FAQ
Questions, answered.
The essentials on cost, revenue, install, and how a Surplus pod comes to life on your property.
What does it cost the property?
Nothing. Surplus and its funding partners cover the hardware, install, and initial stocking. Zero property capital and zero operational load.
How does the property make money?
The property earns 10% of revenue for the operating life of every pod. Uncapped, no expiration, no clawback. New ancillary revenue at portfolio scale.
How long does it take to install?
The Lobby Pod and Modular System install in about four hours on your existing floor with zero construction. Community Market and Workforce Pod deploy on a site-built pad in about 30 days. Your first pod is live in 60 days from pilot signature.
Is it staffed?
No. Surplus is a fully managed, autonomous, AI-run store. It runs 24/7 with no on-site staff, and Surplus operates it end to end.
What does it sell?
Around 150 curated SKUs across frozen, refrigerated, and ambient: real grocery, household, personal care, and OTC essentials from brands residents already buy. The assortment is fully customizable to each community.
How is it different from vending?
Traditional vending maxes out around 30 SKUs of water, soda, and gum. Surplus carries roughly 5x the assortment, plus an app, membership, delivery to the door, and monthly community programming. A store, not a machine.
How do residents shop and pay?
Tap in with the Surplus app, shop, and walk out. Or order in the app for delivery to the unit door, with subscribe-and-save on staples and one-tap reorder.
Which formats are available?
Four: the Lobby Pod, Community Market, Workforce Pod, and Modular System. On a site walk we confirm the format that fits your space.
How do we get started?
Book a site walk. We confirm the format on site, sign a one-page pilot with standardized economics, install, and go live. The whole path runs about 60 days.
Let's put a pod
on your property.
Now installing Lobby Pod. Q4 2026 install window open. First pod live in 60 days from pilot signature.