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Vending machines have been with us for so long now, that we have grown accustomed to seeing them wherever we go. We use them on a daily basis to get our sweet fix or rent the latest action flick on DVD, but we only really take notice of them when a new kid shows up on the block; things like the iPod and Best Buy vending machines make us sit up and take notice. If something as simple as an MP3 player can surprise us, then imagine how we’d feel when we first get a look at the sorts of vending machines that are popular in other countries.

For example, in Australia where gemstone mining is very popular, you will find converted candy machines that will dispense gemstones for as little as $2 AU. If shiny stones aren’t your thing, then the Aussies will tempt you with fried goods with their French fry vending machine.

In Spain there is no need to head down to the bait shop before you head off for a nice day of fishing, instead you can buy your bait from a machine, and in Italy, the Latin lovers have taken those tiny condom machines off the bathroom walls and taken them into the shopping areas, placing them in glitzy, sexy vending machines.

The Netherlands have combined the fast food and vending industry to create walls of food called an automaat. The idea is that a number of hot food items are placed in little windows, and once the customer had paid and removed their food, a fresh new item is placed in the spot by a kitchen employee who works in the kitchen behind the machine.

One of my favorites can be found in the UK, where they have vending machines where you can purchase new books; think of it as Redbox for bookworms.

If you want to find a true variety of vending machines, then look no further than Japan. Their obsession with the vending industry is the stuff of legend, and they actually have over 30% of all Coke machines located in their country. The Italians may have the condom market cornered, bit the Japanese have machines that sell adult magazines and sexual lubricants. That’s just the start of it; you will also find machines hawking underwear, live lobsters and eggs. Some of these items may seem a little wacky for those of us used to grabbing a bag of skittles, but one Japanese vending machine that I think we could all get behind is the one that dispenses beer and sake; I for one would always have change in my pocket. Always seeming to be on the cutting edge of technology, the Japanese have combined their love of electronics with their love of vending machines by making it possible to use your cell phone to purchase.

While I don’t believe we will ever see the majority of those machines here in the US, there is no doubt that this is a market that will continue to expand and flourish.