Tom Winch: What I found when I walked into Melbourne’s first workerless 7-Eleven

Melbourne’s new staff-free 7-Eleven is all vending machines and no humans — but is it really convenient, or just a pricey, point-less, noisy detour? Reporter Tom Winch went inside to find out.

When I walked into Melbourne’s new staff-free 7-Eleven on the corner of Spencer and Collins Street, I wasn’t sure if I’d stepped into the future or the world’s most aggressively-lit vending area.

Because that’s essentially what it is: a convenience store made up entirely of vending machines.

Not futuristic robotic dispensers, not Amazon-style smart shelves — just the exact same vending machines you’d find at a train station.

And when I say the same, I mean exactly the same.

Same layout, same product range, same limitations.

7-ELEVEN’S FIRST SELF-SERVE STORE SPURRED BY CRIME

The new 7-Eleven on Collins and Spencer streets. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The store prior to the changed fit-out. Picture: Google

If you were hoping for sandwiches, sushi packs, bakery snacks, cheese and crackers, or anything with a remotely short shelf life — good luck.

What you get instead is soft drinks, energy drinks, lollies, chips, and a couple of nut options (which most 7-Elevens have massively grown away from).

If you live with allergies – take note the packets of nuts are stacked on the same delivery tray as everything else. It’s quick and easy, sure — but why dedicate an entire prime shopfront to machines that stock items you can already buy across the road at Southern Cross Station … for cheaper?

Tom Winch at Melbourne’s first vending machine 7-Eleven, which the chain confirmed it opened amid staff safety fears due to the crime crisis. Picture: Supplied

That question hit even harder when I looked at the prices.

I did a quick comparison of salted cashews: the vending-machine-only 7-Eleven vs a regular staffed 7-Eleven.

Both were $2.50 — exactly the same.

So where are the savings going?

Certainly not into staffing, considering there are precisely zero staff here.

I couldn’t help but feel like this store is saving money, just not for the customer.

Its location makes the whole thing even stranger.

You’d expect a store like this — smack bang across from one of Melbourne’s busiest transport hubs — to be heaving with customers curious to try out the new setup.

But during the 10 minutes I was there, I saw more people using it as a shortcut than an actual shop.

The prices at the new vending machine store remain the same. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Five people walked straight through the store to avoid the chaos of the Spencer Street crossing.

Only one other person attempted a purchase, tapping his card repeatedly before giving up and walking out.

And then there’s the atmosphere.

Because it’s an unmanned 24/7 location in the CBD, the store blasts classical music to deter rough sleepers — the same tactic used at some train stations.

Except here, it’s loud.

Really loud.

The music had this eerie, Squid Game vibe and was so overbearing I couldn’t have taken a phone call inside if I tried.

It felt less like a convenience store and more like a psychological experiment.

But here’s where I really felt the sting: the lack of 7-Eleven app integration.

I’m a self-confessed 7-Eleven fanboy. I live for the rewards, the discounts, the freebie every seventh visit, and the partnership that adds a couple of Virgin Frequent Flyer points to my balance each time I scan my barcode.

But at this vending machine store, there was no sign of app functionality.

Customers use the new vending machines. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Nowhere to scan, nowhere to log visits, nowhere to secure those precious points.

For example: a V Blackcurrant Rise is currently $6.90 at both the vending machine store and a regular staffed 7-Eleven.

But at the staffed store, scanning my app drops the price to $2 — a massive $4.90 saving. And today should’ve been my seventh visit, meaning I’d normally score a free reward worth up to $5.

By choosing the vending machine store, I missed both the discount and the freebie, not to mention the friendly chat with the staff at my usual ‘Sevs’, who know me well enough at this point to judge absolutely none of my caffeine choices.

In the end, my experience wasn’t bad — it was just confusing.

A store full of vending machines isn’t necessarily a problem.

But identical prices, fewer perks, no fresh food, loud music, and zero human interaction?

It left me wondering who this setup is really for — because right now, it’s not the loyal customers.

I love you 7-Eleven, please don’t make this a thing.