European vending machines have always amused me, but I could not help but to chuckle about the juxtaposition of items in a Swiss vending machine at the central rail station in Zurich.
Swiss Rail Station Vending Machines – Humorous Juxtaposition
After dinner, we took the S-Bahn (rail) back to our hotel. It was Sunday night so we stopped by the convenience store at the central railway station because they are one of the few businesses that are open on Sundays. Our gaol was to stock up on snacks because we figured (wrongly, as it turned out) that food would be a lot more expensive on the Faroe Islands, our next destination.
While waiting for our train back to the airport, I stopped to look at a vending machine by the tracks.
I’ll never forget the first time I walked into Frankfurt Airport. Not only were people smoking everywhere (this was in 2005), but when I went into the bathroom there was vending machine offering all sorts of items like condoms, vibrators, and “enchainment” pills.
That struck me as odd. But that’s just Europe (and specifically, the Germanic world).
Anyway, this vending machine had a wide assortment of items. There were the usual selection of sweet and salty snacks, but also things like earphones and power banks.
There was also cigarette paper to roll your own cigarettes and a pack of lighters. And next to it condoms. And next to that a pregnancy test…
I love Swiss humor. Maybe that’s helpful subtle warning: be careful who you take home with you.
We ended up not being anything at the rail station and returning to the airport, where Migros grocery store was still open and we were able to stock up on snacks for the trip.
Does anyone actually buy pregnancy kits from a train station vending machine?
I love the progression from cigarette papers to lighters to condoms to pregnancy tests. But what if you goofed up and you wanted to buy sweets for 2.80 francs and you accidentally bought a 20 franc power bank!
“Maybe Baby” is an amusing name for a pregnancy test. Maybe they have those over here as well but since I’m not in that market demographics I wouldn’t know.
I don’t find it amusing at all in that the Dollar Tree ($1.25 now) sells out on ovulation and pregnancy tests because they’re a bargain. Ovulation tests are for when you WANT to get pregnant. We were trying for another child. Condoms aren’t just for pregnancy, of course, but also safety and STDs.
That being said, it is amusing about the prices. That appears to be a generic PH-style pregnancy test, (single pack?), going for $22USD when at a grocery store, they go for about $5. That’s quite a markup even by Swiss standards.
It’s strange that the “powerbank” goes for a mere $21USD. I did a zoom and I think “powerbank” is the brand, but no way a real powerbank is vended in a machine for that. My suspicion is that it’s merely a multiple-ended charger cable.
As a bureaucrat whose needed every night to look after my 7 year old, I sadly don’t travel as much as before but I recently flew from Houston and was amused at the baggage stores selling ordinary looking carry ons for $700 with a very lightly strained clerk with few people walking up. I honestly wonder how those stay in business. What’s the deal with that? “Wow! I just got to the airport and checked my bags and I want to buy an EMPTY bag to carry around! Preferably one that’s massively overpriced!” My wife thinks that it’s for impulsive people who bought all the other junk at the other stores who needs a carry on to carry their overpriced airport stuff. Any guesses folks?
Hi! the powerbank goes for 4 bucks and the rest is a deposit. You are supposed to get it bring it back.
Who put 50pence in the dick-head????
Of course, there’s a shortage of Swiss GPs, and, since they’re paid by the visit, most common problems involve 3-4 doctor visits. And so many things are pharmacy-only, and the justification is “professionalism”. That means that, if you buy Tylenol (okay, acetaminophen), you’ll get interviewed on how to use it. So, yeah, a pregnancy test without the interview? For many, that’s worth it.
Oh. At first I suspected the photo was from a college dorm in the states ( not the red states perhaps). They sell everything to make the parents blush. I’m pretty sure that Jägermeister would be in those vending machines if allowed. The best vending machines are in Japan. And no, the pantry machines were an urban myth. Apparently German’s got to the “bottom” of that rumor ;· )
That would be panty vending machines! Sorry.
“That struck me as odd. But that’s just Europe (and specifically, the Germanic world).”
The public toilets at CDG have the same.
wie viele kondomes brauchst du?
Null
We’ve noted similar in Swiss vending machines as well as the price difference between the condos multipack and the single pregnancy test. It just seemed like a very Swiss way to give you options and then expect you to make the correct choice at the beginning of a process.
The ad served with your post was GoDaddy. Subtle
Ron DeSantis wouldn’t approve.
The Swiss, and most Europeans for that matter, are less sexually repressed and puritanical than Americans.
It’s not about being sexually repressed. It’s just about the humor of the juxtaposition.
Fair enough.
Ahahaha I’m swiss and this was a life saver when I was a teen. I just wanted to make a note cos you can technically roll cigarettes with this paper but it’s definitely more of a joint paper. Anyway good call I liked your article.
I saw someone say that fertility test would be 5USD in a grocery store, even though I’m not a girl I can say that it would Not be the case here I think the one of the vending machine must be on the cheapest end.
Come back soon!
Yikes! I never priced this in Switzerland, but it must be expensive there! In the states, the cheapest pregnancy test is a pH strip type test for $1.25 at “Dollar Tree”. Amazing store with some bargains including balloons for that price, party supplies, greeting cards. At the pharmacy, they’d cost about $8 each or a 2-pack for $10 for the cheapest (which his one in the vending machine appears to be).
My wife didn’t trust the cheap one and went behind my back and spent $15 for one with a digital readout. After she was done, I pulled it apart and the thing is a wonder of one-time-only-disposable technology that looks like a modern marvel: An LDC screen, battery, miniature circuit board and ultimately the test material itself connected to an electrode. I leave it in a display cabinet, without packaging, and ask people to guess what it is.
We went through a lot of these while conceiving our daughter. Fun times.
Wow, I bet your wife wakes up every day and counts her blessings… I know a good divorce lawyer, poor woman
I’m chuckling. Yes, she does. That’s why I married her. She thought I was too homely for some other woman to steal me so she knew I’d be reliable. We have a gorgeous daughter together and aside from the time it takes to raise her, we enjoy more modest travel than I was used to (in the glory days that Matt enjoys.)
I wish one of the pregnancy tests, albeit the $15 one came back positive. There’s still hope…
My wife is going to try the dollar tree crab roll next… Will report if you’re interested.
Last year on Fathers’ Day weekend our local co-op (which is also the only off-license in the village) put the condoms and pregnancy tests in the liquor section.