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34 Companies That Made Hilariously Regrettable Decisions

By:: Cracked Writers; Brian C. Miller

August 21, 2023

34 Companies That Made Hilariously Regrettable Decisions

It's not easy running a business: There are so many plates to spin and things to consider that it's not surprising that there are countless examples of nightmare-inducing missteps. With all that said — and the understanding that hindsight is 20/20 — a lot of these companies should have probably foreseen how poorly many of these ideas were going to play out.

A clothing company making bricks? A pen company that got into the underwear game? An awkwardly named, yogurt-flavored version of one of the most popular cola brands in Japan? We’re not saying that if we were put in charge we would have definitely made better decisions, but we’d like to think we wouldn’t have made such embarrassing ones.

34 Bic Underwear

BIC UNDERWEAR LAUNCHED IN 1998. THEY SOLD DISPOSABLE UNDERWEAR IN GREECE, LEVER THIN 5-6 BIC AUSTRIA Kleldergrope 46-52 AND IRELAND. HOSE 8 BiC NEU! Mit Zwickel! GRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

33 Supreme Bricks

Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

32 Pepsi White

PEPSI WHITE had a limited run in Japan in 2008. CLASS PEPSI WHITE PEPSI & YOGURT FLAVOR Refreshing yogurt-flavored, politically-incorrect soda. CRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

31 Zara's "Sheriff" Outfit

Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

30 The Apple Collection

In 1986, Apple released a line of clothing, accessories and knick-knacks called The Apple Collection. Apple ppl lightcliNightch of Hot O O It even had Apple-branded milk chocolate, crystal beer mugs, and sailboards. CRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

29 Healthy Bacon

Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

28 Windex Cologne?

MOSCHINO released an eau de toilette inspired by the look of window cleaning spray. However, the scent is apparently quite nice. MOSCHINO FRESH COUTURE MOSCHINO EAU DE TOILETTE 50 me 1.7 US 11.0z MOSCHINO EAU DE TOILETTE 100 ML e/3.4 US fl.Oz GRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

27 The Water Bra

CRACKED.COM evian WATER BRA evian This bra has pockets that can be filled with water. This feature allows women to avoid the disaster of having sweaty breasts. — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

26 OK Soda

IN 1994, COCA-COLA TRIED TO APPEAL TO GEN XERS WITH OK SODA, DISTINGUISHED MORE BY ITS DRAB, GRIM CAN DESIGNS THAN BY ITS ODD, CITRUSY TASTE - WHICH REALLY (355 WAS JUST BEVERAGE OK. 12 FL OZ (355 mL) A CARBONATED BEVERAGE OF OX- CONCEPT ET HAA D a DON'T BE FOOLED INTO THINKING KADS CL OK. OK® IL WHAT'S THE POINT OK WHETHING OBE NYTHING THAT IS NOT HNG THAT IS. NNK OF OTHER PEOPLE A I I i I | i 1 ARKABLE ABILITIES CERTIDATED BEVERAGE 12 FL OZ (355 mL) CARBONATED BEVERAGE 12 EL OZ MARKET TESTS WERE A BUST, — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

25 Microsoft Bob

Is this a children's computer game? Nope, it's a Windows interface for grown adults! Microsoft В В Sep 7 Matt. to STATE apregram just click .. it. Te - the in the room down the n buy Other options $ Who wouldn't want their desktop displayed as a cartoon house with an animated dog telling you how to perform basic tasks?! That's Microsoft Bob! GRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

24 A Real Bad Iron Man Promotion

Panic ensued when a Missouri movie theater hired fake agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., complete with fake weapons, to storm a screening of IRON MAN 3... CRACKED.COM less than a year after the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

23 Audi's Sexist Ad

34 Companies That Made Hilariously Regrettable Decisions — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

22 Dolce's & Gabbana Offends China

CRACKED.COM To promote their upcoming runway show in Shanghai, Dolce& Gabbana released a series of videos which depicted a Chinese model struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks. Many Chinese people interpreted the campaign as a mockery of their culture. The campaign cost D&G the Shanghai show and an undisclosed amount of money after their products were boycotted by multiple Chinese retailers. — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

