Can't find your iPod? Craving for some pizza, fish or ham? Feeling lonely on a Friday night? Want to hook a big one at four in the morning? Well, grab you coat and head to the nearest V-machine!

In a simpler time vending machines were restricted to selling newspapers, candy and beverages. Now if you can't find something in vending machines, then you probably haven't looked hard enough!

Porn

Image Source

Talk about instant gratification! The above vending machine in Kyushu(?), Japan, perfectly defines Japan's most popular mode of dispensing items. With everything from condoms to eggs available through vending machines, playboy doesn't really seem too farfetched.

The photographer was lucky as stocked up machines are rare to find, they usually empty out within hours if not minutes of being restocked. Who wouldn't prefer a machine over looking a shop owner in the eye?

Beef & Fish

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Convenience redefined? Leave it to the Japanese to put everything from your dinner to your toilet paper in your neighborhood vending machine, this beauty was snapped in Tokyo, Japan.


Umbrellas

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Damn the English weather! The Brits have perfect solution for avoiding soggy biscuits, umbrella vending machines! For just two quid you can have a moist free day in Canary Wharf, London.

iPods

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Candy's ol' school, think iPods! The machine installed at La Jolla, California satisfies that instant craving for an.. iPod!


Live Bait

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No more messing around with the chum bucket! Introducing the Live Bait Vending machine providing you with live bait 24x, perfect for those spontaneous fishing enthusiast who just can't down that urge to hook a big one at three in the morning.


Pizza

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For just £3.30 you can dig your teeth into an instant steaming 9" pizza pie! The vending machine is the brainchild of Wonderpizza, an Italian company which developed it over the course of 10 years. So how fast is it? It takes 2 minutes to roll out a pie, now that's fastfood!


Whiskey and M&Ms

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What do you down vending machine pizza with? Whiskey and M&Ms of course!


Soccer Balls

Via Uberreview

Can't find something to kick around? If you've got a 20 on you, Nike's got a solution for you! The Joga3 soccer ball vending machine installed in New York City dispenses a ball for an affordable $20.


Marijuana

Via MSNBC

The 24 hour drive through vending machine dispenses marijuana conveniently without compromising privacy! Before you scramble for your wallet, we'll rephrase that to medicinal marijuana.

The machine requires fingerprint identification and a prepaid card with a magnetic strip. Once the card and fingerprint have been verified, a bright green envelope with the drug drops down a slot.

 

Frenchfries/ Prawns/ Nuggets


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If you think it's stale ol' bits of food, you're wrong! The FoodCube frenchfries/prawns/nuggets are fried only when an order is placed. After 90 seconds of deep frying, they're strained, and dispensed with salt, sauce and a napkin. Getting chunky was never this convenient!


Used Underwear

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This Japanese vending machine is dispensing used school girl underwears, with the images of their previous owners. The girls probably made a considerable profit selling them to shop owners who then sell or vend them for an exorbitant amount.

The machines were outlawed in 1993, though many Japanese claim that they're still around. Some even claiming to have seen one.

Ties

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Black tie affair without a tie? The solution to every problem can be found in a Japanese vending machine!

Books

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The flight's delayed and that magazine's getting pretty crabby, what do you do? Use a vending machine! The machine installed at Gatwick airport, London, lets you buy your favorite author at the press of a button. Though the conenience of a back cover read is lost, the ingenuity of the instant book dispensing machine might just help you expand your literary flavors.

T-Shirts

Via TokyoPress

What would the world's biggest vending machine dispense? Just T-Shirts for now. The UNIQLO UT store in Tokyo, Japan, is literally a giant vending machine selling T-shirts tucked in transparent plastic cans!

Smart Car

Via CScoutJapan

Your very own instant disposable Smart Car! Well ok, the machine doesn't really roll out a brand new smart car, though it does dispense a branded tube containing information about the models, dealer information, and a sheet of car stickers in the colors available.

