Poll: Have you tried winning at the Pepsi-iTunes giveaway? [Archive]

Qunchuy

Feb 13, 2004, 08:13 AM

On my way into work the other day, I noticed a discarded Pepsi bottle in the top of the trash bin by the door. It was the first I had seen with the telltale yellow cap, and I decided to take a closer look. Obviously nobody would have thrown away a winning cap, but it was a matter of seconds to retrieve the thing and unscrew it.

It was a winner. Unfortunately, I'm still using MacOS 9. (I'll probably give the free download to an iPod-using co-worker who run Jaguar on his G5.)

slowtreme

Feb 13, 2004, 08:37 AM

I've yet to find a single yellow capped bottle in the stores I visit here. (St. pete)

I think that WalMart might be selling them, but I won't go there. I've looked in my local supermarkets and Target stores, and some 7/11s

It's probably better anyway. I don't like Pepsi, just Coke.

j33pd0g

Feb 13, 2004, 09:01 AM

They started showing up in my town around Monday. And to my amazment, my co-workers have been throwing their empties into the company recycle bin - around the corner from my desk. :) Found 3 bottles last night... all were winners. They were all diet pepsi.

-hh

Feb 13, 2004, 09:06 AM

My wife sucks down lots of 20oz bottles of soda at work, so I asked her to switch from Coke to Pepsi during the campaign.

So far, she's hit on two caps.

I haven't used them yet, as I've not yes registered for an iTunes account, nor have I figured out what songs I'd want to pick up.

I've only done a few song searches on the iTunes website; found out that they don't have the Royal Guardsman's "Snoopy" songs.

This morning, I was thinking of The Playmate's 1958 song, "Little Nash Rambler (aka "Beep Beep")". *sigh*...another No Such Artist...nor are any Dr. Demento listings at all.

Naturally, the song can be found for free via Google in ten seconds, on some fan pages.

-hh

Kenny Pollock

Feb 13, 2004, 09:15 AM

None of the soda's around here have the caps yet! I have won 5 songs already (I've bought 7-11 slurpee's once a day since 1/1/2004 :))

Laslo Panaflex

Feb 13, 2004, 09:24 AM

None of the stores that I have gone to carry the bottles. I'm sure if I look real hard though, I could find some bottles around town. To echo an earlier comment, I'm sure they have them at my local Wal-mart, but I don't dare go there. . .

bennetsaysargh

Feb 13, 2004, 09:33 AM

1 for 2.
walmart diet pepsi lose.
eckerds diet pepsi win.
no regular pepsis though i can see.

1macker1

Feb 13, 2004, 09:39 AM

When they start putting winning iTunes caps on orange juice, then i'll join in. Soda's are not good for you.

dukemeiser

Feb 13, 2004, 09:40 AM

hehe. I'm 20/21. I had a 20 win streak going on until I bought one from a vending machine today, officially ending my streak.:( I've been tipping the bottle on all the rest to see if I win before I buy.

I've seen Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, but no Sierra Mist, and no Liters either.

Trowaman

Feb 13, 2004, 09:42 AM

I'm 4 wins for 6 bottles. I like it.

eric_n_dfw

Feb 13, 2004, 10:13 AM

The vending machine on my floor at work was spitting out the NFL "Caps for Caps" game (which expired 12/31/03) until last week. But now their all non-game caps. Maybe next week!

Yesterday, I got a yellow cap one from our cafeteria and was exited as the NFL logo wasn't on the label... no luck, it was the PRIOR "Billion Dollar" contest that expired in August of 2003! Geez!

:(

coumerelli

Feb 13, 2004, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by dukemeiser
hehe. I'm 20/21. I had a 20 win streak going on until I bought one from a vending machine today, officially ending my streak.:( I've been tipping the bottle on all the rest to see if I win before I buy.

I've seen Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, but no Sierra Mist, and no Liters either.

That's exactly what I do too! lol. I fugured that out after a few days. So I'm actually like 6 for 8 or something. I bought two loosers. :( I've seen them on 1 liters (2/$2 here in WI) and at the target they are on diet and siera mist - only seen two yellow caps on regular pepsi (which is my choice).

