The Cola war - strange?
Discussion
I was having lunch today with a friend at, let's call it, a national pizza restaurant. Anyway, the waitress asked me what I'd like for my refreshing beverage, to which I replied, "a Diet Coke please". A few minutes later she arrived with a Pepsi, at which I said (in jest), "but I ordered a Coke". She said "Oh, I'm so sorry!" But I said, "don't be silly, I'm only joking". I thought no more of it. However, when I came to leave I noticed that all drinks had been removed from my bill. The manager then introduced himself to me, once again apologising profusely. I said to the chap "I'm very happy to pay for my drinks, it was just a joke". To which he replied "I insist that it's with our compliments!"
I was chatting to my friend in the car about what must go on behind the scenes as these Cola companies vie for national accounts. Judging by the response of the front-line staff, I'm guessing there's some very strange shenanigans!
>> Edited by srebbe64 on Friday 20th January 15:42
I was chatting to my friend in the car about what must go on behind the scenes as these Cola companies vie for national accounts. Judging by the response of the front-line staff, I'm guessing there's some very strange shenanigans!
>> Edited by srebbe64 on Friday 20th January 15:42
I've lost count of the amount of times that people at various establishments have replied to the request for "a coke" with "It's Pepsi, is that ok?".
Strange really, were it "panda cola" I'd expect to be warned, but coke / pesi? Yes I can taste the difference if I'm looking for it, but there is pretty much nothing in it.
Strange really, were it "panda cola" I'd expect to be warned, but coke / pesi? Yes I can taste the difference if I'm looking for it, but there is pretty much nothing in it.
I did a case study on the Cola Wars on my business degree. Basically to combat the rising Coca Cola sales, Pepsi started offering restaurant chains and bars cheap drinks so long as they didn't use any CC products. The plan backfired a bit when CC responded by offering the same deal and because they had a better brand image a lot more places chose them. Pretty much all restaurant chains went either one way or the other, I don't think I've ever seen a place which offers both outside of a supermarket.
DieselJohn said:
Very odd. I actually find it annoying when I ask for a coke and they say 'is pepsi alright', which is a bit silly of me but there you go. 'Coke' is like 'Hoover' to me, trade name that has become generic.
You don't have a choice so it is a bit silly, but i much prefer the taste of Coca Cola myself. More and more places seem to be switching to Pepsi though
It's to do with misselling laws. If you ask for Coke and get Pepsi, then they're 'passing off', which is selling one product but claiming its another. Thats why they can't serve Pepsi in Coke glasses and vice versa.
They were right to refund your drinks as it protects them in case you make a complaint about their misselling.
They were right to refund your drinks as it protects them in case you make a complaint about their misselling.
coca cola send scouts out to pepsi selling places and ask for a coke, if they are given a pepsi without warning, the legal vultures get involved, with really nasty consequences, false advertising, copyright infringement etc.
ps. this was told to me by a beer sales rep, but it sounds about right so i believed him.
ps. this was told to me by a beer sales rep, but it sounds about right so i believed him.
greg_D said:
coca cola send scouts out to pepsi selling places and ask for a coke, if they are given a pepsi without warning, the legal vultures get involved, with really nasty consequences, false advertising, copyright infringement etc.
ps. this was told to me by a beer sales rep, but it sounds about right so i believed him.
That's what I was told when I did some bar work about 10 years ago
Serving someone Pepsi when they asked for Coke, or vice versa, is known as "passing off" and is illegal. Pub employees, for example, are (and have been for many years) trained to ensure that the customer is aware of exactly what they are getting and checking that they are happy with it. Breweries send out "mystery drinkers" who will always ask for a Coke in a Pepsi-selling pub and managers / staff CAN expect a bollocking if the response is not "is Pepsi ok?"
I think I'm going to be different here; I like coca-cola a WHOLE load more than I do pepsi. In fact, i would have a vodka and coca-cola, but not a vodka+pepsi (i'd have orange juice instead) so I like it when they say "it's pepsi".
It would be like asking for a carlsberg and them giving you fosters - because it's a lager!
Most pubs I have been to that have Pepsi as their draft cola of choice also seem to have bottled coca-cola's that you can have (significnatly dearer) should you wish.
It would be like asking for a carlsberg and them giving you fosters - because it's a lager!
Most pubs I have been to that have Pepsi as their draft cola of choice also seem to have bottled coca-cola's that you can have (significnatly dearer) should you wish.
Reminds me of a story from a long time about a mate
who went into a pub he hadn't been to in a while with
a collegue, and ordered "Two Pints of Tawny Please",
since that was what he'd has the last time he was
there. The (new) Australian barman gave him a
funny look, disappeared into the store room behind
the bar, and after a long delay (to the sound of
glass clinking) came back with two pints of a
glutinous beverage and said 'That's forty pounds
please'. Turns out the only 'Tawny' the barman
had ever sold was port, and he'd been out the
back measuring two pints worth of single measures.
who went into a pub he hadn't been to in a while with
a collegue, and ordered "Two Pints of Tawny Please",
since that was what he'd has the last time he was
there. The (new) Australian barman gave him a
funny look, disappeared into the store room behind
the bar, and after a long delay (to the sound of
glass clinking) came back with two pints of a
glutinous beverage and said 'That's forty pounds
please'. Turns out the only 'Tawny' the barman
had ever sold was port, and he'd been out the
back measuring two pints worth of single measures.
[quote=srebbe64] "but I ordered a Coke". She said "Oh, I'm so sorry!" But I said, "don't be silly, I'm only joking". I thought no more of it. However, when I came to leave I noticed that all drinks had been removed from my bill. The manager then introduced himself to me, once again apologising profusely. I said to the chap "I'm very happy to pay for my drinks, it was just a joke". To which he replied "I insist that it's with our compliments!"
Its a shame petrol stations don't have this policy aint it Shrebbe?
Its a shame petrol stations don't have this policy aint it Shrebbe?
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