In the late-stage capitalist utopia, everyone will be able to enjoy cheap, affordable soft drinks during the hours of 1:00 - 1:30 AM on weekdays. Unless everyone tries to enjoy cheap, affordable soft drinks, in which case surge pricing takes priority.
Coca cola have barely any ground in Japan, and Japanese vending machines are about a quarter the price of countries where Coke is prevalent. Most drinks are ¥110 to ¥150 at the moment... which is like... a buck.
Coke is not the only thing being sold in these vending machines. Irohas and Georgia coffee are all owned by Coca-Cola, and they’re everywhere.
Prices have gone up a lot recently (it’s more like ¥150-¥180 now, in Osaka at least) and this would send the prices up more - just think things like the prices for water shooting up in the middle of summer.
It's weird how exchange rates don't reflect a person's hourly worth.
I'm in Australia and a coke from a vending machine on a train station platform is $4.50, which is ¥435 at the current rate. A bottle of water costs the same, because... Coke.
I honestly bought a 600ml ¥100 water in a Kyoto tourist trap in July this year. A vending machine on the street.
It's fun if you remember that dynamic prices are supposed to reflect changes in supply and demand. Never had supply issues anywhere at a vending machine. That is a solved problem. Still, they use a "repair" mechanism for a problem that doesn't exist to say nicely that they increase prices.
I was using the vending machine in my apartment's pool area all the time until they raised the price from $1.25 to $3.00 overnight. I stopped using the machine because if I walk a little further and go across the street, I can get that same Coke for $1.50.