Now, if only I could find a good trash bin to go dumpster diving in and still retain my dignity. :rolleyes: :D

virividox

Feb 13, 2004, 10:14 AM

would if i could!

TheArchpadre

Feb 13, 2004, 10:42 AM

I haven't seen any bottles, but then I haven't been looking either. I might consider picking up some Sierra Mists if I see them, but I don't like cola-flavored drinks.

It ticks me off that they're only doing this with regular and diet Pepsi. My parents drink lots of diet, caffeine-free Pepsi and would probably gladly give me the winning caps if only that variety was eligible.

wdlove

Feb 13, 2004, 10:51 AM

I voted, Yes, won one song. The first time I purchased 2 Sierra Mist and lost, 2 weeks ago. Just this past Wednesday I purchased 3 Diet Pepsi and won my 1st song.

I will admit that I can't really taste that much difference between Coke and Pepsi.

Wish that I was as disciplined and health as eyelikeart. :)

ebow

Feb 13, 2004, 11:03 AM

My fiance bought me two Pepsi bottles yesterday--the one I took to lunch today was a loser. I've seen a few caps in the trash or recylcing bins around work, but none have been winners. In fact, one bin had about 4 yellow caps that were ALL from last year's caps for caps promo. It's hard to go "dumpster diving" around the office during business hours, especially when you're dressed up! :o

Also, I'm one who can tell the difference between the two leading colas, and if it weren't for this promo, I'd definitely be sticking with the significantly smaller Coke cans.

1macker1

Feb 13, 2004, 11:08 AM

Instead of buying the soda, why not just buy the song u want. I don't get buying 3 sodas to win a .99 cent song.

Bunzi2k4

Feb 13, 2004, 11:13 AM

I haven't seen any bottles around... then again, i usually buy 2-liter bottles...

paulypants

Feb 13, 2004, 11:17 AM

only small amounts of diet pepsi in my area
we all know diet pepsi sucks, but i tried
one anyway--worst thing i ever tasted
to add insult to injury it was a loser--
after i sip threw the whole thing out
WHERE IS THE PEPSI?!! it's been 2 weeks
already, and they are still selling ones with
that NFL giveaway that ended weeks ago
nice pepsi...nice

azdude

Feb 13, 2004, 11:49 AM

I've purchased 3 iTunes bottles, and they were ALL winners.

What's the probability of that?? 3.704%. I should go to Vegas! :D

Jerry Spoon

Feb 13, 2004, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by 1macker1
Instead of buying the soda, why not just buy the song u want. I don't get buying 3 sodas to win a .99 cent song.

I'm sure they're not just dumping out the soda after they open it up.:)

iPC

Feb 13, 2004, 12:44 PM

haven't seen any yet (stamford CT area). :(

brhmac

Feb 13, 2004, 12:58 PM

Running right on the 1 in 3 odds.

ALoLA

Feb 13, 2004, 01:31 PM

0 for 3 here. :( I haven't seen the bottles. We have a different promo involving the Lakers. I've been playing with the cups at 7-Eleven. At least I have a sugar-free option. :)

Doctor Q

Feb 13, 2004, 02:57 PM

Am I correct that Pepsi is distributing 1,000,000 winning bottles, as opposed to distributing bottles until there are 1,000,000 winners?

Let's see. Start with 1,000,000 bottles. Some are bought by people who don't know about the promotion. Some don't care about the promotion. Some don't have a computer. Some have a computer too old for iTunes. Some don't know iTunes runs on PCs. Some don't notice that they have a winner. Some get a winner but lose it or never get around to claiming their tune. And maybe some don't like any of the music they find in iTunes.

So Pepsi is claiming they are giving away 1,000,000 tunes, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's 1/10th of that.

ebow

Feb 13, 2004, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Am I correct that Pepsi is distributing 1,000,000 winning bottles, as opposed to distributing bottles until there are 1,000,000 winners?

Let's see. Start with 1,000,000 bottles. Some are bought by people who don't know about the promotion. Some don't care about the promotion. Some don't have a computer. Some have a computer too old for iTunes. Some don't know iTunes runs on PCs. Some don't notice that they have a winner. Some get a winner but lose it or never get around to claiming their tune. And maybe some don't like any of the music they find in iTunes.

