Mars didn't really think through their "free chocolate" offer and the server stampede it would inevitably cause. If you had rotten luck this morning but still insist on getting a free candy bar coupon via snail mail in six weeks, try the site now; I just did and was able to get a coupon without any delay (less than 2 minutes total time on the site). [realchocolate.com]
Post a comment
Comments:
Eagerly awaiting my snail-mail coupon. Bummer that my couldn't just shoot M&Ms out the CD drive and into my mouth.
Just keep reloading. Your request will eventually go through. For some reason I couldn't get it to confirm my registration in Firefox, but it was actually sent anyway according to the e-mail I received.
Keep trying!
Heh, well this is the first I heard that the wax company has begun using real chocolate again. Oh well, too late, I'm a Nestle/Cadbury's man now. Smarties always were better, anyways.
greatest 2 things in the world.
Dark Chocolate Snickers
and
Snickers ice cream bars.
Denny's: "We didn't expect this level of demand!"
KFC: "We didn't expect this level of demand!"
Mars: "We didn't expect this level of demand!"
Do these people watch the news at all? You would think it would be part of marketing's job description to keep up with current events, so when are they going to stop being surprised by this sort of thing?
"free chocolate" is what the secret fatty police shout to find hiding fatties.
(Please tell me I'm not the only one to have ever wathced upright citizens brigade.)
@Tiber: Some 5 years ago, I think the Red Lobster CEO was fired because the chain took a bath on an all-you-can-eat lobster promo.
Never underestimate Americans' penchants for free food, or their appetites.
i just signed up, no problem. but man, six weeks. :(
wait, what am i complaining for? it's free.
Just signed up and already got the confirmation email. Sweet deal:
Congratulations! You are one of the lucky people to receive a Mars Free* Real Chocolate coupon (subject to verification of eligibility). Your coupon will be mailed and should arrive in approximately six weeks. Your coupon will be sent to the address indicated on your registration form. Thank you for visiting and learning about Mars Real Chocolate Relief. Enjoy your Free* Real Chocolate coupon!
* Limit: 250,000 Coupons per Friday (9:00:00AM ET to 11:59:59PM ET). See terms and conditions for details.
"We had no idea that there would be so much of a demand for free food during a recession/depression."
I'm wondering when people will realize that there is actually a cost to free stuff. There's a difference between getting a good deal on something you wanted/needed in the first place, than spending your time and energy(gas)to obtain something that wasn't even on your radar.
How long do I want to wait in line for free chicken before I realize that my time is valuable and I could put it to better uses.
Clicking a link, waiting for it to load, then taking a few seconds to fill out a form isn't exactly a waste of time/money, especially if you do it at work.
The standing in line for chicken thing, maybe, if you could be making money in some other way. Otherwise, you're still making money.
And making money is good.
@ZenMasterKel: Standing in a long line for free KFC is definitely not worth it to me. However, having a coupon mailed to me, which can be used at a grocery store that I would be visiting anyway is totally worth it. I do realize that I'm giving them my email address, but that's okay because I gave them my "coupons" email.
@Skankingmike: it was the greatest defense weapon until, they devloped the 4 pronged rotating poo on a stick.
@trujunglist: You did that from work? THAT'S STEALING FROM TEH COMPANY!
I don't know if I'd go so far to say you're making money. Think about it, you'll have that first tasty chocolate bar, then it will lead to another, and another... soon you'll be a three-musketeers junkie, selling plasma for your next sugary fix. Face it, Mars is using the same tricks a crack dealer would pull.
They are buying something with their free food.
That something is your soul...
@ZenMasterKel: "wanted/needed in the first place, than spending your time and energy(gas)to obtain something that wasn't even on your radar."
It took a whole minute to fill out that form, and I was already bored (it's Friday...not much going on and I live in like, 40 minutes anyway).
And of COURSE chocolate is on my radar. It's ALWAYS on my radar.
This time, I don't have to pay for it.
Hells yeah, free chocolate!
@samurailynn: I used my regular email, but it's okay because I can click "mark as spam" a few times a month and soon enough it'll all be gone.
@nakedscience: Hell to the motherfuckin' yeah, man! I'll forget ALL about this and have me some coups inbound for sugary goodness and it'll be just like Christmas morning...
I didn't even know about this, I applied and got a email confirmation for my free chocolate! Thank you consumerist! :-)
It amused me when the URL went up on my Facebook page and then a while later there was another message from Mars Inc saying something about they didn't know that even they wouldn't be able to access their own server. LOL Way to go Mars Inc!
Yay! I got mine!