Sometimes, very well paid executives can gather in a boardroom, go through multiple focus groups and meetings and some up with an absolutely terrible idea. While often not that fun to experience, they can be a blast to witness at a distance.
So we’ve gathered examples from a viral thread of the most poorly thought out publicity stunts out there for your daily dose of schadenfreude. Get comfortable, prepare to wonder “what were they thinking?!” with more and more intensity, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and examples in the comments below.
#21
Walker's (The brand name of Lay's in the UK) ran a promotion for a few weeks where you got a code on a pack of their crisps (chips), and if you predicted correctly that it would rain somewhere in the UK on that day (you chose the location) you got £10. Needless to say, they cancelled it soon after due to the money losses because: 1. It's the UK, rain is a fact of life and 2. The weather forecast is something that exists.
Update: After some researching, the minimum bet was 40p (the price of a packet of crisps) for one of around 20,000 squares over a 3 hour time period, with a 25-fold return at odds of 1 in 8. Contrasted with the UK's national lottery at 1 in 57 to win £10. Shows you just how stupid this campaign was.
Update: After some researching, the minimum bet was 40p (the price of a packet of crisps) for one of around 20,000 squares over a 3 hour time period, with a 25-fold return at odds of 1 in 8. Contrasted with the UK's national lottery at 1 in 57 to win £10. Shows you just how stupid this campaign was.
24points
#22
In 2003 Red Lobster did a promotion for "All You Can Eat Crab Legs" and it almost bankrupted them. I remember when they did it. My wife and I went and they ran out of crab legs and had to offer vouchers for later. It was crazy. The president of the company ended up having to step down due to that.
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24points
#23
There was a online vote for where Justin Bieber would go for his "My World" tour. As one might expect it was hijacked by 4chan leaving the top two positions as:
1. North Korea with 659,141 votes.
2. Isreal with 625,110 votes.
1. North Korea with 659,141 votes.
2. Isreal with 625,110 votes.
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23points
#24
There was a guerilla marketing campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force in Boston post 911. Someone reported seeing a shady person who left a conspicuous box near a bridge, so the police were called in and they blew it up. Turns out it was just a box of stuff for the marketing campaign. I think Cartoon Network was fined $2M for it.
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21points
#25
DIVADS anti-aircraft system.
In February 1982 the prototype was demonstrated for a group of US and British officers at Fort Bliss, along with members of Congress and other VIPs. When the computer was activated, it immediately started aiming the guns at the review stands, causing several minor injuries as members of the group jumped for cover. Technicians worked on the problem, and the system was restarted. This time it started shooting towards the target, but fired into the ground 300 m in front of the tank. In spite of several attempts to get it working properly, the vehicle never successfully engaged the sample targets. A Ford manager claimed that the problems were due to the vehicle being washed for the demonstration and fouling the electronics. In a report on the test, Easterbrook jokingly wondered if it ever rained in central Europe.
In February 1982 the prototype was demonstrated for a group of US and British officers at Fort Bliss, along with members of Congress and other VIPs. When the computer was activated, it immediately started aiming the guns at the review stands, causing several minor injuries as members of the group jumped for cover. Technicians worked on the problem, and the system was restarted. This time it started shooting towards the target, but fired into the ground 300 m in front of the tank. In spite of several attempts to get it working properly, the vehicle never successfully engaged the sample targets. A Ford manager claimed that the problems were due to the vehicle being washed for the demonstration and fouling the electronics. In a report on the test, Easterbrook jokingly wondered if it ever rained in central Europe.
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21points
#26
Sony had a streak of bad publicity stunts with the PSP.
First they had some artist make graffiti promoting this handheld system but didn't ask permission of the building owners to use their wall.
Then they hired a marketing agency to make a fake viral blog with posts about the PSP to give the impression that it's not corporate and owned by normal teens. It went viral all right, for the wrong reasons.
Finally not so much a stunt but an ad with some good intentions but badly executed- a billboard showing a white woman putting a black woman in a submissive position (this was to advertise the new white PSP). People cried racism. What made it more ridiculous is there was a complementary billboard with the positions of the women reversed, but nobody said anything about that.
First they had some artist make graffiti promoting this handheld system but didn't ask permission of the building owners to use their wall.
Then they hired a marketing agency to make a fake viral blog with posts about the PSP to give the impression that it's not corporate and owned by normal teens. It went viral all right, for the wrong reasons.
Finally not so much a stunt but an ad with some good intentions but badly executed- a billboard showing a white woman putting a black woman in a submissive position (this was to advertise the new white PSP). People cried racism. What made it more ridiculous is there was a complementary billboard with the positions of the women reversed, but nobody said anything about that.
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21points
#27
Oprah plugging free kfc coupons on her show. lines out the stores throughout the countries, and supply shortages.
19points
#28
John McCain "suspending his campaign" in the 2008 presidential race due to the collapse of the stock market.
It was meant to show how seriously he took the situation, but the problem was that there was nothing he could actually do to fix the situation as a candidate. So he just started campaigning again a few days later... it was quite a strange scenario.
It was meant to show how seriously he took the situation, but the problem was that there was nothing he could actually do to fix the situation as a candidate. So he just started campaigning again a few days later... it was quite a strange scenario.
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19points
#29
The "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile" ad campaign. It really hurt the brand's reputation, and they never recovered. It's one of the main reasons they don't make Oldsmobiles anymore.
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16points
#30
The Montreal Canadians tweeting images of new followers twitter handles on the backs of their jerseys.
Trolls joined in and got all sorts of offensive handles tweeted on Canadians jerseys. This is made worse by the fact that the Patriots did the same twitter stunt with the same results a couple of months earlier.
Trolls joined in and got all sorts of offensive handles tweeted on Canadians jerseys. This is made worse by the fact that the Patriots did the same twitter stunt with the same results a couple of months earlier.
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16points