So Pepsi is claiming they are giving away 1,000,000 tunes, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's 1/10th of that.

Yep, and I'm sure they have some statisticians who figured out precisely how many tunes they can expect to be redeemed. They take a calculated risk that it will only cost them, say $10,000,000 overall. I think that rebate offers are designed with this in mind as well (enough people will forget about the rebate so that it won't cut into their profits quite as much). Men's Warehouse does this at wedding shows: you can lock in a good rental rate for a $10 deposit. I'm sure enough people forget about that $10 or don't bother with it, such that MW makes up much of their lost profit.

Doctor Q

Feb 13, 2004, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by ebow
I think that rebate offers are designed with this in mind as well (enough people will forget about the rebate so that it won't cut into their profits quite as much).That has to be true. Sometimes I see blank media for $10 with a $10 rebate and they must still make money.

mrsebastian

Feb 13, 2004, 04:29 PM

haven't seen any bottles :(

~Shard~

Feb 13, 2004, 06:25 PM

I don't drink soft drinks, and never will - I don't like putting garbage into my body and I care about my health. Call me crazy if you like! :cool:

Doctor Q

Feb 13, 2004, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by ~Shard~
I care about my health. Call me crazy if you like!WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY!?!?

Actually, good for you, ~Shard~! Now don't sit so close to the screen and throw away that non-ergonomic keyboard.

nslyax

Feb 13, 2004, 10:00 PM

All the yellow capped bottles I have found so far were for some NBA game.
Our 7-11 has the new cups though, so I bought a big gulp yesterday, but lost.

mms

Feb 13, 2004, 11:40 PM

No iTunes Pepsi bottles. :(
Some NBA promo, like some others here. Haven't went to 7-11 yet, so I'm planning to do so later this week.

coumerelli

Feb 14, 2004, 01:58 AM

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Am I correct that Pepsi is distributing 1,000,000 winning bottles, as opposed to distributing bottles until there are 1,000,000 winners?

Let's see. Start with 1,000,000 bottles. Some are bought by people who don't know about the promotion. Some don't care about the promotion. Some don't have a computer. Some have a computer too old for iTunes. Some don't know iTunes runs on PCs. Some don't notice that they have a winner. Some get a winner but lose it or never get around to claiming their tune. And maybe some don't like any of the music they find in iTunes.

So Pepsi is claiming they are giving away 1,000,000 tunes, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's 1/10th of that.

yup, except that it's 100,000,000 (read: one-HUNDRED million - not just one million).

I'm sure they are only counting on about 1-3% actually claiming their prize. And if you read the fine print on the bottles and at apple.com/pepsi (?) it reads, limit 200 songs pre email address. So theoretically, my wife and I can claim up to 400 songs. We should be so lucky. :rolleyes:

mproud

Feb 14, 2004, 02:28 AM

Bottles are finally coming in...

You know, if you hold the bottle juuust riiight...

TimDaddy

Feb 14, 2004, 03:24 AM

About four of my last six Pepsi's were winners! If I drank as much Pepsi as I do Mt. Dew, I'd need a new hardrive by month's end! I also raid the recycle bin at work each night. I'm finding two or three a week. And, some old man at work (new guy) was drinking his Pepsi Tuesday and started squinting into the lid. I asked him if he was going to redeem it and he asked me what the Hell it is. I explained, he said "Nah..." I handed him fifty cents, and he handed me back my fifty cents and his lid. He just walked up and gave me his winners on Wed. and Fri.!
I always encourage people to try the service out, first, and if they don't like it then give me their future winners. I don't want to turn off any future customers for Apple. With most people around here dialing up, a lot of people don't really like it, just because of the time consumption of downloading the software and then the songs.

wdlove

Feb 14, 2004, 11:11 AM

I agree that companies when starting a rebate program, they count on only one third actually redeeming the product. Doctor Q has a good idea about them continuing until they actually give away 1 million songs.

avus

Feb 14, 2004, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by ALoLA
0 for 3 here. :( I haven't seen the bottles. We have a different promo involving the Lakers. I've been playing with the cups at 7-Eleven. At least I have a sugar-free option. :)

I live in LA too, and have purchased 5 special 32-oz Big Gulp cups past week, and none of them were winners :( BTW, I've filled them with non-Pepsi products - I wonder if the odd of winning for Big Gulp is lower than the Pepsi bottle cap's?

