Previously: Drink Coke, Support Attrition

After a frustrating day at the coke web site (mycokerewards.com which leads to another server/domain), I finally got all the FAQs and rules to load. Frustrating because the site is poorly written, the pages randomly 404, inputing codez or entering the daily contests error out frequently. Add to that the codes are not always 100% legible on the bottles and boxes.

Anyway, after a little math, I see that this loyalty reward program is a complete scam! Here are a few key rules:

http://mcr.us.icoke.com/rules.do

   1. The Program begins at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on February 27,
   2006 and is scheduled to end at 12:00 p.m. ET on January 15, 2007

   The Website will indicate whether there is an active Double Points
   period in effect.

   3. Codes can only be used 1 time. Limit: 10 valid codes per Account, per
   day (12:00 p.m. ET through 11:59 a.m. ET). However, if an Enrollee
   enters 20 invalid codes before entering 10 valid codes, Enrollee will be
   unable to enter any more codes for that day.

   Enrollees may not combine codes obtained by others for deposit into a
   single Enrollees account, nor transfer, sell, or otherwise dispose of
   codes in any manner in violation or attempted subversion of these Terms
   and Conditions. Any attempt to combine or transfer codes or points will
   result in disqualification from the Program and forfeiture of all points
   in any Enrollees Account.

   9. Enrollees must save the bottle cap, product packaging, and/or
   promotional item with official code for at least 90 days after the date
   Enrollee redeems an item online, as it may be necessary to submit it
   later for verification.

   3. The Program is provided to individuals only. Corporations,
   associations or other groups may not participate in the Program.

Cliff notes: You alone, not a group/company/assocation must enter the contest. You have 322 days to input codes, but only 10 codes a day. That is 100 points a day max, for 32,220 points total. So the 20,000 point TV and the rewards for 24,000+ seem feasible. Until you see that you can't combine codes from other people, and must keep the physical cap/box with the code for 90 days after prize redemption.

In short, they think that a single person can purchase and presumably consume *2,000* fridge packs of coke in 322 days? If you can drink 74.5 cans of coke per day, every day, for the entire duration of the contest, then you have a chance of getting that prize.

Does Coca-cola realize it has implemented a loyalty program that baits people into participating, but won't actually give out the rewards because it isn't possible as outlined in the rules? Is this a cheap gimmick or corporate oversight? I'd like to find out. I'm still aiming to get codes from the masses.. but now, instead of a nice TV as a generous reward for eight years of indentured servitude, it is likely going to be a chance to write a scathing article about corporate lies and the reality of such loyalty reward programs. If I get 20,000 points (which is only now possible if they carry through with the 'double point' days), will they actually part with said TV? Let's find out.

Sep 20 update: One woman's crusade against this scam