Failed Products

[LiddyRules]

I don't know if I'm the only one who remembers this but at least 5 years ago, if not more, there was a big marketing campaign for this product that was supposed to simulate fresh toothbrushing on the go. It was this blue tubey thing that fit around your finger and you rubbed it across you teeth and it was meant to feel as though you just brushed your teeth. They had this big campaign for it, commercials with people singing and dancing and brushing and then...nothing. it failed horribly. I don't remember the name of the product but I remember the product and thinking what a stupid idea it was. What are some other failed products you remember?

[ryno1974]

I forget what they are called, but they are still out there. I actually like them - helps get the Tim Horton's funk out of your mouth before meeting.

Anyone remember McDonalds McRib? FANTASTIC sandwich, especially since it contained little to no pork

[sailor]

http://storm.tocmp.com/edsel/1960/Edsel%20'60-01.jpg

[DolaMight]

The low water mark of product launches:

Crystal Gravy
http://captainmike.org/CrystalPepsi/crystal_gravy.jpg

Pepsi also knocked off the concept.

[Fat_Sunny]

A Few Years Ago They Launched A Product That You Used To Wash Fruit With Some Kind Of Chemical That Got The Chemicals Off The Fruit. A Non-Starter Of An Idea To Begin With! There Were Big Displays In The Super Markets For Quite A While. F_S Doesn't Remember The Name, But It Was A Whole "System" For Cleaning Fruit.

Dumbest Idea Ever.

[epo]

I was working for a beverage distributor in the 96-97 time and they launched the soda version of Sunny Delight. They honest to god thought that shit was gonna be a new Coke.

Of course it failed miserably.

[Marc with a c]

I was working for a beverage distributor in the 96-97 time and they launched the soda version of Sunny Delight. They honest to god thought that shit was gonna be a new Coke.

Of course it failed miserably.

it's better then the purple stuff.

[sailor]

A Few Years Ago They Launched A Product That You Used To Wash Fruit With Some Kind Of Chemical That Got The Chemicals Off The Fruit. A Non-Starter Of An Idea To Begin With! There Were Big Displays In The Super Markets For Quite A While. F_S Doesn't Remember The Name, But It Was A Whole "System" For Cleaning Fruit.

Dumbest Idea Ever.

http://www.veggie-wash.com/mas_assets/veggie-wash/vwsoaker.jpg?

[zentraed]

I don't know if I'm the only one who remembers this but at least 5 years ago, if not more, there was a big marketing campaign for this product that was supposed to simulate fresh toothbrushing on the go. It was this blue tubey thing that fit around your finger and you rubbed it across you teeth and it was meant to feel as though you just brushed your teeth. They had this big campaign for it, commercials with people singing and dancing and brushing and then...nothing. it failed horribly. I don't remember the name of the product but I remember the product and thinking what a stupid idea it was. What are some other failed products you remember?

http://www.dentist.net/images/oralb-brush-ups-dn.JPG

[deepinthewoods]

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mnb3/Uncle%20Sam.jpg

[deepinthewoods]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/107084172_29ebe8d206.jpg

[LiddyRules]

http://www.dentist.net/images/oralb-brush-ups-dn.JPG Yes! That was it. Thanks.

Mud Gum also bombed at the marketplace but that had bad mojo on it from the begining.

[Hottub]

http://gigazine.jp/img/2007/02/28/mcmenu/mcmenu02.jpg

[tele7]

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/02/0208_toys/image/slide9.jpg

[Reynolds]

http://www.videointerchange.com/images/Laserdisc.jpg

http://img.infotropic.com/i/storage_09.jpg

[Devo37]

I was working for a beverage distributor in the 96-97 time and they launched the soda version of Sunny Delight. They honest to god thought that shit was gonna be a new Coke.


speaking of which...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/Devo37/new-coke.jpg

[Yuppie_Scum]

Paying for radio???? ... it'll never work.

[sailor]

http://gigazine.jp/img/2007/02/28/mcmenu/mcmenu02.jpg

mcdlt rocked. i wouldn't say it failed. it was around for 5-6 years (85-90 or so) and they only got rid of it because of a backlash against styrofoam.

[realmenhatelife]

mini disc players
sega saturn
turbo graphics 16
neo geo
sega dreamcast
pepsi kona
sean 'meat' staziak

[King Hippos Bandaid]

speaking of which...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/Devo37/new-coke.jpg

Dont Forget

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6c/CokeII.jpg

:king:

[Hottub]

mcdlt rocked. i wouldn't say it failed. it was around for 5-6 years (85-90 or so) and they only got rid of it because of a backlash against styrofoam.