The concept perfectly signifies the Japanese love for vending machines and their grab-on-the-go attitude towards shopping. The marketing campaign has since long ended, but the vending machine concept for promotion etched itself a name in the world of marketing.


 

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Comments (81)Add comments
junior wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: more
you forgot the smart car vending machine
SMELLY wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: i like the underwear machine
gotta love the used underwear machine, i wish they had them in mexico

Niche Pro wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: Why don't we have these in the USA?
We need more vending machines like these in the USA. I wonder if the used underwear were actually worn by the hotties on the package?
website
Ollie wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: YOU SPELT CANARY WHARF WRONG
Canary wharfy? CANARY WHARF! I live there!
Jonathan wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
They have that ipod one in America. Ive seen one in a Macys. :D
ChC wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
My favourite ones are the one's in club toilets in the UK that sell the necessities for each stage of meeting a girl.
*Mints to get first impressions
*Condoms for the next step
*Vibrating cock rings for when things get experimental
*And painkillers for the headache of being in a relationship
thomas wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
quid does not have a plural.
1 sheep, 2 sheep.
a quid, 2 quid.

electronic cigarettes wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
Ewww, used panties. Gross. At least it wasn't used porn.
website
Evan wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
I live in a small town in Ohio, and I've seen the bait vending machine a couple different places.
Anthony wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: Why not int he US?
Hi, the reason you don't find these much in the US is that people would rip them off to steal the stuff inside. In Japan (and most of Asia) such a thing wouldn't happen - people just wouldn't smash the glass and take shit.
Mark wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: Umbrella Vending Machines
Now I've seen everything :)
website
Trippn wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: Cool
I'd use the one with fries and nuggets, Surprised I didn't see the one that grinds and brews your coffee, nummy.

Cerebrus wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: Ollie/ Thomas/ Junior
Ollie, Thomas - Corrected

Junior - Added
website
Capt.KRik! wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: all-in-one
I must have a picture somewhere of a vending machine in lissabon... Sold soup, icecream, pizza or fries! REALLY! NO lIE!
website
MasamiEiri wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: UNIQLO UT
The shirt place isn't a giant vending machine, the shirts are just organized in capsules all along the wall.
Cyclonus wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: ...
Yeah I would like to see some of them come to my area where I live. Like the Ipod, Marijuana and the Porn vending machines. They would be broking into in a heartbeat once night fell. Kids i the U.S. don't care they just destroy things for something to do. They don't care about the consequences. But if they put a used underwear one near me it would probably be filled with skid marks.
robert wrote on March 27, 2009
 
Title: MasamiEiri
no, that's a vending machine.
Disappointed iPod Purchaser wrote on March 28, 2009
 
Title: ...
Even if the battery has some charge in it, there wont be any music to satisfy that instant craving for an iPod
TBD - wrote on March 28, 2009
 
Title: To thomas
Thomas... it is actually 1 quid, 2 squid. had to say tht

The Baby Dinosaur
Shran wrote on March 28, 2009
 
Title: ...
I'm still waiting for a vending machine vending machine...
website
Josh wrote on March 28, 2009
 
Title: LOL
wow theres a vending machine for everything!
Bunky wrote on March 28, 2009
 
Title: ...
it's "spelled" not spelt


Ollie wrote on March 27, 2009

Title: YOU SPELT CANARY WHARF WRONG
Canary wharfy? CANARY WHARF! I live there!
website
Ultraviolent & infradead wrote on March 29, 2009
 
Title: ...

electronic cigarettes wrote on March 27, 2009

Title: ...
Ewww, used panties. Gross. At least it wasn't used porn.

