muffincident

Monday, July 31, 2006

Sunkist Self-Esteem Caps

I saved the cap from a Sunkist 20 oz. bottle I drank this weekend because it had a sweepstakes code on it, and every once and awhile that'll get you a free song download or something like that. I was not hoping for the grand prize of "rocking out with my entourage, MTV live and a free band," because I'm pretty sure MTV live would find both my entourage and the fact that I'd pick a Billy Joel concert as quite weird. So I went to the Sunkist website and entered my 15 digit code, and received this reply:

"Sorry, but the Code GBQMGBBGBBX9GTM isn’t a winner. But you’re still a winner on the inside."

Does Sunkist think I'm so off my rocker that they need to give my self-esteem a boost after not winning a free music download? Apparently the Sunkist theory is that if I lose this contest involving no skill aside from purchasing/opening the bottle I will immediately jump to the conclusion that I am a worthless loser. But thank God I'm still a winner on the inside according to a website that has had no contact with me whatsoever.

I appreciate the little nod to me, the little pat on the back, but I'd like it much better if they used a response similar to Coca-Cola's - "Drink Coke - Play Again". They never straight out tell you that you lose. It's like a doctor's voice trailing off on a TV show to indicate a patient's dead. Not to mention the subtle suggestion to buy more chances to win. Sunkist doesn't make me feel this need to play again, because you know what? I'm already a winner on the inside.