Japan may be famous for its vending machines that sell almost anything – from lettuce to stockings, and at one point, pets – but let’s not forget that Singapore is not far behind when it comes to things you can buy with a pretty penny.
So far we’ve seen the opening of a chain of VendCafe outlets, all entirely ‘staffed’ by these machines. And now we have The Ma2 Shop, which is a group of vending machines that are taking over HDB void decks, selling everything from meals to sundries, replacing mamak shops.
Here are some other non-conventional items in Singapore’s vending machine scene:
Luxury Car
In a crazy flight of fancy, Singapore now has a vending machine for luxury cars. Head to Autobahn Motors and choose one – from Bentleys and Ferraris to Lamborghinis and classic cars – from a touchscreen display, and it’ll arrive within 2 minutes. This futuristic 15-storey showroom has 60 slots, and is billed as the ‘world’s largest luxury car vending machine’ – ironically, it’s not the only car vending machine in the world.
Vitamins
If you’re the type who doesn’t need assistance from store clerks regarding the vitamins and supplements you take, then these vending machines are for you. There are 5 of these machines, and the company says that prices here are different from those in retail stores.
Gold
If you’re feeling flush, you can always grab a bar of gold at a vending machine. These Smart Gold ATMs dispense a range of 24 karat gold items, and you can choose from 1-10g gold bars, silver ingots, and gold coins. Best place to find them? Casinos, of course.
Bitcoin
If you’ve got a bitcoin wallet, and want to get fast access to your digital currency, then Bitcoin ATMs are convenient. Just flash your QR code for your public bitcoin address, then feed money into the machine, and the money’s in your bitcoin wallet.
Books
BooksActually actually had a cool idea for a vending machine, specialising in local literature, which is their forte. On display for most of last year, there’s no news if they’ll be continuing this in the near future.
