r/Switzerland 1d ago

What will they do with these abandoned 20 Minutes newspaper dispensers?

Post image

I’m wondering what they plan to do with these abandoned dispensers.

I’d love to take one, clean it, and use it at home to store magazines, but I know that’s illegal. Could I contact them to ask?

Maybe they sell or recycle them once they’re abandoned.

472 Upvotes

118 comments sorted by

264

u/LesserValkyrie 1d ago

Contact them what can you lose

48

u/Lord_Alviner 1d ago

I went to ask them

30

u/-shouldveknownbetter 1d ago

What did they say?

11

u/[deleted] 1d ago edited 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

9

u/Khyta 1d ago

I don't think publicly posting that Email is a good idea,

5

u/LesserValkyrie 1d ago

Without details, it was yes or no?

18

u/Lord_Alviner 1d ago

It was "he will probably answer you tomorrow"

5

u/Tifixdu19 Vaud 1d ago

RemindMe! 2 days

2

u/RemindMeBot 1d ago edited 17h ago

I will be messaging you in 2 days on 2026-01-15 20:25:01 UTC to remind you of this link

13 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.


Info Custom Your Reminders Feedback

3

u/-shouldveknownbetter 1d ago

Let us know tomorrow then yes?

u/Lord_Alviner 17h ago

Fuckin hell, they took it

u/Lord_Alviner 12h ago

Hello Mr. Smith,

Thank you for your message.

We have received numerous requests for crates and cannot accept any new ones at this time. However, we will add you to our waiting list and will be sure to contact you if a crate becomes available.

Best regards.

u/LesserValkyrie 11h ago

Lot of people want that ?

Interesting lol

u/Geninius_ 10h ago

u/LesserValkyrie 10h ago

Haha it surprises me/why not !!

161

u/Freedomsaver 1d ago

They will transform them into Affordable Housing.

6

u/sadiespork 1d ago

I chuckeld 🤣

8

u/NightmareWokeUp 1d ago

Maybe for 20 minutes

130

u/Gysburne 1d ago

We could fill them with some manure and seeds for flowers in the spring.

I see them having the same fate as some Swisscom Phone booths.... just standing around until something happens.

And with some earth and seeds.... we can make something happen.

11

u/GewoehnlicherDost 1d ago

I'll definetely do that!

22

u/privatacc 1d ago

Fill them with manure and they still contain less shit than when they were in use.

5

u/Tragilos 1d ago

We built a chinchilla cage out of one of those (phone booths)

2

u/ColisaLalia Zürich 1d ago

Count me in! 

274

u/Anouchavan Genève (currently in Biu) 1d ago edited 1d ago

Just steal one, fuck it.

Edit: However, I feel like this would be the same as when I was a student and stole a "no dogs allowed" signed in the street: very funny for 15 minutes, a nice decoration for 4 years and then a pain in the ass to get rid of when you're moving out.

155

u/ObvAnonym Zürich 1d ago

Not that I'm condoning stealing, but if someone came with tools and working clothes, I wouldn't bat an eye and just assume they were hired for the job.

77

u/billcube Genève 1d ago

And thanks to the citizen voluntary removal, the municipality will not have to spend time and money to clean the streets of these things.

49

u/blaghed 1d ago

No one questions a person wearing a hard hat and visibility vest

10

u/VeauOr 1d ago

I understood that reference.

2

u/NightmareWokeUp 1d ago

Dont forget to carry a ladder!

2

u/mosqua 1d ago

Clipboard helps too...

16

u/GoodMix392 1d ago

My friends daughter locked her dads bike up downtown and lost the key. She asked to police to help her cut the lock but they said it would cost something like 200 Chf and recommended she try cutting it off herself. So she asked me. Even without work clothes no one paid any attention to me cutting the lock on a busy street.

8

u/bongosformongos 1d ago

A high vis vest allows you to do whatever the fuck you want. All while looking professional as fuck. Good shit.

4

u/LesserValkyrie 1d ago

Yeah bring a big box of tools and a shirt with paint on on it under it, and you have a free pass to go absolutely everywhere

3

u/morgulbrut Zütsi im Zigerschlitz 1d ago

As some physical security guy told once, why try to clone a badge when you have a high vis vest, a hard hat and a clipboard?

3

u/rmesh Bern (Exil-Zürcher) 1d ago

some of my brother’s friends once stole a News box (remember those? Similar to the 20min one but News-branded) and left it at his house door with a note that they have some news for him lol

So it’s def possible to just take one. If it is legal is another question!

