The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has sold more than 60 retired MetroCard vending machines to transit enthusiasts and collectors through an official auction, with some units fetching as much as $3,000. The sales mark the final transition from the vinyl card system to the OMNY tap-to-pay system, which fully replaced MetroCard vending machines in the subways last December.
Auction Details and Collector Interest
The MTA received 380 bids for the machines, and officials have finalized sales for 31 of them so far. The auction, which ran from August 5 to August 19, required winners to make full payment on the day they were notified and arrange for the pickup of the equipment within 10 days. According to the MTA, buyers were entirely responsible for the logistics and transport of the machines, as the agency provided no personnel or forklifts for loading.
Buyers gathered at a warehouse in Maspeth, Queens, to collect their purchases. Among them was Noah Mallin, a 54-year-old Manhattan resident who paid approximately $3,000 for an “express” machine. Mallin described the machine as a great slice of history
and plans to place it in a memorabilia display for his son. Another buyer, artist Brian Moore, paid $2,250 for a machine and coordinated a box truck to ship the item to his studio in Los Angeles.
Technical Specifications and Condition
All machines were sold tal como están
(as is) and are no longer functional. The MTA gutted all internal computer parts, electronic components, and payment processing systems before the sale. The machines are characterized by their metal construction, patina, and red, green, and yellow hardware.
The auction featured two distinct models of the machines, which first debuted in the system in January 1999:
| Machine Type | Dimensions | Weight | Payment Capabilities (Original) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Sized | 80″ L x 42″ W x 36″ D | Over 1,000 lbs | Cash, credit, and debit cards |
| Express | 21″ L x 14″ W x 42″ H | Approx. 210 lbs | Credit and debit cards only |
Institutional Donations and Disposal
While many machines were sold to the public, the MTA donated others to the New York City public school system. These units will be installed at Transit Tech CTE High School, Stuyvesant High School, and the New York City Public Schools’ central office located in Tweed Courthouse.
The agency scrapped hundreds of other retired machines. Additionally, the MTA stated it still possesses millions of unsold MetroCards, which it intends to either destroy or potentially put up for auction.
Cultural Impact and Controversy
MTA Deputy Chief Customer Officer Gene Ribeiro noted that the machines had been part of New York City culture
for nearly 30 years. However, the decision to sell the defunct hardware sparked some backlash on social media. Some users questioned the agency’s decision to charge at least $1,500 for non-functional machines, suggesting the move was an attempt to generate revenue by appealing to nostalgia. Other critics suggested the equipment should have been placed in the New York Transit Museum rather than sold to private collectors.
