How Much Did The Poppi Vending Machines Actually Cost?
Feb 14, 2025
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Educational
Image Contributed by @kaelimaee
Introduction
Poppi, the popular prebiotic soda brand, recently stirred up controversy when influencers called out their vending machine pricing in viral TikTok videos. What started as a playful critique of the machine's payment process quickly escalated into a debate over the cost of these flashy promotional tools. Olipop, a competing prebiotic soda brand, chimed in with a comment on this TikTok video: "also for the record, those machines cost $25K each lol," adding fuel to the discussion. But do these vending machines really cost $25,000 each, or is the real price tag even higher?
Breaking Down the Cost of Custom Vending Machines
Custom vending machines can vary widely in price, ranging from $6,000 to $300,000, depending on the features and modifications. According to Vending Design Works, custom vending machines typically start at $10,000 and can reach up to $300,000 for high-end, fully customized models. However, a machine similar to the Poppi vending machine, like the VC8010-22S model from Vending Concepts, which is listed at just $5,395.00 before modifications, but with custom graphics around the entire machine, the price ends up being $7,429.00.
Given the features seen on Poppi’s machines, including a touchscreen and branding elements, it’s safe to estimate that each unit likely cost between $7,500 and $10,000, far below the $25,000 estimate floated by Olipop.
The Real Cost of Poppi’s Vending Machine Campaign
Poppi reportedly sent these vending machines to 32 influencers as part of its marketing push. Multiplying the approximate machine cost of $7,429 by 32 puts Poppi’s spending at around $237,728, and that’s just for the machines themselves.
This number does not include:
Shipping and delivery costs, which can be significant for large, heavy vending machines.
The cost of the Poppi sodas inside the machines.
Installation and troubleshooting expenses custom vending machines often come with unexpected quirks that need to be ironed out.
Marketing costs beyond the physical machines, such as influencer fees or additional promotional content.
Conclusion
The Takeaway: Is It Worth It?
Poppi’s vending machine campaign is undoubtedly a bold marketing move, but was it worth the money? While flashy PR stunts generate buzz, brands must weigh the return on investment. Would a more cost-effective strategy, such as smaller-scale experiential marketing or product seeding, have delivered similar results?
This controversy highlights the importance of transparency in marketing campaigns. When brands make big moves, consumers are quick to do the math. Whether or not Poppi’s vending machine investment will pay off in the long run remains to be seen as this controversy is still fresh, but one thing is certain: when it comes to promotional merchandising, understanding the real costs behind the hype is crucial.
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