1. A method for distributing items from a computer controlled, unattended, automated store outlet machine, comprising the step of: providing a computer-controlled, automated store outlet machine having at least one bay containing items removable from the bay for purchase in a purchase transaction, a check-in station, an electronic unit associated with each bay, at least one tray disposed within each bay for holding the items, and at least one sensor for detecting removal or return of individual items from or to the at least one bay, wherein each bay includes a door providing access for the customer to selectively manually remove and return the items contained within the bay prior to purchase by the customer; receiving at least one of customer identification and/or payment information from the customer into the electronic unit associated with each bay of the automated store outlet; unlocking the door of the at least one bay to provide access to the items contained within the bay after at least one of the customer identification and/or payment information is received from the customer; detecting using the at least one sensor the manual removal by the customer of the one or more items from the at least one bay; identifying each removed item based on a database of information for each item in each tray of each bay; adding the identification of each manually removed item to a virtual shopping cart associated with the customer in response to the detecting of each removed item using the at least one sensor, the automated store outlet machine further configured to detect using the at least one sensor the manual return of one or more removed items by the customer to the at least one tray disposed within the bay prior to purchase of any removed items by the customer and to remove each manually returned item from the virtual shopping cart of the customer in response to the detecting of said returned item using the at least one sensor; automatically locking the door of the at least one bay after the customer has completed removing items from and returning items to the at least one bay; and closing the purchase transaction after the last opened door of the at least one bay by the customer is automatically locked and charging the customer for all removed items.