| Author | Message | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2384 Registered: 1-2001 |
A company wanted to increase sales of its product and increase their product's exposure, so they did *something* that should have made it impossible for some people to use the product. Sounds ironic, but this was the company's intent. When buyers purchased this company's product and found they couldn't use it, it only helped the company's image (as well as the product's image). It wasn't until someone purchased the product and DID use it that the company faced potential lawsuits and product boycotts. The company initially did not discourage the use of their product, and spent millions of dollars to advertise the product. So...can you find out what led to this ironic turn of events for this company and its product? This is a real-life situation, involving a real company and a real product. It happened in the United States at one point in history. If during the pursuit of this puzzle's solution you recognize information, events or details and think you know the solution, please email your attempted spoiler - thank you! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4499 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did it help the company becasue it made it seem like only certain people could use it? Could certain people not use it? Could everybody potentially use it? Is medicine relevant? Sports? Puzzles? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1927 Registered: 3-2006 |
Intriguing! Was the company aiming for an upmarket image by excluding certain consumers? Such as men? Or women? Or people of certain races? Or social classes? Is the price of the product relevant? A couple of random blunderbuss shots: Anything to do with Digital Rights Management? Marmite? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3185 Registered: 9-2009 |
Possible $přiler emailed | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2388 Registered: 1-2001 |
Galfisk, you're exactly right - nice! Did it help the company becasue it made it seem like only certain people could use it? No Could certain people not use it? No, it was available to anyone Could everybody potentially use it? Yes - good q Is medicine relevant? Sports? Puzzles? None of these Intriguing! Just wait... Was the company aiming for an upmarket image by excluding certain consumers? No, quite the opposite Such as men? Or women? Or people of certain races? Or social classes? N/A Is the price of the product relevant? Yes, it may help to know this A couple of random blunderbuss shots: Anything to do with Digital Rights Management? Marmite? No to both | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 3649 Registered: 5-2003 |
Did the company intend for people to use the product? Were they aware, before they began, that people would be unable to use it? Did they have an ulterior motive? Perhaps one that they did not mention? Anything to do with the oil crisis? Electric cars? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2895 Registered: 1-2007 |
Does the item need a power supply . Was the thing that the company did to make it impossible to use something to do with compatability with a particular power supply? Three point plugs relevant? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2896 Registered: 1-2007 |
Just another thought.... Could this product be considered a "Giffen Good" i.e. one for which the demand for increases as the price increases. | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1929 Registered: 3-2006 |
Was the product ridiculously expensive? Was it advertised as being tacky and vile, along the lines of 'don't buy this unless you're a nouveau-riche spiv'? Was it a financial services product? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4541 Registered: 4-2010 |
By excluding certain customers, did they increase market to others? By making it seem like they had more prestige or something? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2390 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did the company intend for people to use the product? YES...and NO Were they who? aware, before they began, that people would be unable to use it? Some people were aware of this, but can you clarify who "they" are? Did they have an ulterior motive? No Perhaps one that they did not mention? No Does the item need a power supply? No Was the thing that the company did to make it impossible to use something to do with compatability with a particular power supply? So no... Three point plugs relevant? No Anything to do with the oil crisis? Electric cars? Neither Just another thought.... Could this product be considered a "Giffen Good" i.e. one for which the demand for increases as the price increases. No Was the product ridiculously expensive? No Was it advertised as being tacky and vile, along the lines of 'don't buy this unless you're a nouveau-riche spiv'? Ha ha...no Was it a financial services product? No By excluding certain customers, did they increase market to others? Partial FA here - nobody was "excluded" from being a customer By making it seem like they had more prestige or something? No | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2897 Registered: 1-2007 |
Did the customers have to buy another of the company's products to make the original product work? Were the company's actions entirely to do with profit? or were they making a point? protesting against something? any relevant laws? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2395 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did the customers have to buy another of the company's products to make the original product work? No Were the company's actions entirely to do with profit? Well...yes and no. Yes, because they were hoping that existing buyers of their product would continue to buy, and that they could attract new buyers. No, because they intended a benefit for certain buyers. Or were they making a point? No protesting against something? No any relevant laws? Yes | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4557 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did they make it seem like it would be illegal for certain people to buy it? Was it illegal for certain people to buy it? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2396 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did they make it seem like it would be illegal for certain people to buy it? No Was it illegal for certain people to buy it? No | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4559 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is one law relevant? More than one? Is the concern of the law/laws driving? Voting? Is it related to marketing? Would the product fall under the law? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1934 Registered: 3-2006 |
