Vending machine system and method for encouraging the purchase of profitable items

A method of dispensing an item from a vending apparatus, comprising the acts of:

• delivering a code from a vending apparatus to a user, the code of a type which may be input to a vending apparatus to cause a dispensing of a mystery product;
• receiving input of the code at a vending apparatus, wherein the mystery product to be dispensed in response to the receiving of the code is unknown to the user prior to the receiving of the code at the vending apparatus;
• and
• in response to the receipt of the code and not in response to any product selection by the user, delivering a unit of the mystery product from the vending apparatus.

A method of dispensing a good from a vending machine having the capability of dispensing a good to a user, comprising the acts of:

• delivering a code which may received by the vending machine;
• receiving the code at the vending machine;
• selecting a good, from a plurality of available goods, to be delivered in response to the code, wherein the good to be delivered in response to the code is not identified by a printed coupon associated with the code or the vending machine prior to receipt of the code by the vending machine;
• and
• in response to the receipt of the code and not in response to any product selection by the user, delivering the selected good from the vending machine.

A method of dispensing a good from a vending machine having the capability of dispensing a good to a user, comprising the acts of:

• delivering a code to a user, which code may redeemed by the vending machine to enable at least in part the dispensing of a good, wherein the code is delivered without identifying to the user the good which will be dispensed;
• receiving the code at the vending machine;
• and
• at least partially in response to the receipt of the code but not in response to any selection of a good by the customer, dispensing the good from the vending machine.

A method, comprising:

• providing a code to a customer of a vending machine, wherein the code is redeemable for a unit of an undisclosed one of a plurality of products sold via the vending machine;
• receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, an indication of the code;
• determining, by the vending machine and based on the code, the one of the plurality of products sold via the vending machine that is associated with the code;
• and
• revealing, to the customer, which of the plurality of products sold via the vending machine is associated with the code.