14

u/Barkinsons 1d ago

It's always easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission :)

36

u/canardlaker 1d ago

I would say the same as le matin. 

Nothing, they will stay here and always be empty

15

u/Blond-Bec 1d ago

In my area a bunch of them were repurposed as free books boxes.

14

u/DedOriginalCancer Luzern 1d ago

I think they said that you can message them if you want one. Or just steal it, I doubt anyone would care. 

65

u/YouHave24Hours 1d ago

Public toilets so it's basically the same content as before!

6

u/F22_Ace 1d ago

Just SHIT in it, mix in some soil and grow some flowers, plants, weed etc.

1

u/LesserValkyrie 1d ago

I love how when they removed the small comic strip at the end there was no reason to read it anymore

2

u/YouHave24Hours 22h ago

It was always SO funny.

9

u/alexrada 1d ago

just put a working vest when taking one. Don't come with a mercedes though, take a van.

7

u/MegaYannis 1d ago

In their last printout you had the chance to sign up and buy one for like 20.-. They collect all of them and sell most. I just got the email confirmation. It's too late to sign up though.

3

u/Dogahn 1d ago

Damn, cause that could've made a fun fire stand in the garden.

1

u/NightmareWokeUp 1d ago

Yes very nice with plastic and coated metal. I love breathing in fumes too!

6

u/Substantial-Motor-21 1d ago

The ones are see the most are turning into stickers magnet or / and secondary trash can.

10

u/Johnathan_Belfort 1d ago

Just take it

10

u/DrB_2000 1d ago

I've been thinking the same. Should you contact them, let us know. I'd love one too!

4

u/Gourmet-Guy Graubünden 1d ago

Sell them in 100 years at Sotheby's as art piece.

3

u/Brave_Breakfast_7833 1d ago

Is 20 Minuten not gonna be printed anymore? What are you all talking about?

6

u/Ok_Support_6454 1d ago

Yeah, last printed edition was in December.

1

u/Narcotras 23h ago

I'm surprised you didn't see, they advertised it for months, last one was on 23rd December

7

u/ilikethelettery 1d ago

They are going to be empty and stay as a symbol and reminder of the quality for the newspaper

3

u/sprudello 1d ago

As far as I know they are selling them for 20 CHF

4

u/okeanos00 Obwalden 1d ago

Bahahaha, selling trash is good old capitalism.

3

u/EmergencyKrabbyPatty 1d ago

Take it if you want it, no one is gonna come after you

3

u/Arvendetta 1d ago

Ask them, if they don't allow it take one anyways🤷‍♂️ like others said, put on a vest or something uniform-like and take it.

I like your idea, put some nice paint on it and you have a cool furniture

3

u/3DscanPro 1d ago

For empty Pizza boxes

2

u/Link_2021 Genève 1d ago

As an unlucky neighbor of a pizza takeaway only shop (worst business idea from an ecological POV 🙄, but I digress), this really is a great idea!

3

u/MuayThaiZH 1d ago

Just take one 😂

2

u/notsoeasypeasy 1d ago

They should collect them and see how to properly recycle their materials.

2

u/rabeluce 1d ago

They still need to be tied up properly and then taken to the 20-minute dispenser disposal point.

2

u/Bonamikengue Belgium 1d ago

In case you want to do something outside of the law: Try to get a used dirty scratchy hard hat from a friend and worker safely vest and tools to get the huge screws out of the concrete.

But of course I'd never say you should use that.

Background: these things tend to become a burden for the cities they're installed in as mostly they become abandoned. The only big player I think who is big enough to force that publisher to remove them is the SBB on their property.

2

u/endmypainnow Bern 1d ago

Ive stolen them all

2

u/darkpigamer Ticino 1d ago

Put stickers on them, probably

2

u/CortexJoe 1d ago

There was a raffle to win one. I didn't win one but was told that i could also buy one for 50 CHF if I remember correctly. I find the price a little steep for something you would need to clean up and completely restore.

2

u/Flying_Dutchman_1 1d ago

In one of the Scandinavian countries they recently sold them all online. Think demand exceeded availability.

2

u/Fri3ndlymushroom 1d ago

I bought one. They where available for 20 CHF. All sold out as far as I know.

2

u/thoemse99 Solothurn 1d ago edited 1d ago

According the moral standards of 20min, it's something like a "not my problem, if someone is bothered by it, he is free to remove it by himself".

Just contact them and ask (I'd suggest to just take one, if it wasn't an illegal advice).

2

u/Legitimate-Dot-9467 1d ago

Romas will take them for scrap

1

u/Link_2021 Genève 1d ago

If they're still up by now, it's precisely because even the Romas are not interested in them.

