What do you purchase from vending machines?
I rarely have access to vending machines. I work in a hospital that prohibits them. Occasionally, while waiting for my car to be serviced or running errands, I may buy a beverage---usually water. Are the machines becoming a thing of the past? Do you purchase snax or meals from these devices?
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22 Comments:
Chips (including T.G.I.Friday's Potato Skins), candy bars (Mars products mostly), and drinks (water for the most part, but 2%-or-better milk if I can get it). The "wheel of misfortune" is always fun, particularly if it's located in an auto repair shop. I think Rush this fall is still touring with two "wheel of misfortune"'s on Geddy Lee's side of the stage which, with the two running clothes dryers, balances out with Alex Lifeson's stacks on the other side. ;-)
I'm not so sure vending machines will become a thing of the past. The time lady on the telephone is about to, and pay phones aren't far behind. However, in those cases there are replacement technologies that are pushing them in that direction, something vending machines don't have yet.
LunaPierCook at 6:28AM on 08/30/07
just like the de-evolution of department stores into dollar stores, vending machines are going cheap and appealing to the lowest common denominator before they kick the bucket altogether. the vending machine at my work now offers "0.35 specials"!!!! and boy are they crappy, no-name crap snacks.
goodbyeohio at 7:41AM on 08/30/07
Usually Gardetto's or Cheez-Its. Sometimes peanut M&Ms...
Tara Tot at 11:16AM on 08/30/07
LunaPierCook--you always provide us with the most interesting & helpful links & I for one enjoy this!
JEP at 11:53AM on 08/30/07
All the food and beverage vending machines have been removed from the office where I work, which has saved me more than money. Used to fill my boring afternoons eating peanuts, corn nuts and the occasional bag of Fritos. These days, save a portion of my lunch for a 3 o'clock snack. Much healthier!
hatlady at 1:12PM on 08/30/07
At my old office I was a vending machine regular:
1.Copious amounts of Diet Coke
2. The occasional Snickers bar (what? I'm human. Sue me.)
3. Mints/Gum - man, that machine saved many a client's life when they'd stop in without an appointment right after lunch - the lunch I spent knocking back take out from the Italian place down the street.
corycm at 1:38PM on 08/30/07
CheezIts - I hate to admit that I detest those 100 calorie packs that have become so popular, but I do buy CheezIts from the machine in my office building a couple of times a week. I have tried bringing a box (much cheaper) from home, but I have no self control when it comes to CheezIts and no sense of planning ahead to portion them out into baggies.
Sometimes I'll break down and buy a pack of strawberry PopTarts.
Luckily the machine is in a high traffic area and the snacks are fresh.
cybele at 2:12PM on 08/30/07
the only thing I buy from vending machines is condoms.
seyo at 6:41PM on 08/30/07
When I was in college (which was only a few months ago still), I used to buy snacks from the vending machine quite often.
I would usually get cheez-its, pretzels or a twix.
Now at work, sometimes I'll get cheetos, because I can't bring myself to buy a whole bag at the grocery store!
Chau at 7:34PM on 08/30/07
I'm in college, and words can't express how many times my lunch has consisted of a bottle of water, a banana, and a Hershey's bar with almonds. Water, chocolate bars, mints, gum, and the occasional horrifyingly processed cracker snack pack are pretty much all I get (because childhood nostalgia stretches a long way, you know?).
Christina at 7:38PM on 08/30/07
Bad coffee, only. The other stuff is too scary.
sw8t at 3:45AM on 08/31/07
we have 6 vending machines here at work. Based on the number of people buying stuff out of them here, they will never be obsolete! Once in a while if I forgot to bring a lunch or need a snack I will get a rice krispy treat or an ice cream. And even more rarely, I will be a diet Dr Pepper.
ThatGirl153 at 7:41AM on 08/31/07
Ehh, I rarely buy from vending machines, but when I do, I really like getting a bag of Famous Amos' chocolate chip cookies!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 2:02PM on 08/31/07
I've read on the Internet that they're coming out with pizza vending machines and even some kosher food vending machines! So I don't think they are things of the past...
Chew on That at 2:03PM on 08/31/07
Come to think of it, did I read where some vending machines take credit cards? If so, this must increase sales.
JEP at 3:24PM on 08/31/07
JEP - at the college I went to some of the vending machines took student cards. You could put money on the cards and spend it at places like the book store, campus cafeterias, etc - and the vending machines! Came in very handy...
Chau at 3:40PM on 08/31/07
Coolest thing I ever got out of a vending machine: beer.
I'm not kidding. I was in Moscow (USSR at the time) in the mid 80's. There were Beer machines kind of like coffee machines. They even had a glass and a water spout so you could rinse the glass out. Beer was dispensed in the glass, you drank and returned the glass.
It was pretty average beer, but who was I to pass up a beer vending machine! I wonder if they still have them.
Chef Tori at 4:06PM on 08/31/07
I used to get a giant (think saucer sized) choc chip cookie most days...then I found out I was diabetic- are these two events related I wonder?
choc_puddin at 6:56PM on 08/31/07
We have a beer vending machine here too - one of the reasons to go bowling.
enjyns at 7:14PM on 08/31/07
If I'm in the mood, I'll walk the stairs to the 4th floor and either get a bag of pretzels, Doritos, or the peanuts mixed with yogurt raisins.
We only have a pop machine on my floor but I don't drink pop.
paris221966 at 10:20PM on 08/31/07
pretzels
savvy savorer at 3:17AM on 09/07/07
Always chocolate bars...usually kit kat or kit kat chunky... if I am lucky.
Sweetie at 4:40PM on 09/24/07