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1. 

   dorpus, 4 Nov 2002 @ 3:09am

   
   

   Already been done

   They had lots of wacky vending machines in Japan in the late 80s/early 90s, that sold everything from insurance policies to underwear. At a biotech trade show in California last year, a Lithuanian company was seriously trying to sell a vending machine, to be placed in hallways of research institutions, that would dispense particular sequences of DNA molecules.
   
   Vending machines have high maintenance costs and are vulnerable to vandalism. They take up too much space; retail makes more money per square foot.
   
   
   
   

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2. 

   Bishop, 4 Nov 2002 @ 7:15am

   
   

   Re: Already been done

   Retail makes more oney per square foot? Yeah, I completely disbelieve you, considering that the highest expense in any retail shop is employee salary. The idea that you attack vending machine sales on such little knowledge suggests that your reasons for disparaging vending machines stems from something else. Would it take away your job, perhaps?

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3. 

   Anonymous Coward, 4 Nov 2002 @ 7:36am

   
   

   No Subject Given

   Interesting. Though in all fairness, unless the prices are competitive (can anyone under price wal-mart), I'm not going to use it. Now, I drive through vending machine ...hmmmmm.

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4. 

   Joe Schmoe, 4 Nov 2002 @ 8:12am

   
   

   Re: No Subject Given

   Drive thru vending would definately be an American twist.

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5. 

   dorpus, 4 Nov 2002 @ 10:55am

   
   

   Re: Already been done

   Take away my job??? Hardly. I don't work in retail.
   
   A typical vending machine sells cheap soft drinks for less than a dollar. Retail shelves are usually loaded with more expensive merchandise.
   
   As for the argument that a vending machine could be loaded with more expensive merchandise, human psychology dictates that people wouldn't want to take chances on an expensive product they cannot touch. I don't know about you, but I would want to try on a piece of clothing or play around with a gadget before making a decision. Merely looking at it through the vending machine window is unconvincing.
   
   
   
   

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6. 

   mhh5, 4 Nov 2002 @ 9:51pm

   
   

   Re: Already been done

   um, so as for your argument that "humans" don't want to buy expensive products they cannot touch....
   I've bought a Dell PC online without ever touching a Dell.
   People seem to buy lots of expensive stuff on eBay.
   The only thing I'd be worried about would be that my item wouldn't fall correctly and get stuck hanging like bags of chips sometimes do in vending machines... :D

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