Collecting memorabilia from the past is a popular pastime and can be a lucrative business. Many people seek collectibles related to popular brands of carbonated beverages. Some people collect vintage soda bottles while others look for items with the brand logo on it such as old signs, clocks, jewelry or even vending machines. Some people will collect many different brands while others prefer to focus on only one brand.

Pepsi vending machine collectors have more work to do than those who collect machines from their nearest competitor. Pepsi was originally marketed as a "bargain" soft drink, emphasizing their much larger bottle at the same price as their competition. This appealed to customers, but it also meant that their bottles would not fit the same size machines.

Vending machine makers were forced to make entirely different machines for the different bottles and this increased the costs. Since Pepsi management was very focused on being low cost and operated on a narrow profit margin, they did not jump at the possibilities of vending machines and it is just harder to find a Pepsi vending machine because fewer were made and fewer survive.

The very first vending machines were nothing more than a self-service bin with a container for payment which worked on the honor system. Next came automated machines that dispensed bottles of Pepsi after a nickel was dropped into a coin slot. The next big innovation were machines that could make change for a dime.

The next thing that could change currency or coin us was the electronic machine. These machines include a small computer that operates them. They collect sales information and other data. Some day these machines will become collector items. In the future you will be able to buy a soda by swiping a card or by the machine reading your thumbprint or retina pattern.

A big prize for a collector would be a functional model of the rare machines that dispensed a fountain style drink in a paper cup. Since some of the older models were very small enough to place on a table or counter, often only holding approximately 20 sodas, collecting these machines does not take up a lot of room. Although collectors that want the larger machines will make room for them.

There are Pepsi vending machines that dispense cans as well as the 20 ounce plastic bottles that are popular today. While some of the new machines are unique and might be considered collectibles many people buy them for fun or to spice up the entertainment area of their home. Others just like to keep a machine near a backyard pool to keep cold beverages close at hand.