# Stupid Coke Holiday Cans **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172 "2011-12-05T20:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/41 "2011-12-07T18:34:52Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > ::eek:: I don’t recall this promotion. They put money and foul water in the cans instead of Coke? WTF??? It was either late 80s or early 90s. The money was in only a few cans and was supposed to have a spring-loaded contraption that popped the money out when the can was opened, but some of them malfunctioned. They had a false bottom that was supposed to keep the water contained but some of them (like mine) leaked. The water was supposed to make them weigh the same as normal cans so you couldn’t cheat by just looking for a light or nonsloshy can. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/42 "2011-12-07T18:37:00Z")
Ah-ha! > **[MagiCan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagiCans)** > > MagiCans were special, mechanical cans used by The Coca-Cola Company in the United States of America as a part of their $100-million "Magic Summer '90" promotion. The MagiCan promotion began on May 7, 1990, and ended on May 31. > In this promotion, some Coca-Cola cans had cash prizes or gift certificates inside instead of Coca-Cola. The prizes were spring-loaded to pop out of the opening once the can was opened. The prize would either be money, from $1 to $500, or coupons redeemable for trips or ... \*\*tdn \*\*I had the same problem, but searching for Coke magicans worked. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/43 "2011-12-07T19:44:28Z")
[QUOTE=Wikipedia] Some of these include a flight attendant calling the bomb squad, worried because her Coca-Cola would not pour out. After the squad weighed the can, a ten-dollar bill came out [/QUOTE] Whoops! I wonder if the Coca Cola company got fined for something like that. Thanks for the link! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/44 "2011-12-07T19:50:23Z")
Wow, it’s hard to believe it was that long ago. I would have guessed maybe 5 years ago. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/45 "2011-12-07T20:05:34Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > … When I was a kid I saw a cooler with what was probably a Mr. Pibb on the far side. I grabbed a can of the exact same color that was closer to me. I took it to the front counter to pay for it, then went outside on that super hot, miserable day, and took a big swig of cold, refreshing… > > …diet chocolate soda. Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha… snort… sputter… gasp… cough… wheeze… 😉 (Been there, done that… sucks hugely!) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/46 "2011-12-07T20:19:21Z")
Yes, it sucked ass. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/47 "2011-12-07T20:49:28Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > It was either late 80s or early 90s. The money was in only a few cans and was supposed to have a spring-loaded contraption that popped the money out when the can was opened, but some of them malfunctioned. They had a false bottom that was supposed to keep the water contained but some of them (like mine) leaked. The water was supposed to make them weigh the same as normal cans so you couldn’t cheat by just looking for a light or nonsloshy can. Hmm, in 1996 Pepsi, I think, had a promotion where certain cans had t-shirts packed in them - and some coins to actually buy a soda. I got one. It must have been Mountain Dew cans also, since I never drink Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/48 "2011-12-07T20:51:26Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > The regular Coke cans are half white, half silver. Just FYI. I have one in front of me - more like 80% white, 20% silver. \. I get soda free but my company pays, and they lost selling two cans because of this, and lost it to Pepsi products also. The shelf with Coke is right under that for Diet Coke, and they look very similar at first glance. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/49 "2011-12-07T21:30:41Z")
I drank so many cokes that summer, hoping for a MagiCan. Never got one, but I did kind of lose my taste for Coke for a good while after that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/50 "2011-12-07T21:46:39Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > …diet chocolate soda. Wait. This is a problem? I didn’t even know they MADE chocolate soda! It sounds heavenly. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/51 "2011-12-07T21:55:44Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Wait. This is a problem? I didn’t even know they MADE chocolate soda! It sounds heavenly. I’ve only heard of it that one time. And that was back in the early 70s. Maybe I got the only one ever made! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/52 "2011-12-07T22:23:09Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I have one in front of me - more like 80% white, 20% silver. \. Well I was using “half” for very imprecise values of “half”… ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/53 "2011-12-07T22:31:34Z")