It was less than 5 years for sure. I'm thinking 2. And the styrofoam thing was only the hippies.
It failed because the cheese was on the cold side. Eecch!!!

[sailor]

It was less than 5 years for sure. I'm thinking 2. And the styrofoam thing was only the hippies.
It failed because the cheese was on the cold side. Eecch!!!

i actually cheated (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDLT) before i posted. it was dis-continued in 1990 and there was a commercial for it in 1985 with jason alexander.

[Hottub]

Ok, if it lasted that long, it was not in the NY/NJ area for the whole run. Maybe the hayseeds dug it, but not us.

[Snacks]

mcdlt rocked. i wouldn't say it failed. it was around for 5-6 years (85-90 or so) and they only got rid of it because of a backlash against styrofoam.

they didnt get rid of it because it was Styrofoam. Every burger container was made out of Styrofoam, they didnt get rid of the big mac, the wopper or any other burger that was good. They first went to wrapping the burgers then came out with the paper box containers they make now. They got rid of it because it sucked. Your tastes are just awful, on everything.

[Judge Smails]

http://img.consumating.com/photos/10288/large/160247.jpg

[sailor]

Ok, if it lasted that long, it was not in the NY/NJ area for the whole run. Maybe the hayseeds dug it, but not us.

personally, i loved the cold cheese.

speaking of cold cheese and hayseeds, my cousin went to college in oneonta, ny and EVERYONE there orders pizza with cold cheese. it's basically a slice with extra cheese, but you put the extra cheese on after the slice is already heated. very odd, and i've never seen it anywhere else.

[Devo37]

personally, i loved the cold cheese.

speaking of cold cheese and hayseeds, my cousin went to college in oneonta, ny and EVERYONE there orders pizza with cold cheese. it's basically a slice with extra cheese, but you put the extra cheese on after the slice is already heated. very odd, and i've never seen it anywhere else.

i went to college with a guy who transferred to my school from oneonta, and he introduced me to cold cheese pizza! it's actually pretty good.

[Crispy123]

in 2003 KC Masterpiece came out with a ranch/bbq sauce called "Cool BBQ". I was skeptical when my wife brought it home from the grocery but It was damn tasty and I have never seen it since that time.

http://www.packagingdigest.com/News/Images/0603np370.gif

[Reynolds]

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/virtualboy.jpg

I don't even remember this:
http://files.blog-city.com/files/aa/20976/p/f/PK01.jpg

But I think I'm the only one that likes this:
http://full.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/coke_blak.jpg

[Snacks]

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/virtualboy.jpg



I actually bought this as a gift for someone like 8 or so years ago hen it first came out. What a piece of shit and at the time it wasnt cheap. There wasnt any virtual reality or 3d graphics yet it was called virtual boy or something like that.

[A.J.]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/office_space_kit_mat.jpg

[Chigworthy]

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML97/97122.jpg

[LiddyRules]

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML97/97122.jpg Lawn Darts didn't fail. They were too awesome to live.

[Skellington]

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/image_full/international/photosvideos/photos/george-bush-leads-the-us-towar.jpg

[IamFogHat]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/5/58/230px-Thedlrshow.PNG

[pete_in_NJ]

http://www.usasoda.com/images/pepsi95.JPG




and.........




http://www.usasoda.com/images/pclight3b.jpg

[pete_in_NJ]

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/virtualboy.jpg

I don't even remember this:
http://files.blog-city.com/files/aa/20976/p/f/PK01.jpg

But I think I'm the only one that likes this:
http://full.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/coke_blak.jpg


I actually tasted the Pepsi Blak once. I bought a bottle, took a sip an spit it out. Taste like carbonated molasses with ginger in it.

I've never even seen Pepsi Kona.

[aceofspades7]

I don't know if I'm the only one who remembers this but at least 5 years ago, if not more, there was a big marketing campaign for this product that was supposed to simulate fresh toothbrushing on the go. It was this blue tubey thing that fit around your finger and you rubbed it across you teeth and it was meant to feel as though you just brushed your teeth. They had this big campaign for it, commercials with people singing and dancing and brushing and then...nothing. it failed horribly. I don't remember the name of the product but I remember the product and thinking what a stupid idea it was. What are some other failed products you remember?

in japan there's a gum called no time - no time to brush your teeth that is

http://images.jbox.com/c3/black_jack_gum_p1980.gif

[RicShaw]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/1176382984_5572c1b6e8.jpg?v=0

7up Gold
My dad had a 7up route and they were excited about it until it got here and really sucked. The other day I saw Tab in a 7-11 and had to pick one up. It was just as awful as it used to be.