"The company initially did not discourage the use of the product" ... so, did the company later discourage the use of the product? By certain people? Because of the boycotts and lawsuits? Did the use of the product cause any harm to anyone? Is gambling relevant? Tobacco? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2398 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is one law relevant? More than one? Two categories of law, which likely include several individual laws Is the concern of the law/laws driving? Voting? No to these Is it related to marketing? No, but...Would the product fall under the law? In the strict sense of the law no, but part of getting to the solutions is figuring out what made people consider legal action. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4565 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did the marketing make it impossible for the consumers to sue them? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2401 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did the marketing make it impossible for the consumers to sue them? At one point, yes, but not always | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4570 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the product electronic? Did the consumers use it for its intended purpose? For another purpose? Attempt to use it for its intended purpose? For another purpose? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2403 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the product electronic? No Did the consumers use it for its intended purpose? Yes, most of them did, but a good q follows... For another purpose? No, but... Attempt to use it for its intended purpose? Ah YES - super q! Some consumers did this! For another purpose? Yes - for another purpose than what was intended. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4573 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the product a utensil? A tool? Is it used for hygiene? Did some customers attempt to get high off it? Get drunk? Perhaps hand sanitizer? Cough syrup? Vanilla extract? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2406 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the product a utensil? A tool? Is it used for hygiene? No to all Did some customers attempt to get high off it? No Get drunk? No...but explore Perhaps hand sanitizer? Cough syrup? Vanilla extract? None | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1939 Registered: 3-2006 |
I think you might have missed my questions of 4:05. We got a cross-post. | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2409 Registered: 1-2001 |
I did miss these - thank you! "The company initially did not discourage the use of the product" ... so, did the company later discourage the use YES of the product? Well...only to a degree (see next answer) By certain people? YES - good q! Because of the boycotts and lawsuits? No, this hadn't arisen yet Did the use of the product cause any harm to anyone? NO, but they thought it did! Is gambling relevant? Tobacco? No to both | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1940 Registered: 3-2006 |
Would it help to find out who the 'certain people' are? Men? Women? Children? Aristocrats? People with a particular job? People of a particular age? Soldiers? Prisoners? Dead people? The deaf? The blind? Former presidents of the USA? Heads of state? Alcoholics? Did the boycotts and lawsuits happen because of the discouraging advice? Or in spite of it? Is it an 'improve your French' course which isn't intended for French people? That sort of idea? Is it the sort of product that can be purchased only once? If I bought it, would I ever need to buy it again? Does the price vary according to who is buying it? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2410 Registered: 1-2001 |
Would it help to find out who the 'certain people' are? Sure Men? Women? Children? Could be any of these, but in the particular case mostly children were involved Aristocrats? No People with a particular job? People of a particular age? Soldiers? Prisoners? Dead people? The deaf? The blind? Former presidents of the USA? Heads of state? Alcoholics? Any and all of these could have been the "certain people" Did the boycotts and lawsuits happen Well, almost happened... because of the discouraging advice? No Or in spite of it? This is closer Is it an 'improve your French' course which isn't intended for French people? That sort of idea? No, not this type Is it the sort of product that can be purchased only once? Yes, but for a certain reason If I bought it, would I ever need to buy it again? Need to? That would be entirely up to you. Does the price vary according to who is buying it? No | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1941 Registered: 3-2006 |
Exploring the booze idea a bit more: is it a hangover cure? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2412 Registered: 1-2001 |
Exploring the booze idea a bit more: is it a hangover cure? No - booze has nothing to do with it, but you're OTRT with the product type | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4583 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the product advertised as a cure for something? A weight-loss system? Hair regrowth formula? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2414 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the product advertised as a cure for something? A weight-loss system? Hair regrowth formula? None of these | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4589 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is food or drink involved with the product? Is it a food? Drink? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2419 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is food or drink involved with the product? Yes... Is it a food? No, it's a Drink? Yes | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4594 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it a soda? Juice? Energy drink? Is it alcoholic? Iced tea? Normal tea? Coffee? Water? Milk? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1945 Registered: 3-2006 |
The plot thickens. I'm wondering how on earth someone can buy a drink and not be able to use it! By 'they couldn't use it', do you mean that they were physically unable to drink it? Unable to open the container? Or just unable to benefit from its properties? Was it in a bottle so tightly sealed that wimps were not supposed to open it? Was there some sort of cryptic straw? A 'puzzle straw' that needed to be solved before you could drink it? (Hey, how lateral is that?) A drink with alleged medicinal properties, maybe? A magical elixir? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2422 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is it a soda? Yes Juice? Energy drink? Is it alcoholic? Iced tea? Normal tea? Coffee? Water? Milk? So it's none of these The plot thickens. I'm wondering how on earth someone can buy a drink and not be able to use it! Well if you figure that out, you'll have solved the puzzle! By 'they couldn't use it', do you mean that they were physically unable to drink it? Oh no... Unable to open the container? No... Or just unable to benefit from its properties? Yes, this Was it in a bottle so tightly sealed that wimps were not supposed to open it? No Was there some sort of cryptic straw? A 'puzzle straw' that needed to be solved before you could drink it? (Hey, how lateral is that?) Very lateral indeed, just not the case here A drink with alleged medicinal properties, maybe? A magical elixir? Not the case, however in principle you are OTRT | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4604 Registered: 4-2010 |
