Marketing

Vending machine offers products in exchange for marketing survey

Image: Adobe Stock.

November 23, 2023

Beauty products are available at a recently installed vending machine on the top floor of the Kichijoji Tokyu Department store in Tokyo in exchange for filling out a short survey, according to a Japan Today report.

The Moraeru Jihanki machine (translation: "You can have what's inside vending machine") is a marketing research tool to help companies learn the demographic makeup and preferences of customers.

To use the machine a user must have the Line messaging app and friend the Moraeru Jihanki Line account, decide what product they want in the machine, then send the product's code to the Moraeru Jihanki account.

The account then messages the user with a URL to take a short survey, receive a QR code and then place the QR code in front of the machins's QR code scanner to receive the item.

The process is explained on a diagram on the machine.

The products are currently provided by Kose Cosme Port and include facial skin care masks, shampoo and conditioner.