My soccer team went to denmark once, and they actually had a machine that supplied used porn. They way you could tell was that ALL the pages had been stuck together and ripped apart so that most of the pictures were torn white paper with only pieces of the pictures shown around the edges... In the words of Borat: "Great success" ;)
Kate wrote on March 29, 2009
 
Title: ...
I was flying back from London to the US a year ago and saw a book vending machine in Gatwick Airport. I thought it was a brilliant idea, I'd never seen one that vended books before, and I took a picture. A man standing next to me started laughing at the fact I took a picture of the vending machine, and I said, "Well, I've never seen one that dispensed books!" At that, his laughter stopped, he looked thoughtful, and he said, "You know, neither have I."
RHK wrote on March 29, 2009
 
Title: ...
Luckily for anyone in California, getting a medical card is extremely easy.
website
poorpothead wrote on March 29, 2009
 
Title: ...
RHK, Only if you can afford it. $250.00 for a "Dr. referral", gas money for the long trip to the dispensary, then $75.00 an eighth. Richie Rich and all the other douche bags just get mommy and daddy to pay for it, meanwhile poor folks with no medical insurance can't get the meds they need!
Henrik Harbin wrote on March 29, 2009
 
Title: Weird machines at my local mall
At the Westfield Shoppingtown North County in Escondido, CA, there's not only a perfume/cosmetics vending machine (that starts at $75 for a small package of foundation makeup), but also a claw-Tetris machine that dispenses prizes like Nintendo DS and DS Lite, Sony PSPs,and other electronics and games of varying price (you do have to win the game, though).
Zora wrote on March 30, 2009
 
Title: To those wanting the worn underwear from GIRLS:
YOU SICK F*CKS!!!
Johnny Fist wrote on March 30, 2009
 
Title: panties
the first thing I would do if I bought some panties would to sniff them vigoursly
Cerebrus wrote on March 30, 2009
 
Title: Kate
Added to the list!
website
VivalaCony wrote on March 30, 2009
 
Title: Book Vending Machine
There's a book vending macnine in Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland. I know as I bought a book there. It came in a nice box/bag thing
Micah wrote on March 31, 2009
 
Title: Acne Medication
In a mall near my home, there is a vending machine for Pro-Active
emma wrote on March 31, 2009
 
Title: ...
my favorite by far was the whiskey and m&ms
brilliant
Kostas wrote on March 31, 2009
 
Title: Mr.
I wonder who comes up with these ideas. I have a few ideas also for some cool vending machines but I wonder to whom I must talk to to get something like that done. Do you know a website of a company that produces vending machineS?

hyperhippy wrote on April 01, 2009
 
Title: ...
if you put a ipod vending machine in london all the ipods would just get stolen
Joey wrote on April 01, 2009
 
Title: La JOLLA, not Volla
It's actually spelled La Jolla, not La Volla (to my knowledge, no such place exists) and the ipod vending machine in question is near La Jolla, but it's actually in Mission Valley in San Diego.
Earl S. Wynn wrote on April 02, 2009
 
Title: Very cool!
I enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing! I've seen the book vendor one before (the one that says "Novel Idea" on it) but the rest were totally new to me! Used underwear? WTF, Haha.
website
Cerebrus wrote on April 02, 2009
 
Title: Joey
Corrected! We seemed to have been off by a... continent.
website
McCow wrote on April 02, 2009
 
Title: ...
Sniff & lick panties......yummy
TMS Factory wrote on April 02, 2009
 
Title: TMS Factory
TMS Factory launched the first mobile barcode widgets for mobile marketing and mobile advertising media, they provide api, video banners, 2d and 3d barcodes.

Mobile Marketing your product and service to mobile phones, visit us.
website
Andrew Mossberg wrote on April 02, 2009
 
Title: Art Vending Machines
There's a group called Art-o-Mat that repurposes old cigarette vending machines into art-vending machines. Get your fix of instant original art at the website link.

I believe in Osaka I saw a Okonomiyaki vending machine (fried octopus snacks).
website
Amelia wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: Sex toy venders
In a lot of English pubs and bars the toilets have vending machines selling little vibrators and whatnot.

