Time is money and in this day and age who can afford to waste it queuing and interacting with another person? Buoyed by this knowledge, the automated-retail industry has really let its imagination run wild. Check out the world’s top five extraordinary vending machines.
The Semi-Automatic – The Mondrian South Beach hotel
Vending machines aren’t very common in 5-star Miami hotels. They affect the chic vibe somewhat, but this is no ordinary vending machine. For, among other things, it dispenses a coupon for a $90,000 Bentley (delivered, naturally) and $350 gold handcuffs. Oh, and $25 fake eyelashes.
Gold To Go gold ATM – Shopping centres, airports, hotels and casinos
With banks, stock markets and economies in crisis throughout the world you never know when you’ll need to invest in some good old-fashioned assets. The gold rush lives on with branded bars dispensed from an Abu Dhabi hotel, London shopping centre and Frankfurt Airport.
Let’s Pizza – Shopping centres, airports
A freshly baked pizza for £3.50? Mamma Mia! And this isn’t just some oven-baked frozen affair. Through a small window purchasers can watch their pizza dinner brought to life – from the whipping up of fresh dough, the smothering of the base in tomato sauce and cheese, to the topping with ham, bacon or vegetables.
Bikedispenser – Various Dutch cities
Boris Bikes – Netherlands-style. The Dutch are famous for being bike-mad. It’s said they own as many as 12 million. Intercity train travellers who’ve left their bike at home can hire a well-oiled machine outside the station for small change.
Sprinkles Automat – Beverly Hills
Sprinkles, the legendary Beverly Hills bakery emporium, bought their neighbouring store so they could install the world’s first cupcake-vending machine. Hollywood starlets can now get a hold of a variety of cupcakes (including ones for their precious pooches) 24 hours a day from the ATM-styled machine.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Mondrian South Beach, Gold To Go, catorze14, fietsberaad, Sprinkles)
