They’re not just taking up store space. Retailers say the machines interfere with remodeling plans and expose them to potential safety hazards and liabilities. Some kiosks are hardwired into stores’ electrical systems. Outdoor machines are bolted into the concrete foundations and contain a coolant that is supposed to be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner
On one hand, all they might have to do is tell people “if you want one, come and get it” and that problem would be sort of solved. But then for every one that gets turned into something useful, probably 20 of them will be left in a barn or something, not really solving the problem…
Being left in the barn means someone will buy a really cool old kiosk in 30-60 years.