[PapaBear]

When I was a kid, the local RC plant put out a cola called Red Eye. The can had a huge bloodshot eye on it. I think it may have only been regional, because a girl I dated (who's dad worked there) said she helped her dad design the can. I even played on the Red Eye Cola little league baseball team. We only lasted one year and never won a game. I've searched and searched, and can't find ANYTHING on the web about this stuff.

[Judge Smails]

Anyone remember the Burger King Dinner Baskets, with table service? I mentioned this to my wife recently and she acted like I was absolutley out of my mind, even though I remember for a fact that we both went there together while we were dating.

I had to go find THIS (http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/1373/)to prove it to her. It started after 4:00 pm, I think. You would order one of the basket meals which included a steak sandwich, chicken or fried shrimp. They came with cole slaw and a baked potato. Then you'd get a number and sit down and a "waitress" would bring you a basket of popcorn while you waited. When your food was done the waitress would bring it to your table. I only remember being there once while this was going on so I don't think it lasted too long. Seems like it went against the idea of "fast food". If you were going to go for a sit-down meal, I doubt you'd choose Burger King.

[PapaBear]

I don't remember the basket thing, but I remember that annoying guy in the commercial.

[drusilla]

i think my boyfriend still has his sega dreamcast & his nintendo virtual boy.

[FUNKMAN]

Failed Products

The Cheesecloth Condom

[IamFogHat]

i think my boyfriend still has his sega dreamcast & his nintendo virtual boy.

Haha, my buddy and I (who are old school video game system fanatics) have running jokes about how terrible those two systems are and how we want to know someone who owns one of them. Tell your boyfriend he rules.

[Andomray]

I don't know if I'm the only one who remembers this but at least 5 years ago, if not more, there was a big marketing campaign for this product that was supposed to simulate fresh toothbrushing on the go. It was this blue tubey thing that fit around your finger and you rubbed it across you teeth and it was meant to feel as though you just brushed your teeth. They had this big campaign for it, commercials with people singing and dancing and brushing and then...nothing. it failed horribly. I don't remember the name of the product but I remember the product and thinking what a stupid idea it was. What are some other failed products you remember?

Good for after giving a hummer, no?

I mean...what? Oh, fuck it...I don't have a brain filter anymore.

[ANC]

http://www.colawp.com/colas/300/cola338-emblem.jpg
http://kw.pm.org/talks/0902-debugger/flowbee.jpg
http://underdeepwater.com/lab.oratoire/images/2007-01-18-mute_math/Keytar_Yamaha_SHS-10.jpg

[sailor]

http://www.colawp.com/colas/300/cola338-emblem.jpg


that just sounds great, actually.

[drusilla]

Haha, my buddy and I (who are old school video game system fanatics) have running jokes about how terrible those two systems are and how we want to know someone who owns one of them. Tell your boyfriend he rules.



the boyfriend's response: "fuck yeah"

[scottinnj]

I got the worst game system ever created when I was 12:

The Magnavox Odyssey 2 System!


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/230px-Odyssey2_w_box.jpg

[scottinnj]

The Mattel Synsonic Drum Set!

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/synsonic.jpg

BANG BANG! BANG BANG! BANG BANG! BANG BANG! BANG BANG BAM! "I can feel it coming in the air tonight....Oh Lord!"
It was wicked cool for its time, but real drummers in school beat me up when I brought it into music class in high school. Another dream shattered by the peers of my youth.

EDIT: I actually originally said "I can feel coming on the edge of night" Good God Almighty, Why Can't I remember lyrics?

[PapaBear]

Not really products, but here's two of my favorite failed TV sports broadcasting experiments.

1. The NBC broadcast of the Jets vs. Dolphins, with no announcers (just the audio from the stadium announcer).

2. Fox's gimmick of FoxTrax hockey puck tracking system.

[Fallon]

I liked the glow puck!

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAqfSBEwJgE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAqfSBEwJgE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

[drusilla]

2. Fox's gimmick of FoxTrax hockey puck tracking system.

that truely was one of the most annoying things to happen to television.

the one i hate now when watching football is that stupid video game like camera angle. it gives me such a headache.

