Image via Complex Original
Soda, candy, cigarettes, maybe even an iPod—these are products most people expect to see sold in vending machines. However, if you take a trip around the globe—or even around our own country—you'll find some vending machines that sell things you would never think of buying from an automated appliance. And we're not just talking about the used schoolgirl underwear vending machines that are now outlawed in Japan. Take a look at the world's 20 strangest vending machines.
LIKE COMPLEX TECH ON FACEBOOK
Crab Vending Machine
Country: China
We thought Japan had the weirdest vending machines in the world until we peeped this gem from The People's Republic. What you're looking at is a vending machine that dispenses live crabs. Yes, living crabs are stored in plastic containers at 5 degrees Celsius, and sold for between $1.50 and $7. We prefer our crabs crammed by the dozen into supermarket fish tanks, thank you very much.
Milk Vending Machine
Country: France
Made and distributed by Direct Lait, this milk vending machine sells farm-fresh milk for $1.30 a liter. If you couldn't tell by the astro turf, fake farm pails, and cow graphics, Direct Lait tried to recreate the feeling of being on a farm, it even equipped the machine with cow sound effects that go off while your milk is being poured.
Gold Vending Machine
Country: United Arab Emirates
If you were staying at the Abu Dubai Hotel and were amazingly wealthy, you could treat yourself to some gold from the Gold to Go vending machine. The machine checks the daily price of gold every 10 seconds via an Internet connection and dispenses bars and coins weighing up to 10 grams.
Lettuce Vending Machine
Country: Japan
In the event the world falls into a nuclear winter, you can rest assured that will still be able to grow vegetables. The Chef's Farm, a vending machine developed by a company called Dentsu, is able to grow 60 heads of lettuce each day using 40-watt fluorescent lights. Unlike other vending machines, the Chef's Farm is not geared towards consumers, but instead it's meant to be used by restaurants that want a fresh veggies on tap.
Tie Vending Machine
Country: Japan
We're not sure what neckties have to do with batteries, memory cards, and disposable cameras, but that's what this Japanese vending machine has for sale.
Eggs Vending Machine
Country: Japan
If you thought eggs were too delicate to be dispensed via vending machine, you were very wrong. Located in Japan, this machine doesn't rely on gravity to deliver the goods. The shopper puts in their money, picks their eggs, and then opens one of the chambers to retrieve their carton. Our only question: What happens if you some of the eggs are broken?
Hot Dog Vending Machine
Country: USA
LHD Vending Systems claims its HD300 hot dog vending machine will deliver freshly grilled hot dogs on warm, freshly toasted buns in just under one minute. How? It won't say. All it's willing to divulge is that it's done using patented technology that ensures both the hot dog and bun are stored fresh. We're skeptical, but can it really be any worse than the hot dogs boiling in murky water that you buy of the street?
Live Bait Vending Machine
Country: USA
The thought of live insects chilling in a vending machine all day is enough to make us turn greener than Nicki Minaj's wig, but that's exactly what's going down in the Live Bait vending machine. Intended to ease the process for those about to hit the open water, the vending machine offers a wide arrange of bait-everything from worms to flies.
Toilet Paper Vending Machine
Country: Japan
America, consider yourself spoiled. While it's difficult to find a public bathroom, if and when you do, you're treated to toilet paper. That's not the case in some parts of Asia. In Japan, an entire industry has sprouted from the lack of TP in public restrooms. In some cities toilet paper is distributed wrapped in advertisements. In Tokyo, toilet paper vending machines can be found at tourist attractions.
Pizza Vending Machine
Country: Italy
It's not delivery, it's not even DiGorno-it's Let's Pizza. The Italian-made pizza vending machine promises to produce personal pizzas using fresh ingredients in under two minutes. We've never tried it, but we're guessing this will taste just like the Ellio's pizza we ate as kids. If so, awesome.
Fried Foods Vending Machine
Country: Japan
Here in the U.S. we have no need for a fried food vending machine. Getting fried foods is as easy as buying water.
Cupcake Vending Machine
Country: USA
Sometimes you just can't control your cupcake craving. We know. That's why Sprinkles bakery launched a 24-hour cupcake vending machine that not only serves fresh baked goods, but also cupcake batter, and dog treats. You know, for those times you tell your girl you're running out to walk the dog but are really going for a cupcake.
Tyson Foods Vending Machine
Country: USA
You more than likely recognize the Tyson name from its chicken products sold in your local grocery store. Looking to expand its reach, the company rolled out a vending machines two years ago that serve hot and, according to the company, "fresh" meals including chicken nuggets and a grilled chicken sandwich with cheese. We don't think you should buy hot food from a machine crammed between a Red Bull and Coca Cola machine, but that's just us.
French Fries Vending Machine
Country: Canada
Canadians love french fries almost as much as free health care and Drake. So it makes sense that our neighbors to the north have vending machines that dispense golden brown potato sticks. The best part: They're reportedly fried without the use of oil in 47 seconds.
Rice Vending Machine
Country: Japan
With all the other odd vending machines in Japan, one that sells rice is pretty, well, par for the course. The type of rice vending machines in Japan vary: Some sell rice already polished in neat bags, while others sell unpolished rice and charge you extra to have it polished.
Mashed Potatos Vending Machine
Country: Sinagpore
Just when you thought food from 7/11 couldn't get any worse, a company called Maggi rolled out a vending machine that sells mashed potatoes. Listen, if you buy mashed potatoes from a vending machine in a 7/11, you deserve whatever happens to you.
Liquor Vendhing Machine
Country: Japan
Imagine if instead of having to schlep all the way to the liquor store and scream through bullet-proof glass, all you had to do was swipe your credit card and choose your libation of choice? That's how it is in Japan where these beer and liquor vending machines are seen as popular as cigarette machines. How does the Japanese government make sure kids aren't using them machines to get twisted? They're all turned off between the hours of 11 PM and 6 AM.
Kosher Foods Vending Machine
Country: USA
We're pretty sure the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy didn't say anything about vending machines, but buying any cooked food out of a vending machine doesn't sound very Kosher to us.
Burger Vending Machine
Country: Netherlands
If McDonald's late-night window isn't quite fast enough for you when you're trying to stumble your way home after a night of multiple whiskey shots, just know that somewhere in the world are machines that sell pre-packaged hamburgers. The Dutch aren't the only ones with burger machines, though. Japan's got 'em too (of course). The only problem? The product looks like an already digested White Castle burger.
Calvin Klein Underwear Vending Machine
Country: USA
We've all had those mornings where we've woken up somewhere other than our bedrooms and had to hit a store on the way to work to cop a shirt. Calvin Klein feels your pain. To ease those torturous mornings (or nights), the big-name clothing company came through with this vending machine that sells nothing but underwear.