The weather has been miserable, so when I needed to do shopping I went to a local mall. In three of the shops where I purchased something (a bookshop, a newsagent, a supermarket and a discount beauty product store), they guided you towards self-service desks. Throughout, there were vending machines for:
— packages
— powerbanks (rental)
— Pokémon cards
— cotton candy/candyfloss
— cake (cake in a can!)
— mobile phone cases
— tool rental
— dry cleaning
— ID photos
I know that self-service is cheaper for the companies, but I cannot help but feel sad for the people who will lose their jobs and also the loss of vital daily social contact. Humans are social animals and how will we feel in the future when we don’t interact with people the way we do today.
I was getting excited to see all these machines and then I realized how soulless it all was. I know you probably avoided taking pictures with people around, but it looks so empty…
I was there quite early to have coffee with a friend. When I left about two hours later, the mall was packed. I can understand vending machines provide after-hours service (although the building is locked up at about 10pm), but they are also often out of order. I hope we keep a model where we can have both personal service and self-service. I often opt for self-service checkout but I like having contact with sales associates in shops when I need to ask something. I don’t want to scan a QR code on the service for a list of FAQs.
Jack of all trades in vending machines
I would love an umbrella or hot coffee vending machine for those types of emergencies!