[PapaBear]

that truely was one of the most annoying things to happen to television.

the one i hate now when watching football is that stupid video game like camera angle. it gives me such a headache.
I agree. I wish it would go away, but I really don't think it will.

[Judge Smails]

http://www.runner-up.org/images/USFL_logo.gif
http://www.angelfire.com/tn/pkholling03/wfl/wfl_logo.jpg
http://www.sportshollywood.com/images/xfl.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/Nasl.png
http://lifeinlegacy.com/2003/0920/WUSA.jpg

[scottinnj]

AMTRAK
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/AmtrakLogo.gif

&

The Susan B Anthony Dollar
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/1980s_sba_dollar_obv.jpg

[Judge Smails]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/0/0e/Black_earl_wiki.JPG

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said "failed producers". My bad.

[Fat_Sunny]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/0/0e/Black_earl_wiki.JPG

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said "failed producers". My bad.

Hey Did You Figure Out Who The Odd Blond With The Glass Eye Looks Like? Now It Is Driving F_S Crazy Too!

[Judge Smails]

Hey Did You Figure Out Who The Odd Blond With The Glass Eye Looks Like? Now It Is Driving F_S Crazy Too!

Tell me about it. It's driving me nuts. I'm thinking she may have worked at the Jon Giacomo hair cutting place in the Mill Creek Mall in Secaucus.

[joethebartender]

I got the worst game system ever created when I was 12:

The Magnavox Odyssey 2 System!


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/230px-Odyssey2_w_box.jpg

my parents were duped into buying this at xmas over the atari 2600 on the basis that it was educational. It wasn't. It was just embarrassing. I remember trying to explain that K.C. Munchin' was the same as Pac Man. (Scarred for life)

[MadMatt]

I liked the glow puck!

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAqfSBEwJgE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAqfSBEwJgE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Me too! Of course there are 2 major reasons:


I am not a huge hockey fan and have trouble following the game sometimes. The "puck tracking" helped me follow a little better, especially as a noob.

Up until recently, the largest TV I ever had was 19 inches. It's really easy to loose the puck when you are watching a 19 inch screen from across the room. Again, the glowing puck helped me stay with the game.

[ANC]

that just sounds great, actually.

Oh it was...

[Snoogans]

http://windingroad.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/aykroyd_1.gif

you bastards never bought my bag o glass

[Judge Smails]

http://windingroad.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/aykroyd_1.gif

you bastards never bought my bag o glass

I think you mean this guy:

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/img/mainway.jpg

[sailor]

Oh it was...

just read that it's big selling point (not that it worked) was that it used pure cane sugar, instead of corn syrup. if you liked that, you should be on the look-out for kosher coke, which is put out during passover. pure sugary goodness!

[Todd_Hilliard]

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/popular_science_videoDisc_players.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

Nestea had a syrup a couple of years ago that you could add to water to make iced tea. It was actually pretty good but it came and went pretty quick.

[PapaBear]

Nestea had a syrup a couple of years ago that you could add to water to make iced tea. It was actually pretty good but it came and went pretty quick.
That's probably the same stuff we use at work for our tea. It comes in bags like the syrup that's used for fountain drinks. I guess they just decided to market it to restaurants instead of the general public. They have separate equipment for it that looks like the big tea can/barrels that you normally see in restaurants. It's pretty nice. You don't have to worry so much about cleaning the brewer (because it's not actually being brewed), and the customers like it.

[Mullenax]

I actually loved that Nestea goop, it made really good "raspberry" iced tea in the dorms.
There was a Keebler cookie called "Magic Middles", and I think I'd pay girl scout cookie prices to eat some again. They were shortbread on the outside with fudge icing centers. How'd the chocolate get inside? Magic.:tongue:

[DarkHippie]

Good for after giving a hummer, no?


that's what I use it for

[ralphbxny]

just read that it's big selling point (not that it worked) was that it used pure cane sugar, instead of corn syrup. if you liked that, you should be on the look-out for kosher coke, which is put out during passover. pure sugary goodness!

Just Jon turned me on to this and I cant wait till Passover!

[buzzard]

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/a1958wil/betamax-01.jpg

[ZigZagBigBag]

i was watching late night TV and i saw an advert for a plastic mold that you can put around your squashes....gourds and shit i guess...and they grow into the shape of the molds! they were in the shape of troll faces and animals....squashes in the shape of troll-faces! i thought i was having a horrible acid flashback!....i never saw the advert again so maybe it was.