The sad part about #VendingMachines is that it's hard to find one that is practical for the project and not absurdly expensive.

In my case, I'm looking at something similar to an old cigarette vending machine with just simple hoppers and not much to it...

Or at least something that can be installed #outdoor, doesn't require a AC outlet but can run off a 12V DC battery [optionally with a smol solar panel on top to charge it] and is somewhat resistant to vandalism.

I mean, it's not hard to find some dealer that wants to sell some #used #VendingMachines of that kind.

What is off-putting however is that their MOQ is 5 machines on the first order which is a lot considering these are basically safes that weight way over 100kg and come strapped on a pallet for transport...

• So yeah not really portable...

But considering a pack of cigarettes closts €5 it's no wounder they have thick sheet metal cases similar to most hotel room safes...

• Not like a gun closet OFC but still big and bulky...

Still, I could come up with a lot of things I could put into those for <€10 and even <€5 retail price...

• Like some (short) USB cables, flashdrives and OFC VPN vouchers...

Also there are fewer and fewer "stupid #VendingMachines"...

One of the biggest Vendors, #Sielaff seems to only offer fancy stuff with like cooling and requiring AC power so yeah...

And IDK, but those machines from AliExpress don't seem much resistant to #vandalism and require an AC outlet for no good reason when they could happily run off a tiny LiFePO4 or even lead-acid battery for weeks...

I mean, the problem isn't getting like a coin acceptor(even cheaper ones!) and a drop-in safe but like no affordable case and mechanisms for a cheap and smol vending machine....

Like I know a new machine - even the cigarette vending machines build up into the 2000s - costed 4 digits because they have like 2,5mm thick steel and shit to deter vandalism and burglary even if the prospective burglar has hours of time and can use anything but a thermal lance because that would burn away the cigarettes inside...

Still I think a #VendingMachine for small #tech stuff would be cool...

Also it's not as if #Flashdrives are expensive...

• Even a reputable brand is cheap if one doesn't need speed or capacity...

4GB for €2,57, 8GB for €3,09 & 16GB for €3,59 and those are like retail prices and not buying a 100-pack in bulk...

• OFC don't buy cheap #USB #Sticks in bulk, because if you buy cheap no-name crap you get often 10+ year old counterfeilt garbage that doesn't even work half the time new out of the box.

Ask me how I know...