In this latest example, ad agency Clemenger BBDO Adelaide set out to see how far people will go for a free pack of Fantastic Delites.
So a machine dubbed the “Delite-O-Matic” was created that gave people a free pack of Fantastic Delites by means of pushing a button hundreds of times or performing challenges. It was then put out on the streets to prove that because Fantastic Delites taste so good, people would go to incredible lengths to get them.
Sampling that people choose to earn
Interactive vending machines are a great way to get consumer participation and engagement on the ground. There are tons of examples out there, of which some have been covered here.
The mechanic that makes it watchable
The mechanism is effort-based reward. The machine sets an instruction, the participant complies, and the prize is dispensed only after the effort is visible. The escalating “work” becomes the entertainment, and the entertainment becomes the message.
In FMCG sampling and retail activations, interactive vending machines are a repeatable way to exchange effort for product trial.
Why it lands
This works because it turns sampling into a story people can instantly judge. The point is not only “free snack”. The point is “what would you do for it”. Each extra button press or challenge makes the product feel more desirable, and the crowd becomes a built-in audience.
Extractable takeaway: When you make the cost of entry visible, you turn a giveaway into a social moment. That moment carries the brand further than a silent handout ever could.
What to steal
- Make the exchange legible: people should understand the rule in one glance, and the effort should be obvious on camera.
- Escalate, then release: tension comes from “will they do it”. Satisfaction comes from the dispense moment.
- Keep the prize simple: the product is the hero. The machine is the stage.
- Design for bystanders: the best sampling stunts recruit a crowd even before the first pack comes out.
- Let participation become proof: the more people comply, the stronger the implicit claim becomes.
A few fast answers before you act
What is the Delite-O-Matic?
It is an interactive vending machine activation that dispenses a free pack of Fantastic Delites after people complete button-mashing or challenge-style tasks.
Why use effort instead of a simple giveaway?
Effort creates a story. It increases attention, pulls in bystanders, and makes the reward moment feel earned, which boosts recall and sharing.
What’s the key behavioral trick?
Visible commitment. When people publicly invest effort, the product feels more “worth it”, and the scene becomes entertainment for everyone around.
Where does this work outside snacks?
Anywhere trial is the goal and the product is easy to dispense or unlock. Beauty samples, quick-service food, entertainment promos, and event activations.
What’s the main risk?
If the tasks feel humiliating or unfair, the tone can flip. The sweet spot is playful challenge with a clear, quick payoff.