21 The Next Big Thing

GRACKED.COM American Apparel wanted to launch an XL clothing line and created a casting call to hire plus-sized models to promote them. THE NEXT BIG THING However, they did so with awkward, offensive puns like calling their potential models 'booty-ful', 'full-sized fannies', and naming the contest 'The Next Big Thing'. The contest, of course, generated a lot of backlash. — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

20 MAC's lipstick mistake

MAC celebrated National Lipstick Day by giving away a free lipstick to those who came to the stores selected during the event. Thousands of customers left angrily because those stores ran out of stock minutes after opening for business. Turns out, they only had 40 lipsticks to give away per store. GRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

19 Molson's Facebook Stunt

Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

18 A Toy Yoda

Employees of a Panama City, FL HOOTERS were understandably excited when, in 2001, their manager told them that whoever sold the most beer would win a new Toyota. The winner HOOTERS sued when she was led to the restaurant parking lot and presented with... CRACKED.COM a new toy Yoda. — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

17 Fallout Bag

Bethesda Game Studios advertised a canvas duffle bag as part of the $200 Power Armor Edition of Fallout 76. WEST ТЕК WARFARE FULLY POWERED Customers were understandably ticked off when instead they recieved a cheap nylon NESTEK RED POWERTD bag with the game, due to unavailability of materials. As if the blatant bait-and-switch wasn't bad enough, this was the response someone got when they emailed Bethesda about it: Hello, GRACKED.COM We are sorry that you aren't happy with the bag. We aren't planning on doing anything about it. Bethesda Gear Store Support - North America — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

16 Valve's 2019 Summer Sale

Valve's 2019 Summer Sale event was a doggone disaster. HAPPY - - STEEM GRAND PRIX C I PAREST TODAY'S PRO . HARE COCKATIAL . TOMETOWER CORICH I www. FINISH 1 122x the WITH 110. 4,003x 131 117 Players rigged Valve's racing promo, which gave winners a chance to win a wishlisted game, by dogpiling into one team. People also assumed deleting wishlisted games would narrow down what they'd win, which cratered sales for indie developers. CRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

15 Dante's Inferno "Acts of Lust"

ЕА tried promoting Dante's Inferno by encouraging acts of lust with booth models at Comic-Con. DANTE'S INFERNO snight WITH THE HOTTEST GIRL at comic-con. MORE. DINNER, BOOTY AND EA HOW TO WIN PROVE IT REPEAT COMMIT AÇTS OF LUST TWITTER @DANTETEAM #LUST OR TAKE PHOTOS WITH US FIND MORE BABES VIND CR ON FACEBOOK.COM/DANTESINFERNO ORANT BOOTH BABE. FOR.MORE CHANCES People instantly interpreted the contest as glorifying sexual harassment, and buckets of outrage followed. ЕА released a Twitter apology soon after, claiming the contest was tongue-in-cheek. CRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

14 Who thought this was a good idea, Tim?

In 2011, Timothy's World Coffee ran a campaign asking people to Like their Facebook page and receive four boxes of their single-serve coffee (which contains 24 packs in each box). WORLD Timothy's COFFEE Their stock of said boxes was depleted in just three days, and it took them more than two weeks to amend the terms that it would be on a first-come, first-served basis. CRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

13 Snapchat's Bad Ads

Snapchat lost around $800 million in stock after running an ad on their platform for the mobile game Would You Rather? which mocked Rihanna's abuse. Would You Rather? Imposibie Chokes WOULD YOU RATHER! Slap Rihanna Punch Chris Brown Many users deleted the app following PLAY her response. CRACKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

