Vending machines are coin-operated machines that can dispense snacks, drinks, sandwiches, coffee, tea and other products. Vending machines are an extremely convenient outlet for the industry known as automatic retailing. You might find vending machines in public buildings, transportation hubs and subways, at gas stations, courthouses, hospitals, and the local automotive repair shop. Any place that people gather, pass by, or must wait, is a good location for vending machines.

Vendors that install vending machines take care of keeping them supplied and operating properly. In return for revenue collected, the vendor pays a monthly fee to the owner of the property at the installation site. This arrangement benefits everyone — vendor, property owner, and consumer — alike.

Though vending machines provide 24/7 service to the public, not everyone is pleased in all cases with their offerings. Many school districts came under fire in the United States for providing vending machines on school grounds that offered high-sugar, low nutrient snacks and drinks. The vending machines’ contents were cited as a possible aggravating factor to potential teenage medical concerns regarding obesity and diabetes. As a result, several schools districts switched to vending machines that offered healthier alternatives.

Cigarette vending machines, once ubiquitous in the United States, are now fairly uncommon due to concerns of underage buying. For this reason some cigarette vending machines require the swipe of a card to verify age. Photo booths are also vending machines, and other types of vending machines commonly found in public restrooms might dispense personal hygiene products or condoms.

Vending machines are probably used more in Japan than in any other country. The Japan Vending Machine Manufactures Association reports just over 5.5 million vending machines in Japan, or a machine for every 23 people. Here you can find a wide variety of items for sale through vending machines, from underwear to compact discs and jewelry.

Some major manufacturers of vending machines include Automatic Products, Crane National, Dixie-Narco Inc., Glasco Polyvend Lektrovend (GPL), Royal Vendors, and U Select It.

Invention of the first vending machine is credited to Hero of Alexandria circa 215BC. His vending machine accepted a coin and dispensed holy water in return.