# Was Mr. Pibb ever marketed and advertised in any proactive way? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055 "2009-08-28T17:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/21 "2009-08-29T09:11:33Z")
Don’t they sing about Mr Pibb in “Lazy Sunday”? ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/22 "2009-08-29T10:55:59Z")
The closest I’ve seen to a Mr. Pibb commercial was that [American Dad episode](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.T._the_Abusive_Terrestrial). Here in SoCal, Pibb is only available at fountain locations, usually McDonald’s and Del Taco. I really wish I could get it at the store. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/23 "2009-08-29T14:29:00Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > I remember a Mr. Pibb radio campaign from roughly ten years ago. It used the unfortunate slogan, “Put it in your head.” I think the campaign was earlier than that. Early or mid 90’s? My friends and I would bark “Put it in your head!” at one another when we saw one of us drinking a Mr. Pibb. Not really because it was trendy or anything – we were mainly laughing at what a stupid and unappealing slogan it was for a food product. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/24 "2009-08-29T18:07:53Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The manufacturers have almost certainly switched from cane sugar to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is cheaper than cane sugar, but it does give a different taste to the food it’s in. True, though they undoubtedly made that switch well before 2001. Fountain drinks will sometimes have a very different taste than bottles/cans, depending on how the machine is calibrated (syrup level, carbonation level). Also, I know that, at least up until a few years ago, the “original” Dr Pepper bottler down in Texas was still making it with cane sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/25 "2009-08-29T18:36:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Also, I know that, at least up until a few years ago, the “original” Dr Pepper bottler down in Texas was still making it with cane sugar. They still do, it’s called Dublin Dr. Pepper. They claim that’s the ONLY PLACE IN THE WOOORLD you can get it, but there’s a shop in Scottsdale that sells it. ---
**Author:** ![GardeningSpirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@GardeningSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GardeningSpirit)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/26 "2009-08-29T18:43:38Z")
I have a hard time finding diet Mt. Dew. There’s regular Mt. Dew all the time, but for some reason the diet is very rare. I’m thinking they are going to stop making it. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/27 "2009-08-29T18:48:52Z")
> [@GardeningSpirit](#): > > I have a hard time finding diet Mt. Dew. There’s regular Mt. Dew all the time, but for some reason the diet is very rare. I’m thinking they are going to stop making it. I think soda is still far more regional than we realize. I have been looking for 2-liters of Caffeine-Free Coke for years here and have not found one. Occasionally I’ll see a 12-pack of cans, but never a 2-liter. And 3 of the most popular sodas where I grew up are unavailable here (Cheerwine, Sun Drop, and Mello Yello. And Mello Yello is a Coke product for god’s sake.) Big Red, which is readily available here, was unavailable back home. My sister-in-law drinks Diet Mt. Dew and I’ve never heard her mention having trouble finding it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/28 "2009-08-29T20:48:27Z")
I think the Caffeine Free Coke thing is a marketing decision. I haven’t been able to find it in 2L either for several years. I buy it in 12 packs, which are reasonably available, but nobody carries 2L. **Cisco** said: > [@](#): > > I’ve heard that they added more caffeine when they changed it to “Pibb Xtra”, though I don’t know for sure if that’s true. It was just a moronic move, if you ask me. EVERYONE still calls it Mr. Pibb, and no one seems to know what, if anything, they changed. Or why. Yeah, that was really the point of my mocking. I seem to recall they made it with extra caffeine. This is when Jolt cola hit the market, and Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew were known for their caffeine as much as their flavor. But the name “Pibb Xtra” does not really convey that, and since their marketing is almost nil anyway, when you do see the can and remember it as Mr. Pibb, you kinda get lost and wonder what “Pibb” actually is, and why they put in extra. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/29 "2009-08-29T20:59:03Z")
It would cost too much to hire Scott Baio and David Naughton to sign in a Mr Pibb commercial 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/30 "2009-08-29T22:58:18Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > This seems like the thread to ask this: > > It’s been a good while since I had a Dr. Pepper that really gave that plum-and-vanilla taste. I usually drink the diet, but even when I do get the regular stuff, it doesn’t seem to really get it “right”. I can distinctly remember getting that taste from the last squirt-in-a-cup vending machine I’ve used, in about 2001. Is it using different sugars? Aeration? Aliens? I notice that too. However the Dublin, TX-made Dr. Pepper still has that distinct flavor. I used to live in Texas, where you could procure it at any specialty grocery store. However it is hard to find elsewhere in the country. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/31 "2009-08-30T00:08:32Z")
