Comments on: New Guns N Roses = Free Dr Pepper? But wait, there’s less… http://www.contentious.com/2008/11/24/new-guns-n-roses-free-dr-pepper-but-wait-theres-less/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:36:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2008/11/24/new-guns-n-roses-free-dr-pepper-but-wait-theres-less/comment-page-1/#comment-1224489 Amy Gahran Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:37:39 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/?p=2118#comment-1224489 I understand the value of tracking, etc... But why does that need to be handled via a coupon that the mfr prints and snail-mails out to you? Online coupons that you print at home are very common, for all sorts of offers. They even include custom bar codes. ...So I still don't understand why Dr Pepper would go to the expense of printing and mailing out these coupons, forcing consumers to wait up to 6 weeks to get it. Unless they intend that wait as a barrier that would reduce actual redemption.... Maybe I'm missing something here, but it just seems onerous. - Amy Gahran I understand the value of tracking, etc… But why does that need to be handled via a coupon that the mfr prints and snail-mails out to you?

Online coupons that you print at home are very common, for all sorts of offers. They even include custom bar codes.

…So I still don’t understand why Dr Pepper would go to the expense of printing and mailing out these coupons, forcing consumers to wait up to 6 weeks to get it.

Unless they intend that wait as a barrier that would reduce actual redemption….

Maybe I’m missing something here, but it just seems onerous.

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: Alan http://www.contentious.com/2008/11/24/new-guns-n-roses-free-dr-pepper-but-wait-theres-less/comment-page-1/#comment-1224488 Alan Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:29:37 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/?p=2118#comment-1224488 #3 Why distribute this coupon only by mail? A printable online coupon would surely be easier and less costly for the company, and also easier for many consumers. People probably want their free Dr. Pepper TODAY, not in 2009. Soda is, after all, all about instant gratification. (A mailed-out coupon could be an option for people without internet or printer access.) -By forcing you to do it online, they are gathering all of the necessary informational elements to use with targeted ad/marketing campaigns in the future. They now have your home address, email, gender, name. Simply create a user specific barcode on each coupon (not much $$$ at all on a print run this large) and you can track redemptions. If someone actually cashes it in, you can use this to your benefit. You can track who is most likely to cash it in, where it's cashed in the most and even get down to street level on redemption rates. If DPSU is so inclined, they can use this to send out an offer to a certain street or neighborhood that they know will be influenced by promotional offers. #3 Why distribute this coupon only by mail? A printable online coupon would surely be easier and less costly for the company, and also easier for many consumers. People probably want their free Dr. Pepper TODAY, not in 2009. Soda is, after all, all about instant gratification. (A mailed-out coupon could be an option for people without internet or printer access.)

-By forcing you to do it online, they are gathering all of the necessary informational elements to use with targeted ad/marketing campaigns in the future. They now have your home address, email, gender, name. Simply create a user specific barcode on each coupon (not much $$$ at all on a print run this large) and you can track redemptions. If someone actually cashes it in, you can use this to your benefit. You can track who is most likely to cash it in, where it’s cashed in the most and even get down to street level on redemption rates. If DPSU is so inclined, they can use this to send out an offer to a certain street or neighborhood that they know will be influenced by promotional offers.

]]> By: Nerdizen http://www.contentious.com/2008/11/24/new-guns-n-roses-free-dr-pepper-but-wait-theres-less/comment-page-1/#comment-1224479 Nerdizen Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:14:34 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/?p=2118#comment-1224479 Well, as of 2213 hrs (10:13 p.m.) the Dr. Pepper Site will let you fill in the form and after you press submit, it gives you an error screen. So, frustrating. I'll have to try the toll-free number and see how that goes. Well, as of 2213 hrs (10:13 p.m.) the Dr. Pepper Site will let you fill in the form and after you press submit, it gives you an error screen. So, frustrating. I’ll have to try the toll-free number and see how that goes.

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