There’s almost an unlimited variety of coin operated vending machines available in the market today. The first historical evidence of a coin operated machine is found in works of a 1st century engineer and mathematician called Hero of Alexandria, but it’s not until the Industrial Age that they really came into wide spread use. During the early 1880s coin operated machines were introduced in London England to sell post cards. In the United States, the first vending machines sold gum in train stations, these machines were manufactured by Thomas Adams Gum Company.
These machines eventually started becoming more advanced in 1897 when small moving figures were added to the machines, these figures would move around when gum was dispensed from the machines; this advance was made by the Pulver Manufacturing Company. These early advances spawned pinball machines and slot machines.
The first coin operated machine was made to dispense holy water, but today’s machines can vend almost anything. The potential in vending is almost unlimited. Vending in the United States in broadly divided between two main types of vending; bulk vending and full line vending.
Bulk vending is selling loose candy, nuts, toys and gum in small coin operated machines consisting of single or multiple heads. These heads can be arranged in a multitude of configuration on stands or what is referred to as racks. Racks are able to hold a large number of multiple heads, while stands usually only hold 1 – 3 heads.
Full line vending is selling packaged snacks and drinks such as candy bars, soda, and chips. Full line machines are also coin operated machines but they are a lot more sophisticated, they can have refrigeration, bill changers, lighted panels, and fancy electronics. Full line machines are a lot larger than bulk vending machines. Coin operated machines are typically run as a route by small operators or individuals who will usually have machines in several different locations.
Japan has a lot more variety in the coin operated machines than we currently have in the United States. Vending machines are prolific throughout Japan, in large cities they can be found on every corner. Not only do they have a lot more machines, but it seems that consumers in Japan are willing to buy almost anything out of a machines. Some of the strange offerings out of Japan include coin operated machines selling umbrellas, electronics, fresh flowers, eggs, porn, electronic charging stations, vegetables, bags of rice, hot ramen noodles, shoes, French fries and fried prawns.
Here in the US we’re beginning to see more and more products being sold out of machines but we have a long way to go before we’ll even come close to matching Japan. We have all the standard offerings of snacks, condoms, ATMs, feminine hygiene products, gumballs. Cigarettes were one of the most commonly vended products but concerns about underage buyers has caused this to dramatically slow down. The Stand Hotels, a small upscale hotel chain, has recently introduced coin operated machines selling Quicksilver board shorts and bikinis to guests. IPod vending machines are making the rounds at hotels, airports and Macy’s Department Stores.
These newer machines are a big step away from traditional coin operated machines that typically vend inexpensive items. It will be interesting to see how readily consumers take to machines that vend electronic devices with prices that can exceed $300.00. I’m sure these machines take credit cards as well as debit cards but I’m wondering how the return policy or customer service issues are handled. Clearly this is only a small hindrance, because these machines are really starting to take off.
Although I think coin operated machines selling candy to kids will always be around, the US will gradually begin to see a rise in machines selling a greater variety of products at an ever increasing price point. Eventually US consumers will become more comfortable with machines selling high end merchandise. Truly the potential of vending is almost unlimited.
Read all about the various aspects of the vending machine business, check out the articles on Getting Your Vending Machines on Location, Single, Double, Triple – What Is the Best Machine?