Coca-Cola? Relevant that it's made with coca leaf extracts? Which is where we get cocaine? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1947 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is there a misleading or ambiguous wording in the sales-pitch of this product? For instance, I'm thinking of the advert 'Drink and Drive' with a picture of an energy drink and a golf club ... someone might have tried to sue the company for having taken it too literally? (I suspect this is a horribly unrelated tangent, but hey.) | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2426 Registered: 1-2001 |
Coca-Cola? Yes Relevant that it's made with coca leaf extracts? Which is where we get cocaine? No, not relevant Is there a misleading or ambiguous wording in the sales-pitch of this product? For instance, I'm thinking of the advert 'Drink and Drive' with a picture of an energy drink and a golf club ... someone might have tried to sue the company for having taken it too literally? (I suspect this is a horribly unrelated tangent, but hey.) No, not this kind of thing | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4630 Registered: 4-2010 |
New Coke relevant? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2429 Registered: 1-2001 |
New Coke relevant? No | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2899 Registered: 1-2007 |
Is it relevant that some coin collecters clean coins with Coca-Cola? It's also very good for cleaning car hubcaps also. | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2430 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is it relevant that some coin collecters clean coins with Coca-Cola? It's also very good for cleaning car hubcaps also. No, not relevant, but makes one wonder - if it can remove gunk from coins, what does it do to a person's digestive system? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4645 Registered: 4-2010 |
There's a reason I don't drink soda...ugh. Method of bottling relevant? Screwcaps v. typical bottle caps? Fountain drinks relevant? Did this happen in [LTPF list of decades]? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2433 Registered: 1-2001 |
Method of bottling FA! relevant? Yes... Screwcaps v. typical bottle caps? Neither... Fountain drinks relevant? No, good q Did this happen in [LTPF list of decades]? It happened in 1990 | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4647 Registered: 4-2010 |
Glass v. plastic bottles relevant? Are bottles at all relevant? Diet Coke relevant? Is the urban legend about Pop Rocks and Coke exploding Mikey's stomach relevant? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2434 Registered: 1-2001 |
Glass v. plastic bottles relevant? Are bottles at all relevant? No! Diet Coke relevant? I don't think so, at least not to the events in the puzzle Is the urban legend about Pop Rocks and Coke exploding Mikey's stomach relevant? No | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4650 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the formula for Coke relevant? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2436 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the formula for Coke relevant? No Reminder: bottles are not relevant | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4652 Registered: 4-2010 |
Which leaves...cans? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2439 Registered: 1-2001 |
Which leaves...cans? YES | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4656 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did they change the design of the can? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2441 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did they change the design of the can? Yope | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4658 Registered: 4-2010 |
Class in a few minutes, but the answer just came to me... Is this the MagiCan fiasco? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2442 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is this the MagiCan fiasco? Yes, it is indeed! If there isn't still interest in continuing I will post the solution soon... | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1961 Registered: 3-2006 |
Aaaargh ... I went and googled it, so I have to sit out. Brilliantly worded puzzle though. Highly recommended if anyone (with more willpower than me) still wants to work it out. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2911 Registered: 1-2007 |
Ahh I know this story also. There is an element of urban myth involved isn't there. I'd say you could probably spoyle this. What puzzles me is how on earth Galfisk managed to solve this so quickly. I agree with Woodworm , masterful puzzle phrasing. | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2505 Registered: 1-2001 |
* * * * SPOILER * * * * In 1990, Coca Cola ran their MagiCan campaign. For this, they announced that random cans of Coke would be filled with money or coupons for prizes instead of soda. The MagiCan was designed to have a spring-loaded mechanism which would cause a tube to pop out of the can upon opening the can - inside the tube would be cash or a coupon. To fool the consumers, the prize cans were partially filled with water, so they felt just like a full soda can. When a young boy opened a MagiCan, he removed the tube, then saw that there was liquid in the can so he tasted the liquid (which was chlorinated water) - this water was drinkable due to a faulty seal which was supposed to prevent any of it from leaking out into the can and be drinkable. The boy's parents contacted attorneys, and there began to be several inquiries as to the safety of the product and Coca Cola's potential liability due to injury or sickness caused by faulty MagiCans. Coca Cola ran lengthy newspaper ads fully describing the campaign, urging anyone who opened a MagiCan NOT to drink anything from it, simply get the prize. So... A company (Coca Cola) wanted to increase sales of its product and increase their product's exposure (cans of Coca Cola drinks), so they did *something* that should have made it impossible for some people to use the product. (they release MagiCans into the market, thinking people would realize the purpose was to distribute prizes, not meant to drink from these cans) Sounds ironic, but this was the company's intent. When buyers purchased this company's product and found they couldn't use it (because it contained money or a coupon), it only helped the company's image (as well as the product's image). (Because Coca Cola was giving away money and prizes) It wasn't until someone purchased the product and DID use it that the company faced potential lawsuits and product boycotts. (Because a kid decided to take out the prize tube, then drink the interesting liquid which had filled the can due to a faulty seal) The company initially did not discourage the use of their product, and spent millions of dollars to advertise the product. (And in the end, promoted safe use of MagiCans in newspaper ads). I guess Galfisk recognized enough details to make the quick and correct jump to the solution. Your comments are appreciated - puzzles dealing with historic events are challenging, because either people immediately know the event based on the description, or soon recall it once the relevant details are discovered. Time to fire up the imagination again! |
