***Promotion has ended***
Dr. Pepper may be the self proclaimed Doctor of Beverages, but their ability to run an affective promotion is far from a doctor and closer to a broken version of the child game ‘Operation.’ I like any man try to take advantage of most any “Free” promotion. Even if I don’t really want the product, something free is worth trying. In the case of Dr. Pepper, I have been drinking it most of my life. Any time I go to a restaurant and ask for a Coke, and the server says they have Pepsi, I follow with Dr. Pepper. Well that may be changing, can you say Mountain Dew?
Dr. Pepper Gun’s and Roses Promotion History
In March, Dr Pepper said it would provide a coupon for a free Dr. Pepper to every person, if the Guns N’ Roses long-awaited ‘Chinese Democracy’ album was actually released in 2008. The album, has been in production since 1994, went on sale Sunday (Nov 23. 2008). The coupon was to be available for order at Dr Pepper’s Web site starting at 12:01 a.m., for 24 hours. On Monday Dr. Pepper announced it would extend the promotion until Monday (Nov 24) due to technical issues with the website. It also added a 1-888 number for people to call and get their free Dr. Pepper.
Dr. Pepper Gun’s and Roses Promotion Reality
The feeble minded webmaster of www.drpepper.com either did not anticipate the volume of traffic, or did not care. Either way from a website standpoint the promotion has been a complete failure. First Dr. Pepper website is far too busy most of the day and cannot load, or when it finally does load it was after a couple minute wait. Then you needed to navigate around to find the actual promotion page. Once on this page the form did not allow you to submit your details for a free Dr. Pepper, instead the page is simply idle. I fancy myself as a 7 out of 10 on computer competence, so I knew that my submission had not been accepted, but I am sure 1000′s of other loyal Dr. Pepper fans have come away disappointed.
Well after the fiasco on Sunday, Dr. Pepper, decided to put up a toll free number for people to call and get their free Dr. Pepper (1-888-377-3773) which has been busy every time I tried to call. There is not a simple voice automated system that allows the users to enter their details, or at the very list a waiting que if you want to hold for the next operator. Oh, and by the way, if you are like me and enter the phone number as 1.800-377-3773 it is an Adult hot-line (NSFW!!!) I bet that company is trying to figure out why their business went through the roof today.
What to do…to get your free Dr. Pepper
As of right now the 1-888-377-3773 seems like the best option if you can get through before 6pm EST. After today, I would suggest calling their other customer service hot-line 1-800-696-5891 and tell them how you got screwed by their failure to plan. Finally, if you are like me and need immediate gratification you can go here http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/am_bev/contactus.htm which is the Contact Us form on the Dr. Pepper Snapple website for complaints. My guess would be any submission here will eventually result in a free Dr. Pepper but I cannot guarantee that.
Dr. Pepper Promotion – Free Lesson
Dr. Pepper, this is the third failed promotion you have had in the last two years. Last time it cost you over 2 million dollars and you had to shut down a public cemetery. The lesson to be learned here, is fire everyone in your marketing department and start over. I have never tasted 23 flavors in anything, certainly not a Dr. Pepper. Dr. Peppers are good, but not 23 unique flavors. Beyond that, your last 3 attempts at building online marketing have failed miserably, cut your losses and find a new company.
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I just got an email back from Customer Relations after submitting my details to this form:
http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/am_bev/contactus.htm
November 24, 2008
We apologize for any difficulty you are having with our 20 in 24 offer. We have now have your name, address and email on file and will add your details to our mailing list. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your coupon to arrive.
Be sure to visit drpepper.com often, beginning January 1 we’ll be giving away coupons for a free Diet Dr Pepper! Sincerely,
Consumer Relations
Today I called Dr. Pepper at the same number 1.888.377.3773 then pressed 1 for the operator. I told them I tried to complete the information on 11/24/08 and got a busy signal on the phone and was not able to complete the form online.
The operator took my information and said I will get my Free Dr. Pepper. I also mentioned that my wife tried yesterday also and had the same experience. Without collecting any additional information they are sending me two coupons.
Hey man thanks a ton! I actually got through on the phone(it was a nice automated system) and got my info put in correctly. WOW!