Ooh and have you seen those mobile phone vending machines? x
Alex wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: Busy Beaver ButtonOmatic
Busy Beaver Button Co. vends artist-designed pin-back buttons from the ButtonOmatic. The last series featured GLOW in the dark buttons.
website
nunya wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: ijustlovepot
yess a weed vending machine those need to be everywhere :) maybe with pre-rolled joints and blunts and a bag of candy perfect.
Sarah Jane wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: Hamburger vending machine
When I worked at Amazon.com we had a vending machine that dispensed hamburgers for you to microwave. I tried one for the novelty of it... it was a poor choice.
website
Steve wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: Rosetta Stone
I saw a Rosetta Stone language vending machine in an airport once. Crazy.
Hannah wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: Apple Vending Machine
I have seen a Apple vending machine selling iPods, Macbooks, iPhones, and almost everything in an Apple store! It was in the Atlanta Airport I think, or it might have been in Europe. But I have seen one!
Sandaili wrote on April 03, 2009
 
Title: ...
I'm glad I didn't grow up rich in a place where the school had ipods in vending machines. What a world. Why is it in California the schools are absolutely terrible and yet in rich areas they are like this? California schools used to be the best in the nation - now they're almost the worst (unless you're in La Jolla, apparently).
Joha wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: lunch machine
At my mom's law firm, there is a vending machine with all sorts of lunch foods in it- soup, sandwiches, yogurt, etc. It's pretty decent food, too.
Sang wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: NYC
Once while in New York, New York, I went into this "restaurant" that had no staff and consisted only of a room filled with vending machines. They sold various foods like burgers, sandwiches, etc. and there was also one just for desserts like little cakes and tarts. It was odd.

Also, it should be noted that both "spelled" and "spelt" are correct, the second being chiefly British.

dustin wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: ollie haha
ollie, if you are going to complain about spelling, spell every word in your complaint correctly! "spelt" haha really?
Tony wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: theres more in japan
My friend came back from Japan not too long ago and saw vending machines for hot soup in cans and hot noodles in cans and all these other foods in cans.
Aidan wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: joint vending machines
In Amsterdam in the Bulldog cafe they used to have a joint (marijuana) vending machine with a nice selection of different flavours all rolled and ready for consumption. Definitely the coolest vending machine I've come across in my travels.
Bystander wrote on April 04, 2009
 
Title: ...
I spent a year and a half living in Tokyo because of my work, and they really do have some of the strangest vending machines I've ever seen. The umbrellas, all kinds of hot and cold food, t-shirts, ties, even condoms. But these all seem like they could be pretty convenient in a machine. It was the machines that dispensed 10kg bags of rice, fresh eggs, and TOILET PAPER that made me wonder who is using this? When are you going to need these things just out of the blue? Why not just go to a store?

Also, they're everywhere. You can be walking down a quiet residential street and there's a bank of vending machines standing by the side of the road.
Borellus wrote on April 05, 2009
 
Title: Silly
Some of those are good ideas like the umbrellas or the footballs, however I would NEVER get pizza from a vending machine.
website
Obama wrote on April 05, 2009
 
Title: Prawns for the win!!!
Damn I want some prawns!!!


OBAMAISAROBOT.com

Katie wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: in Japan
One of the most amazing things I saw in Japan was a vending machine in the middle of nowhere standing out all alone amongst a whole lot of ride paddies! I absolutely couldn't believe it... It was on the side of a road not near anything in particular. I don't know what it was selling because I saw it from the train but it looked like one that offered cans of drink.
Scat R. Brane wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: Waiting for my train
I figured I'd have a sweet bite. Put coins in such a machine with spirals that push the Smarties or chocolate out. Nothing came however though the spiral made its turn.

Frustrated, I gave the unwilling thing a push. Then it appeared that the whole apparatus stood wobbly and before I knew what, I had an armful of Treets, Snickers, Mars, peppermint and what have you.