I just want to add that [Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious](http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/chronicles-of-narnia-lazy-sunday/2921/). ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/32 "2009-08-30T01:19:17Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Yeah, that was really the point of my mocking. I seem to recall they made it with extra caffeine. This is when Jolt cola hit the market, and Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew were known for their caffeine as much as their flavor. I have no idea when Jolt Cola actually debuted, but I first had it in the '80s; Mr. Pibb was renamed Pibb Xtra sometime this decade. Also, Dr. Pepper’s caffeine content is merely average among popular sodas. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/33 "2009-08-30T03:22:51Z")
Interestingly, Dr. Pepper isn’t owned by Pepsi, it’s a product of Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (formerly Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages). If I order pop at a restaurant, it’s Coke. If they have Pepsi products, my first question is “Dr. Pepper?”. I’d never bother with Sr. Pibb, because I’d always go with Coke. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/34 "2009-08-30T04:03:59Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > They still do, it’s called Dublin Dr. Pepper. They claim that’s the ONLY PLACE IN THE WOOORLD you can get it, but there’s a shop in Scottsdale that sells it. Directions, please! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/35 "2009-08-30T06:22:29Z")
Around here Dr Pepper is Coke’s version of Dr Pepper, except at some restaurant fountains were Pibb Xtra is Coke’s version of Dr Pepper. Quite confusing, but I just drinks whatever they gots. (yeah I know all about how coke distributes it in some regions, not in others, don’t think you have to fight ignorance for me there) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/36 "2009-08-30T06:32:43Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > Directions, please! It’s called Pop the Soda Shop. It’s just east of Scottsdale road on McDowell. Google it. You’re going to want rock-solid directions because it’s hard to see if you’re headed west. It’s kind of set back a little on the north side of the road. They have everything conceivably available in the US, and occasionally even some things that aren’t supposed to be available in the US. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/37 "2009-08-30T12:15:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > (Disclaimer: I work in advertising, and used to have Dr Pepper’s parent company as a client.) > > In a fair number of markets, the local Coca-Cola bottler also bottles Dr Pepper, and the other brands from that company (including 7Up, A&W, Canada Dry, etc.) I would imagine that, in those markets, they don’t make much, if any, Mr. Pibb. This is partially true. I used to work for Coca-Cola Enterprises. We did, in fact, bottle Dr. Pepper in our market place, and the Pepsi Americas plant less than 5 miles away bottled Dr. Pepper, as well. By contract, Pepsi could sell the product in the metro area. CCE had to ship the Dr. Pepper to other markets. We also bottled a lot of Mr. Pibb in our location, so the fact the we contracted with Cadbury Schwepps, did not affect the volume of Pibb that we bottled. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/38 "2009-08-30T21:43:47Z")
I think I remember the radio commercials for Pibb. Maybe there was a TV campaign on Channel 1 News, in the late 90’s? I think I remember seeing TV commercials for it, but I’m not certain. Though I’m not sure they need much marketing, since the only time I would ever drink it was when I would ask for Dr. Pepper at a restaurant, and the waitstaff would say they have Mr. Pibb instead. I didn’t ever seek it out, and have a feeling most people see it as a substitute. I rarely drink soda anymore. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > This is a very good point. What is the name for that Dr. Pepper/Mr. Pibb drink? As a kid, I was always told that it was supposed to be prune-flavored (and that Dr. Pepper used artificial prune flavoring whereas Mr. Pibb used the real thing.) But that doesn’t seem to make much sense and the guy who told me was (and still is) a big bullshitter who makes up a lot of nonsense. I’ve heard the Dr. Pepper flavor described as caramel flavored soda. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/39 "2009-08-30T21:54:41Z")
Dr. Pepper does not taste remotely like prunes or caramel to me. The most common flavor I’ve heard people ascribe to it is cherry, but it does not taste remotely like cherries to me, either. It tastes like Dr. Pepper. Similarly, I tried for the longest time to pin down the flavor of Red Bull, and eventually had to just resign to the fact that it tastes like Red Bull. (cue the jokes about how it tastes like [something gross]; played out.) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055/40 "2009-08-31T00:44:04Z")
Here in NYC, Pibb is found on soda fountains in Chipotles and Burger Kings. I seem to remember a commercial when I was very little with the lyrics, “Mr. Pibb, it goes down smooth, Mr. Pibb”. Don’t know why they wouldn’t keep that campaign going. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mr-pibb-ever-marketed-and-advertised-in-any-proactive-way/508055.md?page=3)