BigJayhawk

Feb 14, 2004, 10:49 PM

I was 1 winner for 11 tries (the winner was a 7-11 Cup). I was beginning to wonder what the deal was. On the cups I was running with the odds but had not won after 8 bottle purchases.

Then I think my wife figured out a bit about WHY I had no winning bottles. Someone probably did what she figured out at the places that I bought my bottles.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS ON HOW TO WIN EVERY TIME -- IT IS SO EASY!

This is the pattern for a LOSER:

PLEASE
PLAY
AGAIN

This is the pattern for a WINNER:

XXXXX
XXXXX
ONE FREE
SONG

Notice the Following:

There are 3 lines to a LOSER, and FOUR for a WINNER

Only the WINNER has a bottom line with FOUR LETTERS

The LONG LINE (ONE FREE) sticks out to the side more than any line on a losing cap.

Once you know what to look for when tilting them, you can pick a WINNER EVERY TIME.

In fact, my wife swears that her eyesight is good enough that she could ACTUALLY READ the ONE FREE SONG part of the WINNING CAPS. So how's that for easy. Just need to find a WELL LIT, but RELATIVELY UNOCCUPIED soda isle at a store with a good price and YOU'RE SET!

MacRumors has been a favorite spot of mine for a long time. Glad I could contribute. (I'm a DIE HARD Coke drinker so if I MUST drink Pepsi to promote Apple then at least I know I'll get something out of it.)

If you think this note is helpful to you, and you feel up to a contribution, I'd be happy to redeam any codes you send to itunescaps@scottfisher.net

;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Anonymous Freak

Feb 14, 2004, 11:49 PM

I've been buying my chances at 7-Eleven. You can use the Pepsi cup, and fill it with whatever you want. Coke, lemonade, etc. (They even have Slurpee cups.)

I've bought five cups, all with Coke products. Only my most recent one has been a winner. Very annoying, since a friend of mine has bought 6 bottles/cups and has 5 winners... (Scratch that, according to his website, he's up to 8 songs now. Don't know how many more bottles that is. I knew he was about to buy a six pack, though.)

My song was "I Won't Back Down" by Johnny Cash and Tom Petty. My friend is seeing if he can hit the 200 song limit before he has to start spending them. (Max redemption 10 songs a day, so he'd have to start spending them by April 10th.) Yes, that means he is fully expecting to spend in excess of $600 on Pepsi products in the next three months. (Although he hopes to get six packs for less than $1.00 a piece.)

That's not too out of line for him, though. He prefers Coke, and I know I've seen him go through a 24-can case in three days. At work. And he already has a 'Purchased Tracks' list of about 500...

TylerL

Feb 15, 2004, 01:01 AM

The grocery stores around me (Northwest Chicago Suburbs) all have .5 Liter and 24oz bottles. No 20oz :(

RedStar

Feb 15, 2004, 02:06 AM

No luck finding the iTunes bottles here in S.D.
I also see the Lakers promotion here too.

wdlove

Feb 15, 2004, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by BigJayhawk

[b]HERE ARE THE DETAILS ON HOW TO WIN EVERY TIME -- IT IS SO EASY!

This is the pattern for a LOSER:

PLEASE
PLAY
AGAIN

This is the pattern for a WINNER:

XXXXX
XXXXX
ONE FREE
SONG

Notice the Following:

There are 3 lines to a LOSER, and FOUR for a WINNER

Only the WINNER has a bottom line with FOUR LETTERS

The LONG LINE (ONE FREE) sticks out to the side more than any line on a losing cap.

Once you know what to look for when tilting them, you can pick a WINNER EVERY TIME.

In fact, my wife swears that her eyesight is good enough that she could ACTUALLY READ the ONE FREE SONG part of the WINNING CAPS. So how's that for easy. Just need to find a WELL LIT, but RELATIVELY UNOCCUPIED soda isle at a store with a good price and YOU'RE SET!
B]

This past week at a local Deli I gave that very suggestion a try. Decided to risk embarrassment, because I did have sever young high school girls watching.

