

Number Fever: How Pepsi Nearly Went Pop (Classic)
35 snips Aug 1, 2025
Pepsi's wild Number Fever promotion spiraled into chaos, leading to unexpected court battles and consumer confusion. A man's clever air miles scheme showcases the thin line between savvy marketing and disaster. The humor in miscalculations reveals how both shoppers and companies often misread promotional offers. Legal troubles from outrageous claims like earning a Harrier jet illustrate the dire consequences of overzealous marketing. Ultimately, the podcast highlights the risks brands face when their strategies miss the mark and the challenges in understanding consumer expectations.
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Pepsi's Number Fever Printing Error
- Pepsi's 'Number Fever' promotion mistakenly printed hundreds of thousands of winning bottle caps with the number 349.
- This caused mass celebration and claims, revealing a costly printing error unseen by Pepsi until after the announcement.
Banana Man's Tesco Profit
- Phil Calcutt calculated a Tesco promotion would profit him on banana purchases and bought excessive amounts.
- He gained £25.12 profit and enjoyed distributing free bananas around his neighborhood.
David Phillips' Air Miles Exploit
- David Phillips exploited a Healthy Choice promotion by buying cheap products and submitting barcodes for air miles.
- He accumulated over 12,000 chocolate puddings and secured over a million air miles via a food bank partnership.