$10,000 a month! That’s how much a single vending machine stationed at the San Francisco International Airport brings in selling ultra light JACKETS (at $69.90 a pop)  to travelers who find themselves arriving or departing without the proper attire. According to the WSJ, while sales at regular airport stores are down to an average of less than $2 per traveler, vending machines are popping up everywhere and sales are brisk. Machines are offering socks and gloves, shoes, books, ice cream, make-up and more.

This vending phenomenon is fascinating to me.. Let’s look at those jacket sales for a minute; if there was a store (or a kiosk) at the airport that sold nothing but puffy jackets at $69.90 each, would they be bringing in $10,000 a month?

I don’t think so.

So what’s so great about the actual vending machine “shopping experience?” Well, it’s anonymous, instantly gratifying, technologically new, easy, fun and you don’t have to take your ear plugs out to talk to a cashier. Clearly this venture is designed to appeal to the younger generation, and why wouldn’t it?  These vending units are kinda like the old toy machines with the claw- may cost more to play, but hey, the “prizes” are way better.