So I was having dinner – 08/9/08 – when I asked for a Diet Coke.
Imagine my surprise when I got handed this …
Yep, it’s a can of Diet Coke pre-promoting a movie that came out waaaaaaay back in May.
Now I have no idea how long Diet Coke can be stored for – presumably ages – but getting given something that was at least 3 months old [if not probably older as the promotion would run in advance of the movie coming out] didn’t make me feel too good.
To be fair to Diet Coke, it’s not their problem … but the restaurant who served it, it is.
OK, so the place was nothing fancy – just a cheap and cheerful Thai place – but happily serving 3+ month drinks means customers may start to question just how ‘fresh’ the ingredients of their food are.
Yes, I’m being petty and picky … but it’s these little things that can leave a big impression on customers … and all they actually have to do to counteract it is simply open the can, pour the contents into a glass and serve the customer – who will be none the wiser and have no reason to write crappy little posts like this.
People are complex beasts … and like NP and Gareth have said many a time … it’s all very well going on about the ‘big idea’, but quite often it’s the little things that make the biggest and most powerful impression. More clients, ad agencies, creatives and planners should start thinking about that!