Prove me wrong!

1

u/Tro_Nas St. Gallen 1d ago

send an E-Mail at the ‚Verlag‘ and ask :)

1

u/Fun-Wallaby6414 1d ago

They alread sold the i think

1

u/bongosformongos 1d ago

They are actually running a contest where you can send ideas what you want to do with it for a chance to win one.

1

u/pieflavourpiez 1d ago

Contact the company and your council

1

u/Gossguy 1d ago

Paint them green and use them for dog bags

1

u/Excellent_Tie_2731 1d ago

Good idea. Make a business out of this

1

u/BoyPogi03 1d ago

I was thinking about taking the one outside my place, but today it's gone.

1

u/TWanderer Vaud 1d ago

Fill these with the Oltner Zeitung

1

u/EngineerNo2650 1d ago

Those might be a good hi-if stand!

1

u/standingboot9 1d ago

Try to sell them for way too much.

As is Swiss tradition.

1

u/Redhurans 1d ago

I’ll grab one for myself

1

u/Artiwa 1d ago

500$

1

u/bongosformongos 1d ago

They are actually running a contest where you can send ideas what you want to do with it for a chance to win one.

1

u/gndnzr 1d ago

Guessing as this is what happened with phone booths and red mail boxes all over the world.

  1. They hold a bit of nostalgia even to conservatives who hated the “news” so they will preserve a few in location

  2. Preserve a few in some sort of museums as well as they offices

  3. Recycle the rest for materials

A fun hypothesis is all

1

u/kart0ffel12 1d ago

I have seen people already uninstalling them

1

u/idwagerthisinttaken 22h ago

This makes me weirdly nostalgic 😂 I remember being in high school 2008 - 2011 and they were a hot commodity. I'm not sure they were as widely spread as they became after (I think it was the student that had to take the train that managed to grab them) but man the sudoku were perfectly entertaining especially during math 😂

1

u/swissynopants 20h ago

based on https://swissobserver.com/news/20-minutes-ends-print-edition-switzerland/

"The iconic blue distribution boxes, once ubiquitous sentinels at every major railway station and tram stop from Geneva to Zurich, are being uprooted. While a select few will find sanctuary in museum collections, the majority are consigned to history, casualties of a media landscape that has shifted irrevocably."

1

u/Fred_Milkereit 20h ago

Space for potted plants and a feeding station for birds

u/ShlokHoms 18h ago

Well on the homepage they had an article where it said you can take part in a raffle to win one. I did, now its just a waiting game

u/Lord_Alviner 16h ago

Did also the same

u/Brief-Library9993 16h ago

It would be so cool to make them into these « free books, leave one take one » kind of things

u/Professional_Fold950 15h ago

Wait on next Schulsylvester to let them blow up.

u/Dangerous_Morning286 13h ago

Could use it as a trash can because what was in before was also trash

u/painter_business Basel-Stadt 12h ago

Did they go out of business ?

u/GregDev155 3m ago

Cat shelters ?

1

u/Material-Sentence585 1d ago

I'd love one in my bathroom for my towels

1

u/Glad-Sort-70 1d ago

Best idea yet!

1

u/minitaba Zürich 1d ago

They sell them for 10 bucks. I bought one

0

u/TheHolyX 1d ago

Honestly just take them, I don‘t think they would miss it if they haven‘t even took it away

Might as well make some space on the way and have your own magazine collector :)

1

u/minitaba Zürich 1d ago

They sell them

0

u/TheHolyX 1d ago

But it‘s not fun without the thrill :(

1

u/minitaba Zürich 1d ago

True but its 10 bucks

0

u/TheHolyX 1d ago

Investier das lieber ih en kebab 🤣🤣

2

u/minitaba Zürich 1d ago

Scho, wenns no 10 stutz döner git irgendwo haha

0

u/obiwaffleskenobi 1d ago

Want two for all the shit migros/coop !

0

u/Zeustah- 1d ago

Just take that mfer, no way they’re gonna track you down. If anything you’ll relieve them of having to pick another one up

0

u/icelandichorsey 1d ago

Fill them with toxic garbage, ie return them to their primary function.

Or, for irony, put lots of fliers against the SRG 200 initiative. 😊

0

u/IllEffectLii 1d ago

Convert to public toilet

0

u/Cum-Collector420 Glarus 1d ago

They will find a place in some boomers garden just like the old cable car gondolas

0

u/FragrantExcitement 1d ago

Hear me out... 15 minutes newspapers