Trading card vending machines

[JWBlue]

Saw this at fry's grocery store.

It was mostly Pokemon boxes and packs.

Pretty much everything was sold out.

[YayNJ]

Junk Wax 2.0

[Dacubs2]

actually , those are sold out everywhere as the moment they get restocked, some scalper goes and buys them all up

[Shi Guy]

Last time I encountered one of those, it was being restocked, and there was a line of 5 adults waiting to use it as soon as the restock was done.

[PoPCulture]

That slot machine is missing the lever.

[jdandns]

I first noticed one at a local supermarket (Winco) a few months ago. It's supposedly set up to release product throughout the day, to at least prevent the first person in line from buying all of it up. I've never actually seen any one making a purchase, but I'm pretty sure that's because it's always sold out. Must be a pretty good money maker for all involved.

[Rictor]

Kroger has these. My daughter always goes and checks but it's been sold out of everything since it was installed months ago.

[DynaEtch]

Well based on these posts, the hobby can’t be doing too badly. The Pokémon side of it at least

[jjas311]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Well based on these posts, the hobby can’t be doing too badly. The Pokémon side of it at least

My kids got into Pokemon almost a year ago, so I have learned the hard way...

Pokemon craze is unlike anything I have seen in sports cards. It's bonkers. One time I went to Walmart and there was probably $2k worth of Pokemon cards on the shelves, must have just been re-stocked. We told the kids we would grab a pack on our way out. About 5 minutes later we walk by any it's all gone, every single pack and box.

It's a good lesson for my kids though. It's showing them the dark side of hobbies.

[jdandns]

If I was a kid, that would tell me I need to work in the field of Pokemon exclusively, so no need for school.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by jjas311

My kids got into Pokemon almost a year ago, so I have learned the hard way...

Pokemon craze is unlike anything I have seen in sports cards. It's bonkers. One time I went to Walmart and there was probably $2k worth of Pokemon cards on the shelves, must have just been re-stocked. We told the kids we would grab a pack on our way out. About 5 minutes later we walk by any it's all gone, every single pack and box.

It's a good lesson for my kids though. It's showing them the dark side of hobbies.

Oh I believe it..the craze is real. I see it even at sports cards shows…all these Pokémon tables.

My knowledge of Pokémon basically extends to the ones in super smash brothers that’s about as far as it goes.

As for cards, I don’t think I would be into them…not sure if there’s even numbered cards in Pokémon? (There didn’t used to be unless that’s changed)…I like the numbered card aspect of marvel cards for the chase. And things like sketches which I don’t remember much from Pokémon, but I have no idea. Basically the Pokémon craze starting in the late 90s was right after I collected (early to mid 90s marvel cards)…so my nostalgia is going back to the marvel, not pokemon. But the younger generation couldn’t care less about silly old marvel cards, seems to be all about Pokémon for sure.

[Rictor]

There are no numbered Pokemon cards, instead they use rarity levels. Basic rares, 1 per pack, then other rarity levels are 1 per box, 1 per case, etc.

I'm sure they'll add numbered cards at some point when sales drop off again as a new gimmick. It definitely worked to add hype to some of the Magic the Gathering releases.

[arek]

Spotted this one in Australia last month


And another in Malaysia last year

[TeeBee12]

Card vending machines have been around since the late ‘30s with exhibits.




Every couple years you’ll hear a story about someone finding a dusty one in a dilapidated building that’s still stocked. The one holding a fresh stack of 71 topps high numbers that was busted open solely for the quarters still takes the cake.

[Rictor]

Those candy bar style machines would be smashed within 5 minutes in most U.S. cities. You can put candy bars in a machine like that cause they're worth a buck each and hard to resell. You put $10K worth of Pokemon cards in a machine like that and someone will do a smash and grab. Our Pokemon machines are more secure and alarmed for a reason. Lots of card shops robbed this year too.

[Dacubs2]

wouldn't all those packs end up with dinged corners?

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Rictor

Those candy bar style machines would be smashed within 5 minutes in most U.S. cities.

So true. Just go on YouTube and see all the videos of smash-and-grab thefts in major US cities. Gotta lock those puppies up very securely.

[bub838]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Saw this at fry's grocery store.

It was mostly Pokemon boxes and packs.

Pretty much everything was sold out.

That machine is exclusively Pokemon.
On the plus side, they can't be cleared out like they used to due to staggering the release of stock through out the day. You'll never see the stock completely available. Packs become available every 30-60 minutes and the larger items usually ever couple hours. Limit 1 or 2 at a time. I've only ever gotten a single pack here and there. They've always been very popular because they're priced at retail, and not scalper prices like the other machine posted here.

[sthoemke]

Next thing you know drones will be delivering cards to your house.

[TXRunner]

Originally Posted by arek

Spotted this one in Australia last month


And another in Malaysia last year

I have seen these at lots of local malls. I was visiting back home in the Sacramento area last month and there was one right outside on of the stores dedicated to overseas imports. When I was visiting my son at school out in Knoxville, they had one in their local mall. When I go to work in Toronto, the mall near where I stay has one also. These are getting popular at all malls.