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The Proactiv Solution Vending Machine, Coming to a Shopping Mall Near You

As I was walking through a shopping mall recently, I came across a large vending machine selling Proactiv Solution, the well-known acne treatment made famous from years of infomercial advertising. Sometime later I saw the same type of Proactiv kiosk at another mall and took some pictures.

I don’t know how long these Proactiv vending machines have been around but this is the first time I can remember seeing a vending machine devoted to selling an infomercial product. Often an infomercial will claim that their product is “Not sold in stores” but then a few months later this same product will appear on the shelves of your local Kmart or Rite Aid with the big red “As Seen On TV” logo on the box. But by using a vending machine to sell its products, Proactiv Solution can still honestly claim that their product is “Not sold in stores”—it is sold from vending machines located right next to a bunch of stores.

The Proactiv Solution vending machine is a little different from those things you used to stick a quarter into to buy a jawbreaker. This machine requires a credit or debit card to make a purchase. The basic kit costs $49.95, though you can purchase individual items for as little as $18.75.

The kiosk I saw included a video screen that constantly played the Proactiv Solution infomercial. I wonder what other infomercial product will try this bold new approach of placing a vending machine in a shopping mall. Will we one day have to walk past video of a barking Billy Mays or a hyperactive Vince Offer as we try to make our way to Wetzel’s Pretzels? I earnestly pray I will never see such a kiosk selling Klee Irwin’s Dual Action Cleanse!

If you want to glimpse a Proactiv vending machine up close a personal, this handy Proactiv Solution Kiosk Locator lets you know where to find one near you! These Proactiv mall kiosks are the perfect solution whenever you fear breakouts after your food court indulgence at Cinnabon or Panda Express.

Comments

  • 23 Responses to “The Proactiv Solution Vending Machine, Coming to a Shopping Mall Near You”

  • Yeah, there’s been one of these in our local mall for at least a year or so now, it gets a depressingly high amount of business and takes up an awkward position right in the middle of everything requiring everyone to divert around it.

    Comment by Giddeon Fox on January 8, 2009 at 12:47 pm

  • I love the idea of a Klee Irwin vending machine selling Dual Action Cleanse. The vending machine would have to look like a giant turd.

    Comment by Richard Simmons on January 8, 2009 at 6:15 pm

  • Not a giant turd, a giant colon:
    http://breastcancer.3x.ro/colon2.jpg

    Comment by Giddeon Fox on January 9, 2009 at 4:09 am

  • Dual Action Cleanse is sold at GNC- it’s not a kiosk, but it’s at a mall store!

    Comment by Janet on January 13, 2009 at 12:08 pm

  • Just came across your web site and love it!

    First saw the Proactiv machine in Las Vegas back in 2006. Recently saw one in Glendale, CA as well.

    Comment by Brian on January 14, 2009 at 2:27 pm

  • Remember seeing a poster of the movie, Alien vs. Predator, once:

    “Alien vs. Predator: Whoever wins, you lose.”

    My version would be:

    Dual Action vs. Proactiv: Whoever wins, you lose

    Comment by Znkp on January 21, 2009 at 6:07 pm

  • Get ready to see other high-priced vending machines at the mall. During my web search for Proactiv Solution mall kiosks, I came across the firm that actually designs these “ZoomShops” (aka “automated retail stores”) – the company is called ZoomSystems. In addition to Proactiv Solution ZoomShops, there are also ZoomShops for Rosetta Stone language software, for iPods, and even for a line of cosmetics. Macy’s has its own in-store line of ZoomShops which they call the e-Spot (for self-service sales of digital cameras and MP3 players).

    Comment by Lowie on May 3, 2009 at 4:09 am

  • I saw one of these at Chicago-O’Hare last month. Right next to the vending machines that sell iPods…

    Comment by eyesopen on August 14, 2009 at 7:39 am

  • $49.95……isn’t that cost just a little too high, isn’t there a place to find it cheaper? hmmm…

    Comment by jess on January 5, 2010 at 3:24 pm

  • they need one of these proactiv vending machines in new zealand!…btw, they should always change the proactiv sets with a fresh supply of proactiv every 3-4 months. because they are formulated and they expire every few months…

    Comment by akira on February 17, 2010 at 7:35 pm

  • I would like to know which will be my nearest Proactive vending machine in Arlington or Grand Prairie Texas area?

    Do we have a vending machine at Parks Mall, Arlington Texas, please let me know, thank you

    Comment by Pushpa on April 11, 2010 at 4:30 pm

  • I love the idea, I know longer have to call a call center, and be asked a lot of question, i get get what I want and not have to wait for shipin….

    Comment by Tara on April 27, 2010 at 6:49 am

  • I live in Toronto, Ontario and often go to Niagara Falls. Is there a vending machine anywhere near these areas. Please let me know!

    Comment by Daniele Filiatreault on November 9, 2010 at 11:56 am

  • Does anyone know if they have a place in Winnipeg that I could just go to and perches this product and if so where and how much!

    Comment by Rachael on March 5, 2011 at 4:57 am

  • Hurry up in put one in Orlando Florida can’t wait!!!!

    Comment by Kristin on May 3, 2011 at 12:11 pm

  • Orlando FLorida has one at the west oaks mall

    Comment by Kristyn on August 8, 2011 at 2:18 pm

  • of course jersey has one! At Ocean County Mall, right across from the food court…

    Comment by Liz on December 11, 2011 at 2:40 pm

  • I live in brooklyn new york and I know I have seen it before but I don’t remember were. Does anyone know were I can find a vending machine like this?

    Comment by donique on June 5, 2012 at 8:57 am

  • There’s a search engine at the top of this page in one of the links, click on “Proactiv Solution Kiosk Locater” if you are looking for a machine near you. Or http://www.proactiv.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Proactiv-Site/default/KioskLocator-Locate

    Comment by SMoss on August 12, 2012 at 10:47 am

  • ya by the way i have one of these machines in the mall closest to me. BEWARE! Do not use them, i bought a product spent alot of money on it only to have it get stuck in the machine and a hassle to either get the product or my money back. DONT DO IT. The customer service agent on the phone was a bitch and didnt believe me that my product was never despensed to me and did not want to refund my money. I fought all the way until i got refunded. I even took a pic on my phone to prove my product got stuck in the machine.

    Comment by booboo on November 2, 2012 at 10:30 pm

  • is there a vending machine in the Montreal (Quebec, Canada)area.

    Comment by Marise on January 25, 2013 at 9:31 am

  • I, unfortunately, bought a proactiv product through a vending machine slot machine at our local mall. I pushed the button for the teen kit for my grandson. instead, the machine picked out the regular proactiv solution set. I had to make several calls to find out how to return the unwanted product. Very friendly people, emailed me a return label. I packaged up the product and took it to our local UPS drop. I put the label and receipt for the product in the pouch. a few weeks later I get a phone call that they received my product but no receipt. I am now almost at the end of week 2 trying to get in touch with a human being at this zoomshop which represents proactiv. They are PST so I wait until around noon to call. The first 10 days; it was all recordings about leaving a message. Mailbox full so it could not take messages. Finally yesterday, 11/7, I was able to leave a voice mail for what I thought was going to be a return call. Good luck with that one. No way of knowing if there is going to be a resolution to this mess but all I know is that I am out $85.75. I hope the Proactiv group is putting the money to good use. I will never, ever, buy this product even if I can walk up to a counter to purchase it. This is the biggest joke/scam I have come across in a long time.

    Comment by Sandie Jones on November 8, 2014 at 6:01 am

  • Your vending Machines are a scam .

    Comment by Thunder World on March 24, 2015 at 7:59 am