Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Battery vending machine

A vending machine with batteries for electronic devices
  (+25, -3)(+25, -3)(+25, -3)
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About ready to get on your train or bus home? On your way to the park to run? You find your batteries are dead. Do you want to run through Wal-Mart or some crowded deli just for batteries? You don't have to wait in line for stamps, cokes or Nip-chee anymore (theoretically). So why not batteries, too?
yeknod, Jul 20 2001

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       I second the motion to switch Summary-Description. I use hearing aid batteries, and occasionally find that - though 'sealed' - a battery or remainder of a pack of batteries has lost its charge... this is due to contact with coins in pocket or if left in contact with coins overnight. Though I keep metal items away from batteries best I can, it occasionally happens. There is no joy less great than that of having your sound fade rapidly and no time and/or place to replenish supply.
thumbwax, Jul 20 2001
  

       hear, hear! I've almost lost my soundguy/manager job already over something as trifling as batteries... stupid wireless mics... whee, glamour. *twirls finger in sarcastic joy*   

       oops! *goes back into hiding*
absterge, Jul 21 2001
  

       Battery powered battery vending machine? Battery powered battery charger? They would work in black outs but they seem slightly solar powered torch like...
RobertKidney, Jul 21 2001
  

       This is SO baked in - well, 2 points for guessing which Asian country has a battery-vending machine on every second block.
cheeselikesubstance, Jul 22 2001
  

       Been playing Adventure lately?
bookworm, Jul 22 2001
  

       He shoots---Japan--- HE SCORES AFRO ASSAULT HAS SUCCESSFULLY BLOWN UP A POP TART
AfroAssault, Jul 22 2001
  

       Pop Tarts are much more fun if you tape the handle of the toaster down. Explosions last only a moment, but the flamethrower will go on for several minutes.
StarChaser, Jul 22 2001
  

       Baked: Go to Copenhagen train station. (Well, not now..just if you`re in the area and need some!) Ideal, especially for those hard-to-locate CR2 camera batteries.
Pallex, Jul 23 2001
  

       thanx to petersealy and thumbwax for suggestions. swithced 'em.
yeknod, Jul 23 2001
  

       how about a battery salesman who opens his long coat ,lined with batteries,-oi,guv want to buy some batteries?
technobadger, Jul 23 2001
  

       I would love to know how to make pop tarts explode, so can someone please explain that to me.
Good idea....but I just always carry around at least four AA battery's with me anyway, just incase.
kaz, Feb 27 2002
  

       technobadger - some of the homeless people in the subway do this.   

       kaz - according to Dave Barry, you put them in the toaster, and then prevent the lever from popping up.
bookworm, Feb 28 2002
  

       A complement, environmentally friendly function to the machine would be to accept spent batteries for recycling or recharging. In the latter case, similar, fully charged batteries would be vended for a minimum fee.
FarmerJohn, Feb 28 2002
  

       Why not always use a freshly charged set of NiMH's or the like. Have two sets: one on charge and one in use. Then keep a backup set of Duracells in a handy pocket for emergencies.
GreenNinja, Jul 02 2002
  

       How about a hand cranked (Bagen like) battery vending machine? I just love ironic things!
BMCCUE, Oct 06 2005
  

       Awesome, but here's a tip. Make the batteries rechargeable and serialized. Allow the users to exchange their old batteries for new ones, borrowing a little bit of the idea from Redbox videos.
kevinthenerd, Aug 07 2009
  

       Vending machines don't necessarily have to be electric. Anyone over 30 probably remembers the vending machines that had the pull out knob that were designed for the purpose of vending candy and cigarettes.
Jscotty, Aug 09 2009
  

       I'm not entirely sure, but I think those machines mostly had power to light up the advertising. One-price-fits-all machines are easily unpowered, for instance existing newspaper boxes.
FlyingToaster, Aug 09 2009
  

       // existing newspaper boxes //   

       But what if you wish to purchase a non-existent newspaper ? What then ?
8th of 7, Aug 09 2009
  

       Many people have non-existant cash to purchase non-existant stuff... the market's amazing and growing every day.
FlyingToaster, Aug 09 2009
  


 

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