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The Evolution of Vending Machines

44 points · 13 comments · ohjeez

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skyberrys · 1790469521 · focus · HN ↗
By the end of the read I was wondering why I can't setup a few vending machines, sit back and watch the profits roll in. I know it's likely more complicated that I imagine, but it seems like such a hands off way to manage commerce. It wraps up inventory management and sales into one convenient package and takes out the daily responsibilities.
1. EvanAnderson · 1790472462 · focus · HN ↗
  I'd always heard, at least here in the Midwest US, that vending machines are run by organized crime (being historically cash-based) and vending routes and locations involve a certain amount of "protection". Maybe cashless vending machines are changing the landscape. Maybe it's all hokum.
2. extr0pian · 1790473561 · focus · HN ↗
  I'd imagine that the property owner where you're placing the vending machine is going to want to cut, and probably some sort of rent payment and lease agreement signed.
3. vjvjvjvjghv · 1790474866 · focus · HN ↗
  [delayed]
  1. bombcar · 1790478869 · focus · HN ↗
    And all the good locations are already taken.
    skyberrys · 1790563466 · focus · HN ↗
    Appreciate all the common sense replies here reminding me to calm down my vending machine fortunes.
4. georgeburdell · 1790487367 · focus · HN ↗
  I have a relative with several vending machines. He is also in a position of power at the location where they're placed. So yeah you'd be competing with a guy like that.
5. ljf · 1790493574 · focus · HN ↗
  For a while I seemed to end up on a YouTube algorithm that was full of people doing just that - a good few found success, but there seems to be a good chunk of work to do looking after the machines and stock.
  1. skyberrys · 1790563493 · focus · HN ↗
    What a funny spot for the algorithms to take you.
    ljf · 1790587767 · focus · HN ↗
    Which then led me to people who do up washing machines/driers that are dumped at the side of the road, and resell them, which led me to a guy that bought a laundrette - I still watch him, he has a car wash too now...
nonasking_ · 1790474024 · focus · HN ↗
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m463 · 1790478933 · focus · HN ↗
Someone has to bring up japanese vending machines. They are sort of amazing.
That said, I've seen more weird giant vending machines in airports nowadays, the memorable ones to me selling all kinds of lego sets.
1. thenthenthen · 1790489171 · focus · HN ↗
  There is a guy in Japan who keeps up a vending machine park, video here: <a href="https://youtu.be/wEOkMRCWPb4?si=irP7e_7Op52p_yQM" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/wEOkMRCWPb4?si=irP7e_7Op52p_yQM
  China also has some crazy vending machines, from ‘robot arm’ icecream machines to 3d printed candy and chocolate machines.
carver2941 · 1790480098 · focus · HN ↗
The amount of complex software running these now is insane, yet they still manage to consistently fail on card readers.
1. sippingabonedry · 1790494747 · focus · HN ↗
  It's not that complex. It's just real software, not web stack garbage.
  1. llbbdd · 1790535853 · focus · HN ↗
    Might be worth a refresher on the guidelines, or at least a thoughtful examination of why this completely unrelated topic lives rent-free in your head.
aaron695 · 1790492556 · focus · HN ↗
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WorseIsBetter · 1790498204 · focus · HN ↗
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miladyincontrol · 1790499423 · focus · HN ↗
Some these vending machines are something wild these days. "Block's Retro Repairs" on youtube bought one of those cotton candy ones that uses a robotic arm, bloody thing had it's heat probe battery powered with no mechanism to recharge it ever. And quite a bit of calling back home before authorizing itself to run.
Talk about planned obsolescence. Difficult, but not impossible to hack together a fix for.

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