16 Vending Machine Items You Can’t Buy Anymore
These 16 vending machine throwbacks once filled our pockets and cravings, but have completely vanished from modern machines.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Vending machines used to offer a wild mix of items far beyond today’s chips and sodas. From cigarettes to cassette tapes, some of these once-common snacks and products would seem bizarre now. Take a nostalgic look back at 16 vending machine items you simply can’t find anymore.
1. Cigarettes
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Yes, cigarette machines were once everywhere, from diners to gas stations. All it took was some change and a quick pull of a lever.
2. Disposable Cameras
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Great for spontaneous trips or last-minute photo needs, these machines offered pre-loaded film cameras. You’d snap away and drop them off at the photo lab later.
3. Vinyl Records
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Before digital music, you could find select LPs in vending machines at music stores and arcades. They were clunky, but music lovers adored the novelty.
4. Toy Capsules with Metal Prizes
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Twist the knob, pop out a plastic bubble, and maybe you’d score a miniature keychain or a fake gold ring. These machines stood near grocery store entrances.
5. Chewing Gum in Sticks (Not Packs)
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Old machines dispensed single sticks of gum, sometimes with a comic or tiny wrapper art. They were cheap and perfect for pocket change.
6. Postcards
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Tourist spots once had vending machines stocked with local postcards. Just drop a coin, grab one, and send it off right from a nearby mailbox.
7. Playing Cards
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Whether for poker night or travel boredom, vending machines once stocked basic decks. Often found in hotels or bus stations.
8. Fresh Sandwiches
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Some office or hospital vending machines offered ready-to-eat egg salad or ham sandwiches. They came in plastic triangles and had a questionable shelf life.
9. Perfume Samples in Mini Bottles
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A few coins got you a squirt-sized bottle of cologne or perfume for a quick refresh. They are usually located in airports or club bathrooms.
10. Loose Candy by the Handful
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Bulk candy, like gumballs, M&Ms, or jellybeans, dispensed by the crankful straight into your palm. Fun, but not exactly sanitary.
11. Pantyhose
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Common in the ’70s and ’80s, these machines offered emergency stockings in a pinch, especially in offices or train stations. Packed in small boxes, they were practical but outdated.
12. Hot Coffee in a Paper Cup
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Old-school machines brewed on the spot and dropped a steaming cup below. The coffee was usually terrible, but fast.
13. Cassette Tapes
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Mixtapes, albums, and singles were once sold through vending slots. Perfect for Walkman users on the go. MP3 players and streaming erased the need overnight.
14. Temporary Tattoos
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You’d press a coin in, turn the knob, and out came a silly little skin decal — dragons, hearts, glitter. They were popular near arcades or malls.
15. DVD Rentals
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Some video stores had vending machines where you could rent a DVD by entering your member number. It was high-tech for the time.
16. Cold Hard Boiled Eggs
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Believe it or not, vending machines in some countries dispensed peeled eggs in plastic wrap for a protein-packed snack. It was a mix of curiosity and convenience, but not appetizing for most.