Vending Machines

I've always been fascinated by the development and evolution of the vending machine. As a child I vividly remember the bright lights of the soda machine at the bowling alley in my hometown. In that same bowling alley, in entrance to the restaurant, was another vending machine. This machine, however, did not dispense an innocent sugary, carbonated beverage. It dispensed Camel, Marlboro, Lucky Strike, and various other brand name cigarette packs. Customers would have to insert a few dollars in quarters obtained from the waitress at the counter or keep pockets full of change. Next to the cigarettes is also where you found the candy and toy dispensers. This is where you find stiff competition. Who has the premier placement in high traffic areas? Who's located next to the exit? Somebody has stocked them full of an offering, left while the product sold, waited a certain amount of time, and came back to collect the money. They're, in a way, mysterious. Each machine has a specific, unique demographic where countless amounts of needs and wants are met at the drop of a hat. Vending machines are directed at people looking to make a quick, low-involvement, hassle-free purchase. It's also a way for some companies to eliminate more costly retail outlets, drastically reducing that cost. For others it's a primary, low overhead sales avenue if you can find success in proper placement of your machine(s).  Here's a link to an article with a few accompanying pictures and videos I found that shows how far the vending machine has come, from new design and technology to the bright, vivid signage, and some of the unusual products, from burritos to bitcoin, you can now find for sale at these (mostly) unattended, convenient, sales outlets.
Most Unique Vending Machines From Around The World