your research.
5. How much Does it Cost to Put Vending Machines Somewhere?
This fee varies depending on the type of machine installed but typically ranges from around $5 per month for simple stand-alone machines, such as gumball machines, to $50 per month for coffee and snack vending machines that require electricity or water.
6. How Much Money Does a Vending Machines make in a Year?
Americans spend about $27 per person per year on items from vending machines because the average transaction is around $1.75.
The typical vending machine generates over $75 of revenue each week and over $300 per month. Because some vending machines generate much less than this, while some vending machines generate so much.
7. What are the Disadvantages of Vending Machines?
But these machines also come with some disadvantages that may affect your employees and resources in ways that are not conducive to maintaining your bottom line.
8. Where Can I Negotiate For Vending Machines?
You can therefore negotiate the percentage of sales you’ll pay to the owner in return for the vending machine’s “rent”. Also, offer in the low-to-mid-range of what you can afford to pay and wait for his response.
Also, for example, assume you have so figured anywhere from 10 per cent to 30 per cent of net sales.
9. What is a Vending Machine?
A vending machine is an automated machine that should provide the users with a diverse range of products.
A product like snacks, beverages, pizzas, cupcakes, newspapers and tickets, etc. is also known as a vending machine.
10. How Many Carvana Vending machines Are Available?
There are currently 24 Carvana Car Vending Machines scattered throughout the country, with many more planned for future markets.
The national average sales for a vending machine is almost 40,000 yen per month. If your monthly sales drop to 20,000 yen, then rather than turning a profit and you’ll be in the red because of the depreciation of the machine.
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