Because We Need A More Convenient Way To Sell It...

[Tsukiyumi]

Forget about Doritos or Diet Coke next time you're at the vending machine. How about a shiny Krugerrand instead?

Investors are hot for gold right now. So hot, in fact, that one German company has seized on the opportunity and wants to roll out gold vending machines at airports and train stations.

The company, TG-Gold-Super-Markt, wants to sell customers chunks of gold weighing 1, 5 or 10 grams, as well as Canadian Maple Leafs and South African Krugerrands, The New York Times reports (you can see a picture of the machine in the link). One gram of gold runs for about $42.

The company wants to sell the machines for about $28,000 each, and will keep them stocked. And just in case the machines become sitting ducks for thieves, the company plans to test them with explosives, the Times reports.

Sounds like it'll be a while before these machines show up in the U.S. The company wants to have machines up in three months in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with the eventual goal of placing 500 worldwide.

Source

Because... well, why, again?

[Monroe]

They have pot vending machines in California.

[Sionnach Glic]

Uh....just....why?

[Tsukiyumi]

They have pot vending machines in California.

Well, that at least makes some sense. They sell beer in vending machines in Japan, for example. But, gold?

"Hmm. I could really go for a Krugerrand right about now..."

It's bizarre.

[Aaron]

Canadian Maple Leaf, WTF is that? An actual leaf?

Edit: the flag?

[Tsukiyumi]

I was kinda hoping you'd know.

A coin, maybe?

[Aaron]

I was kinda hoping you'd know.

A coin, maybe?

I guess it's this. Never even heard of it but it's not like novelty money like this ever gets used for anything.

[JudgeKing]

They have pot vending machines in California.

Well, that at least makes some sense. They sell beer in vending machines in Japan, for example. But, gold?

"Hmm. I could really go for a Krugerrand right about now..."

It's bizarre.

In Japan, they also have vending machines stocked with porn.

[Tsukiyumi]

See? That also makes some sense.

Kendall - Ah, that must be it.

[Tyyr]

Uh....just....why?

Some people think that it's a safe place to store your money, more so than banks or stocks. Any time the economy goes a bit south people start buying gold like mad.

[Tsukiyumi]

Yeah, that makes sense; even I've thought about buying some. But, a vending machine for it?

[Sionnach Glic]

Yeah, I give it one night before that thing's stolen.

[Tyyr]

I don't see a lot of people using it. I wouldn't imagine it'd ever have more than a few hundred dollars worth of gold in it at a time.

[Teaos]

Well to be fair I'd find that very convenient... I'm probably the only one though...

[Tsukiyumi]

Well to be fair I'd find that very convenient... I'm probably the only one though...

I was thinking about you when I read this; I wondered what your take would be.