12 Mercenaries 2 Traffic Jam

CRACKED.COM To promote Mercenaries 2 in the U.K., ЕА gave away $30,000 worth of gas... LIVE XBOX 360 - MERCENARIES2 WORLDTH FLAMES LTSIPO D FA ...and MATRIAS started a traffic jam in the streets of London. The traffic outside the gas station became stalled with angry morning commuters due to the demand, forcing police to intervene and end the event. The local Member of Parliament straight up accused ЕА of instigating a fuel riot. — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

11 Money from a Plane

An Indonesian marketing expert thought it would be a good idea to throw money out of a plane. Instead of a traditional campaign for his book, Tung Desem Waringin circled the soccer stadium in Serang, tossing roughly $10,000 on people who, on average, make $40/ month. The stunt ended up with a 13-year-old girl being hospitalized after collapsing in the crowd. CRACKED COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

10 Brass Knuckles Promotion

In 2009, EA shipped brass knuckles along with their upcoming game, The Godfather II to press members for promotional purposes. They soon learned The that the knuckles Godfatherll are classified as illegal weapons in many states, including California, where EA is based. IL PLAYSTATION3 M EA It's against the law to be in possession of them, and it is also illegal to ship them. They had to plead with the recipients to send the knuckles back. The game received abyssmal reviews and prompted EA to let go of the franchise. CRACKED COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

9 Lifelock's Gamble

Eager to promote confidence in his company's identity theft protection services, the CEO of LifeLock his Social advertising Security used number actual in an mock campaign. Perhaps fell victim to identity theft. Thirteen times. My Social Security # is: As a result, 457-55-5462 LifeLock was LifeLock. accused of Guarantee Your Good Name deceptive advertising and fined $12 million. Guarantee Your Good Name Then again, five years later. This time for $100 million. GRAGKED.COM — Source: 29 Companies That Ran Unbelievably Dumb Promotions

8 Red Burgers

In 2015, Burger King Japan introduced special, limited edition red burgers. Aka Samurai Chicken and Aka Samurai Beef were served on a red bun (colored with tomato powder) with a slice of red cheese and a special ANGRY Sauce made from miso paste and chili. GRAGKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

7 The McAfrika

In 2002, McDonald's Norway released the M MCAFRIKA. It was a McAfrika DISASTER. It came at Fra kr. 32,- a time when many African countries were facing MASS FAMINE. Following a backlash, McDonald's allowed some locations to have donation boxes for humanitarian efforts. GRAGKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

6 Flame Grilled Fragrance

For one day in 2015, Burger King rolled out a fragrance called Flame-Grilled, for customers in Japan. It cost around $42, and reportedly BURGER KING smelled like cumin and onions. CRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

5 Tim Hortons' Buffalo Latte

If you like Buffalo wings, you'll love Tim Hortons' Buffalo Latte (or maybe not). BUFFALO LATTE Tim Horto Est. The AL two select Buffair, NY restaurants - Who supples TALE adidas . adidas MINE Depen = INDA3 Main WWC Adidas 200m This refreshing beverage is infused with Buffalo sauce flavor and seasoning. It is only available in select Tim Hortons Restaurants in Buffalo, New York. CRACKED COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

4 Chanel's Boomerang

CC Chanel's 2017 pre-spring collection included a $1,384 boomerang. CRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

3 Zippo Perfume

Zippo, a well-known lighter company, once tried to dip into the perfume market by releasing perfumes bottled in the shape of a lighter. zippo GLORIOU.S. Good luck trying to use one without appearing like you're trying to set yourself on fire. CRACKED.COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

2 Adult Baby Food?

Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

1 Burger King's "Windows 7 Burger"

Burger King once released the Windows 7 Whopper in Japan to promote the release of Windows 7. 10.22 Windows 7 -- It's your Windows7 regular Whopper, but WHOPPER with seven beef patties. The first 30 burgers cost -- Y777, and the rest of them cost Y1450. **** 130 BURGER 10/220- 10/280 777 ! KING CRACKED COM — Source: 30 Products Companies Want To Forget

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