Not sure if I liked it all that way: a kind of theft-vending machine.
Me wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: LOL
You forgot two: the sock vending machine and:
http://factoidz.com/wp-content...chine.jpg

lol wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: ...
http://factoidz.com/wp-content...achine.jpg :)
Emilylemily wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: proactiv
In Baltimore, I've seen a Proactiv (the acne medicine) vending machine!
jwyeary wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: ...
Do we really want to know where the used underwear comes from? I somehow doubt the authenticity of the product.
website
giochi gratis wrote on April 06, 2009
 
Title: Marijuana
Oh yeah!
But, pizza.... noooooooooooooo!
website
Carlos wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: medicinal weed
I want that marijuana machine!!! for medical reasons of course
hackmaskate wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: wow!!!
this post is amazing!!! =) good pics =) www.hackmaskate.net
website
Max wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: Jonathan...
Jonathan wrote on March 27, 2009

Title: ...
They have that ipod one in America. Ive seen one in a Macys. :D
-------

Last time I checked, California was in the US...
tyler brown wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: ...
they need one for weed! right now
dwindle wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: ...
I like the machines that actually deep fry snacks for you in about 2 minutes. The umbrella one was featured on Dragon's Den - the real money was in the advertising on the sides, rather than the umbrella itself. Food is so horrible in New England (that's why we call it such) I really wish it all came from vending machines.

jonesy wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: ...
nothing beats instant wipe on sex appeal in some pubs in australia
fish tank aquariums wrote on April 07, 2009
 
Title: Are you kidding me?
This is crazy! I hope I never see half of these vending machines...wait did you say french fries haha.
website
Marko wrote on April 09, 2009
 
Title: I´ve seen them
Tokyo is great. And the capitol og vending machines. I´ve gone up to one that had some sort of sensor. I wonder if it had color or etnic sensors since it said out loud "welcome to vending machine!", since no other japanese could utter a singel undestandable english word.
website
'kaye wrote on April 13, 2009
 
Title: ...
I lived in Japan for several years (after '93), and although the machines weren't as prevalent, the used undies were. As for the question as to whether or not the pictures were of the "hotties," I had a friend whose panties were stolen off of her line when she hung them out to dry. Used panties were quite the commodity, at least in those days!
Michael Rh wrote on April 14, 2009
 
Title: Leave it to the Japs
To be totally brainless. The only country where you can buy used under pants in a vending machine.. Real inventive! NOT

Ooft wrote on April 18, 2009
 
Title: Why?
Why M&Ms, WHY M&Ms?
Aeval wrote on April 18, 2009
 
Title: ...
The first thing I saw when I got to the bathroom in the greyhound bus station in Canada... was a vending machine for perfume, one for lip gloss, and another for flavored condoms. FLAVORED ones.

I have to question the whiskey and m&m's one. Just.. why?
website
Aeval wrote on April 18, 2009
 
Title: Also! Human vending machines.
Also, there are so many vending machines in Japan that there is now a vending machine disguise for when you're trying to get away from someone! o-O

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/asia/20japan.html
website
Blind Nigga Samurai wrote on April 25, 2009
 
Title: ...
What about Hot Pocket vending machines?
supashin wrote on April 27, 2009
 
Title: novel idea
actually they have one of the book vendind macines in a hospital in limerick, very handy idea! the little screen does show all the information on each of the books. it was a lifesaver when my son was staying there for over two weeks!
sugarbite wrote on May 22, 2009
 
Title: THANKS, JAPAN.
my goodness. leave it to the Japanese to come up with a vending machine that sells used school girl's panties.

I love Japan, but when it comes to sexuality, they are wayyyyyy out in left field.

tom wrote on June 15, 2009
 
Title: mr
For the newest, most amazingest vending machines check out vending-machine-scene.com
website
Elric wrote on July 13, 2009
 
Title: ...
Wanan be really cruel? Place the pizza machine next to the weed machine. Not just a difficult choice, but chances are, whoever goes for the weed, first, will also want the pizza, only to find out, he doesn't have enough, anymore.

:D

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