I'm not as lucky as your wife to be endowed with great eyesight. The light gray is difficult for me to visualize. I did get one winner out of three though. So next week I will give the 3 lines versus 4 a try.

BigJayhawk

Feb 15, 2004, 03:19 PM

I'm right there with you on the poor eyesight thing.

Just looking for the WORDS, I was not able to pull it off either. It is definitely the PATTERNS (especially the FOUR-LETTER WORD on bottom and the LONG-LINE in the middle) that does it for me.

~Shard~

Feb 15, 2004, 04:00 PM

Wow, you guys are sure putting a lot of effort into this - it IS just a free song.... ;) :p

bankshot

Feb 15, 2004, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by avus
I live in LA too, and have purchased 5 special 32-oz Big Gulp cups past week, and none of them were winners :( BTW, I've filled them with non-Pepsi products - I wonder if the odd of winning for Big Gulp is lower than the Pepsi bottle cap's?

I think the odds are the same. I'm at 4 for 15 right now with 7-Eleven cups - just one off from even with the odds. I won with my first cup, then went 0 for the next 6... so I've been trying to catch up since then. ;) Until you get a lot of cups, you can probably expect a lot of random fluctuations relative to the odds.

While I'm definitely not going for the 200 song limit, I'm hoping to get enough to buy an album or two before it all ends (so far I've bought one song, but after that all the music I want is complete albums). Instead of buying a couple of cans of soda at work ($0.50 each) and a drink at lunch, I've been getting a cup on the way to work and one at lunch. Sometimes also one on the way home. :p For the most part though, I'm not spending any more than usual, so I figure I'm coming out ahead overall.

BigJayhawk

Feb 15, 2004, 04:11 PM

We're putting the effort in for the fun (and to support Apple). The payoff, however, is the "free song" (or TWENTY-FOUR "free songs" in my case).

kylos

Feb 15, 2004, 04:47 PM

Haven't bought anything at itms (no credit card and dialup).

Bought a winning pepsi a week ago (only itunes promotion i bought). I haven't been able to enter the code 'cuz itunes won't validate my account without a cc. What's up with that?

BigJayhawk

Feb 15, 2004, 05:15 PM

It sure is becoming a cresit card world! Well, at least you can get DEBIT CARDS and use those. (In fact, a PayPal Debit Card gives INSTANT 1 1/2% cash back on all purchases.)

The Paypal is a thought if you have a way to fund it in the first place.

Whatever you do, don't let the iTunes Winning Code go to waste! You could always email it to me! heh!

Sir_Giggles

Feb 15, 2004, 07:00 PM

Poll: Have you tried winning at the Pepsi-iTunes giveaway?

By not falling for corporate greed and being duped into drinking fatty, sugared water, I've already won.

Thanks! (cheers from crowd)

SiliconAddict

Feb 15, 2004, 11:57 PM

I'm on a DIEt so unless Evian start their own iTunes giveaway I'm SOL. *shrugs* its a buck. Not the end of the world.

avus

Feb 16, 2004, 01:53 AM

Originally posted by Sir_Giggles
By not falling for corporate greed and being duped into drinking fatty, sugared water, I've already won.

Thanks! (cheers from crowd)

Boy, why do Americans go between two extremes, either becoming an addict for the product, or condemning it with such a self-righteous manner?

GPChrome

Feb 16, 2004, 02:25 AM

Bottles have been tough to come by in LA, but there's enough 7-11's around here to make up for that. I'm running even, three wins to three losses.

~Shard~

Feb 16, 2004, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by avus
Boy, why do Americans go between two extremes, either becoming an addict for the product, or condemning it with such a self-righteous manner?

How do you know he's in America? Odds are he is I suppose, but aren't you jumping to conclusions a little bit, and generalizing by saying that Americans always do this? ;)

Also, maybe the whole "corporate greed" thing is a bit much, but as for the "fatty, sugared water", I think that's putting it mildly and isn't an extreme statement at all! :cool: