other than these tests I actually rarely see vending machines. are they really representative or popular still in usa?

1123581321 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Yes, they're still popular for drinks and snacks in areas where people congregate. C-stores do provide more of this functionality though and are omnipresent. You still see automat-style machines (sandwiches etc.) in places like airports and larger company rec rooms. These require more regular restocking for freshness.

There are also some restaurant startups that are trying to reduce restaurants to vending machines or autonomous restaurants. Slightly different, but it does have a downstream effect on vending machine technology and restocking logistics.

What country are you in where you don't see vending machines? Did you used to have them?

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websiteapi 13 hours ago | parent [-]

I'm in USA - New York area - I rarely see vending machines - it's entirely possible I just don't visit the kinds of buildings that would have them like hospitals tho

	▲	sbierwagen 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Ask one of the hundreds of vending machine companies in the NYC area where they put them, I suppose. https://www.google.com/maps/search/vending+machine/@40.69452... I walked into a Fred Meyer yesterday and saw probably ten vending machines. The Redbox DVD rental machine outside, then capsule toy, Pokemon card and key duplication vending machines, filtered water and lottery ticket machines, Coinstar coin counting machine...
	▲	1123581321 12 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Ah, interesting. I’m sure you have a high density of c-stores and they’re more walkable, so maybe less need. I’m in the rust belt and you would have to typically drive from, for example, a gym to get something. So there’s typically one or two machines in gyms.

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bigstrat2003 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yeah they're all over the place. They exist in offices, in malls, in schools, in apartment complexes, etc.

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neutronicus 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Yes in places kids go