I think the can is a brilliant retardation test. If you can’t find the regular Coke, you fail. > [@OpalCat](#): > > Well I was using “half” for very imprecise values of “half”… Hey, no problem. I always use words to mean what they don’t mean. Especially when the meaning of the word (or not) is actually germane to the point I’m trying to make. ---
**Author:** ![EKDS5k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@EKDS5k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EKDS5k)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/54 "2011-12-07T22:54:21Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > I think the can is a brilliant retardation test. If you can’t find the regular Coke, you fail. It’s not about not being capable of telling them apart. Anybody who can read can do that. The point is that 90%\* of people who drink pop drink the same thing every time. And when they go to get it, they _don’t_ read the can because they have never had to. Coca Cola has been white text on a red label for over 100 years. There’s never been a need to read it, and when there are no red cans, the reason has always been because they were sold out, or moved around, or something. That they changed the colour scheme is a pretty crazy idea, and probably wouldn’t occur to most people right away. Maybe you drink something different every time, and so you always look closely at what you’re buying, but that doesn’t apply to the majority. That Coke is killing the promotion is pretty good evidence that it was a terrible idea. \*I made this number up. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/55 "2011-12-07T23:01:30Z")
If it was anything that mattered, like, AT ALL, I would have been more specific. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/56 "2011-12-07T23:06:57Z")
Note that the 2 L bottles retained the old labels. Note that cans coming in 12 and 24 packs came in red boxes, like usual. The issue is situations when you are grabbing a single can. In closed vending machines, you can’t see the product, you just select the button, so those would be fine, too. My office vending machine is not a standard soda machine, it is a Snapple display case machine, like a snack vending machine. It has a glass front, and you pick the items by looking at the item and selecting the item number. Individual packaging matters then. Or selecting a can from a shelf, or from a cooler, where you don’t necessarily see the whole product when you are looking for your item. These types of purchases are done by conditioning on autopilot. “Look for the RED can. There’s no red can. ☹ Oh well, I guess I’ll get Dr Pepper.” This is exactly the thought process I went through. I am not alone. How many sales losses were there? Difficult to estimate, but I’m going to bet they lost more than a million sales over this. A million sales that someone either didn’t buy their product, or bought someone elses. Plus the ones where people bought one can and then returned it for the other can. Plus the bad will it generates. Did it stir up publicity? Yes. But not the kind that will get people to buy more Coke, the kind that makes people think “Coca Cola is a bunch of idiots.” That kind of bad will gets people to decide they don’t like that company. I’m not ready to give up on Coca Cola, but I still think this was stupidity on display. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/57 "2011-12-08T00:03:26Z")
Mine was similar to **Irishman** ’s situation. There is one office in my building that has a collection jar on top of a small refrigerator, filled with soda. If you want a soda, you put 50cents in the collection jar and take a soda from the fridge. I opened the fridge and was greeted by a wall of silver/gray cans. I closed the fridge and asked the guy at one of the desks in that office “oh, is there no regular Coke?” and he said “oh, it’s in a white can” so I reopened the fridge and found said can. But on first glance, it looked like all Diet Coke. I didn’t get down on my hands and knees to be at eye-level with the contents of the fridge and rotate each can to read its label–I saw a familiar color and made an understandable conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/58 "2011-12-08T00:46:57Z")
I love them and bought a few extra cases at the store. Now no one is drinking all my cokes because they assume they are diet when they glance in the fridge. Win for me! ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/59 "2011-12-08T02:14:11Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > If it was anything that mattered, like, AT ALL, I would have been more specific. :rolleyes: Funny how you have 1/6 the posts in a thread that doesn’t matter, like, AT ALL, isn’t it? Oops, almost forgot the :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172/60 "2011-12-08T14:32:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Wait. This is a problem? I didn’t even know they MADE chocolate soda! It sounds heavenly. Actually, it’s godawful. I’ve never had diet but I did try the regular once. It’s like fizzy, extra-sweet chocolate syrup with a really gnarly fake vanilla finish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-coke-holiday-cans/605172.md?page=4)