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Shop Till It Drops

Posted by michael on from the all-in-wonder dept.

Ando Japando writes "There's an article on NYTimes.com about a new vending machine in the US. Unlike the typical machine, this one is 18 ft wide and takes up 200 square ft. Of course, the convenience stores are not sure if this machine is a boon or a boo, but many people like it because it doesn't take up a lot of space. It'd be really cool to see these all over the place. Others complain about the lack of human interaction and perceive it as dehumanizing. That may be true, but at least it's not a live bait vending machine."

10 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. i like this... by edrugtrader · · Score: 5, Funny

    i buy stuff on the internet all the time. if it doesn't come or arrives broken, i am basically screwed and have to deal with RMAs and trying to get my money back.

    if everything came out of a machine, if my merchandise doesn't come or arrives broken, i can kick the shit out of the machine. MUCH BETTER.

    --
    MARIJUANA, SHROOMS, X: ONLINE?! - E
  2. live bait slashdotting by Ando[evilmedic] · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm just guessing, but that's probably the first time we've slashdotted a site pertaining to 'live bait.' That link was absolutely and totally random...

  3. Dehumanizing? by plurrbat · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't find it dehumanizing. I find it GREAT! Now I can buy the 75 pack of enemas and the forbidden magazines without that weird guy behind the counter looking at me like I'm a freak.

  4. Porn vending machines by DrXym · · Score: 5, Funny

    I saw a program about Japan which featured a porn vending machine which was out on the street. Aside from the usual magazines and condoms, you could also buy a sex cup - a paper cup containing spongy jelly that you had intercourse with. Will the wonders of technology ever cease?

    1. Re:Porn vending machines by theDEFT · · Score: 5, Funny

      speaking for the entire community, can you tell me a little more about the sex cup please.

  5. You might be a Redneck Geek if... by Nick+Driver · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...you've ever slashdotted yer live bait website ;-)

    LOL!

  6. Mad Magazine predicted this in 1957 by joechip · · Score: 5, Funny

    In issue 33, June 1957, Mad Magazine has an article called "Vending Machines of the Future." Including are such oversize machines as the Auto-Vend, which dispensed new cars for only 10,000 half dollars and the wife-o-mat, which seems like a great deal at only 20 half dollars.
    Finally, there is the vend-o-vend, which is the ultimate in future vending machines which dispenses a vending machine. This will in turn dispense a vending machine and so on. The final vending machine will dispense a dime for the first vending machine and the whole mess starts again...

  7. But what happens when it breaks? by Jippy_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's a machine. It's bound to break. It's bound to get jammed.

    "Honey, will you run to the store and pick up some eggs?"

    "I can't, the 7-11's broken again"

  8. bad puns. by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 5, Funny

    a woman walks into a bar. she asks the bartender for a sexual innuendo.

    so the bartender gives it to her.

    --
    MORTAR COMBAT!
  9. Re:This may be new in the USA by shyster · · Score: 5, Funny
    Convatec (a Bristol Meyers Squibb company) had this same sort of vending machine in their main lobby for more than 5 years now. You insert money, press the corresponding button and a mechanical hand picks out the item and gives it to you. So its not even new to the USA, its just new to slashdot.

    Yeah, I've seen those here in too. Only difference is there's a little joystick to manueveur the hand and you pick out the item. I think all of the ones here are broke though, because they always drop the item before I can get it to the door.