A group of friends were left confused after coming across what they claimed was a mystery vending machine on the streets of the New York, but the items wasn't anything like they'd expected.
Vending machines are a convenient way to buy things like bottled drinks and snacks. However, they can also be so much more than this, with some companies using the machines to sell anything from toys to books, and even freshly made cakes or pizzas. As a result, it can be exciting to find a vending machine out in the wild that's selling something other than drinks and snacks.
This was the case for a group of friends who came across an unassuming vending machine with identical items in each slot, which quickly made them assume something good was hidden inside. But the truth left them in hysterics.
Taking to TikTok to document the experience, one of the friends, named Vilija, said they'd been walking through the streets of the Hudson neighbourhood in New York Citywhen they came across the mysterious machine, selling 'mystery' items, with buyers apparently not knowing what they're actually getting until they've parted with their hard-earned cash.
Vilija said she was going to 'get some goodies' and unbox them for the viewers to see. They went on to film the selection inside the vending machine, which all appeared to be wrapped up in small, blue packages. One friend had already bought her item as she reached down to grab it before Vilija made her selection.
As she waited for her item to drop down, viewers could see that most of the items cost $10 (£7.48), with the top items, which were slightly larger, costing $18 (£13.46) each.
"Now for the reveal," Vilija said as all three of them slowly unfolded their blue items, which they quickly realised were bin bags.
"What?" one of the friends exclaimed in disappointment, while Vilija laughed at the unexpected twist.
And the friends weren't the only ones who'd found the moment amusing,
"What is funny is they could have figured it out after the first one. But they kept going and bought three," one viewer commented.
"I can’t imagine swiping my card at a mystery vending machine," a second person wrote, while a third user said: "It doesn’t even say it’s a 'mystery machine' on the actual machine…"
Several viewers seemed to know exactly what the 'mystery' vending machine was though. as someone else said: "It was a mystery vending machine… but only a mystery to them."
Another clarified: "For people not understanding: this is how Hudson charges for trash collection, they don’t pick up household trash that isn’t in these specific bags and fine you if it isn’t in these bags."
However, another viewer questioned: "But why are they $10?"
