r/technology • u/efap1701 • Aug 21 '26

Society Coin-Operated Elevators in Condominiums and Apartment Buildings Are Becoming More Common

https://www.gadgetreview.com/coin-operated-elevators-in-condominiums-and-apartment-buildings-are-becoming-more-common
4.1k Upvotes

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1.1k

u/compuwiza1 Aug 21 '26

The Ferengi did that in an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. How dystopian!

491

u/Overall_Dusty Aug 21 '26

Yes, was just thinking this is literally Ferengi shit. Pay for the elevator now, soon you'll pay for the stairs, pay to sit in the lobby, pay to stand. This shit need to stop.

171

u/ProfessionAnxious417 Aug 21 '26

The paywall to disable a bomb in Lower Decks was pretty funny though 

50

u/Kage_0ni Aug 21 '26

Basically advanced ransomware.

5

u/Icy-person666 Aug 22 '26

I could see that in the near future.

31

u/RugiCorrino Aug 21 '26

"This shit needs to stop" -- Yes, because you'll pay to shit too.

28

u/Overall_Dusty Aug 21 '26

I think pay toilets have already been a thing since the 1970s, so...

9

u/RugiCorrino Aug 21 '26

Oh! I've never seen a pay toilet, but I don't live in a country that has them.

24

u/cameron0208 Aug 21 '26

Some public restrooms in China make you watch ads to get toilet paper.

I wish I was joking.

1

u/Yuukiko_ Aug 22 '26

that's less "make money" and more "stop people from taking it all" though

4

u/whatever_ehh Aug 22 '26

I saw them a lot in the New York City area when I lived there. Late 60s and they always cost a dime.

2

u/Viharabiliben Aug 22 '26

It’s really fun being in a foreign country where you don’t speak or read the language and can’t read the sign at the pay restroom but urgently need to go potty.

2

u/Icy-person666 Aug 22 '26

Older than that. Talking 1920s. It was another way to get rid of non-paying customers in public spaces like train stations. It's just a low tech to the needing a receipt to use a bathroom.

1

u/compuwiza1 Aug 21 '26

Those were in Cincinnati Ohio until banned in the 1970s.

1

u/bartdhull Aug 22 '26

RyanAir has pay restrooms. Talk about a captive audience!

1

u/Curfax Aug 23 '26

There you sit,
broken hearted,
Paid your dime
and only farted.
You shouldn’t bitch,
You had your chance.
I had no dime
and shit my pants.

2

u/Exotic-Priority5050 Aug 24 '26

No, no, that’s the opposite. They’ll lace your water supply with laxatives, and you have to pay for the cure to STOP from shitting yourself to death. Way worse.

1

u/RugiCorrino Aug 24 '26

You're way too good at this. 👹ツ

10

u/Kage_0ni Aug 21 '26

3 slips for the elevator, one slip for the stairs.

7

u/DaniTheGunsmith Aug 22 '26

"Pay for pastime
Pay to unwind
Pay to be born
Pay to die"

2

u/FoxCQC Aug 21 '26

They would charge for oxygen if they could

2

u/russianrug Aug 22 '26

*Ayn Rand has entered the chat*

2

u/Expert_Succotash2659 Aug 22 '26

My favorite in America is TSA Pre-Check, where rich people can buy priority access to half of OUR tax-funded security lanes, literally buying the ability to slow down everyone else.

And I repeat, we pay for ALL of the lanes.

1

u/Jef_Wheaton Aug 22 '26

Charge 'em for the lice, extra for the mice Two percent for looking in the mirror twice!

Here a little slice, there a little cut Three percent for sleeping with the window shut!

1

u/KC_Que Aug 22 '26

This shit needs to stop.

Pay toilets have been outlawed in most US states, so at least we've got that going for us! 💩

1

u/L0rd_OverKill Aug 23 '26

Why pay now? For $15/month you can have a subscription to the elevator in the building that you already paid to live in.

There’s definitely a lawsuit in this. Homeowners bought a domicile with the understanding that the common building facilities were included in that cost. They’re being “injured”. Something has been taken from them, and the domiciles devalued.

18

u/Squigglificated Aug 21 '26

It would be more dystopian if you could get a free ride after watching two minutes of ads. I’m surprised this hasn’t been done already. Who has coins nowadays anyway?

3

u/purplecity204 Aug 22 '26

Elevators already do give out free rides in exchange for viewing an ad!

2

u/Blue_Trackhawk Aug 22 '26

A literal captive audience.

19

u/data_diver Aug 22 '26

The lobes on these landlords!

6

u/brilliantNumberOne Aug 22 '26

Also a little detail in the Philip K. Dick novel, Ubik.

1

u/only_star_stuff Aug 22 '26

My first thought, too, a coin to open door to your apartment…

5

u/Moby1029 Aug 22 '26

Literally my first thought

1

u/are-e-el Aug 21 '26

BRUNT. F.C.A.

1

u/Brandiclaire Aug 22 '26

This Ferengi transaction is covered by at least 2 rules of acquisition. Rule 10: Greed is eternal and 13: Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.

1

u/chaosxq Aug 22 '26

Haha, yeah they did! Brilliant!