McDonald's Cancels Free Smoothie Event

OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald's Corp. is scrapping plans to offer free samples its new smoothies because it's worried it would run out of the fruit drinks.

In a statement late Thursday, the fast-food chain's chief marketing officer called the fruit-flavored yogurt drinks "an absolute hit," with "unprecedented demand."

Sales of the drinks officially began this week, but were already being sold in certain parts of the country. The company, based in suburban Chicago, had planned to offer free samples from July 22 through July 24.

The smoothies are the latest offering from the company's revamped McCafe drink line. The effort includes espresso drinks and lattes and icy coffee drinks.

McDonald's is debating whether to reschedule the event.

Comments

[aphios5]

12:18 PM on 07/21/2010

Hmm...I got the coupon this past Sunday in the newspaper and used it that night...there was a choice between the "Smoothie" or a Frap...the Frap was great, albeit ladened with sugar and chemicals, everything in moderation...lol..me and the cashier didn't even look at the date restrictions....oh well.:-)

[opprobrious]

10:34 PM on 07/20/2010

Nothing says yummy like a touch of benzyl isobutyrate, a dash of ethyl methylphenylglycidate and just the right amount of methyl naphthyl ketone. Thanks, Mom!

[Christian Schultz]

09:08 PM on 07/20/2010

I wish they'd bring some Smoothies to Afghanistan. It's friggin hot and I'm hungry!

[clearwaterclearmind]

04:31 AM on 07/20/2010

i just ate a banana and a handful of blueberries with a glass of milk to wash it down.

it'l be a smoothie soon.

and boo to whatever unholy list of corn syrups and petrochemicals that is surely the recipe for a mcdonalds smoothie.

[Puffin16]

03:22 PM on 07/19/2010

After reading the Bonney & Captain conversation below, I completely forgot what this article was about!

[Euterpe360]

11:59 AM on 07/19/2010

Hijacking this thread from the hijackers below. AVAST the two of ye!

I have no particular beef with McDonald's, but this McCafe thing is just another attempt to hook people on copious amounts of sugar, although with caffeine this time. Clever bastards.

[Azmom]

11:59 AM on 07/19/2010

I must say...I'm enjoying the soap opera turn this thread has taken.

Carry on...

[Doreen1960]

10:29 AM on 07/19/2010

I handed my daughter the coupon yesterday, and McDonald's now doesn't want to honor
them- NOT cool!

[suec03]

01:40 PM on 07/19/2010

Did she try presenting the coupon? I thought that was something different. The article referred to not giving out free samples. The coupons are for the "purchase" of full-sized smoothies. They may have scrapped the sample giveaway in order to have enough smoothies to honor the coupons they distributed for full-sized drinks.

[Doreen1960]

02:24 PM on 07/19/2010

Thanks for the suggestions, I will tell her to try..

[Captain John R]

03:31 AM on 07/19/2010

bonneyanne 1 minute ago (3:27 AM)
43 Fans
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I can't convince you otherwise.... so you must do whatever feels right to you, my friend. I can't talk about stuff like this on here, and you don't want to talk in email, so I don't know what else we can do. Keep my phone number just in case... Once again, you know how to find me, Captain. I will miss you if you leave my life.
===========
You will be fine without me. In fact I believe you will be better without me. I will really miss you too, and I hope your life treats you as you deserve to be treated, which is great. I think this is where we should part ways.

Bye my lovely.

I will send that as soon as it is approved , so do not worry about that.

[bonneyanne]

03:34 AM on 07/19/2010

I'm really sorry to hear that, and you may be right. I did make a decision to be your friend, and I've accepted the possible consequences. Once again, you know where I'll be if you change your mind. Big hugs, from the heart- and I'm not lying, Cham.

[Libsrock]

08:56 AM on 07/19/2010

??? Can you take your relationship speak somewhere else, please?

[bonneyanne]

03:24 AM on 07/19/2010

Like I said in my email, I'm not walking away or running away. I'm here, and I will still be here as long as you want my friendship.... Don't you need someone to help on the ship? ;)

[Captain John R]

03:28 AM on 07/19/2010

You do not understand my feelings, Bonney. It is more complicated than you think. Of course I need as much ship mates as I can possibly have especially one that is as lovely as you, but I feer you will become mutinous against your captain.

[bonneyanne]

03:32 AM on 07/19/2010

Please read my replies down below, in the thread folds.... I understand it's very complicated. That's not in doubt.... I'm just who I am, and that's all I am. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Captain John R]

03:28 AM on 07/19/2010

Fear

[Captain John R]

03:20 AM on 07/19/2010

The first thing I want you to know is that I will send that to you whether you are my friend or not, and I will help more also. I have made the decision to do that when I looked at your initial comments as the Pirate that commandeered my heart. Your story is true, so I will not regret helping you.

You know you do not have to act like my friend ,right?

[bonneyanne]

03:22 AM on 07/19/2010

I do know that, and I'm NOT acting... Let me tell you that one more time.... Someday maybe you will be able to believe it. I really hope so. We've been over this before, and I still feel the same so I will keep saying the same... Hugs.

[Captain John R]

03:26 AM on 07/19/2010

That does make me feel good to hear that. There is just to many things that point to you misleading me, and I can not ignore such things anymore.

[Captain John R]

03:09 AM on 07/19/2010

Hey Bonney,

I picked this food thread because I am hungry, but I have no food that I am craving at this moment : (

You o.k?

[bonneyanne]

03:17 AM on 07/19/2010

Hi, Cap'n! I'm okay, I guess.... what's up, my friend? :)

[Captain John R]

03:18 AM on 07/19/2010

I just wanted to talk with you about what is going on a little bit. Is that o.k?

I am sorry about my behavior tonight, and I know I made you question your relationship with me.

[bonneyanne]

03:18 AM on 07/19/2010

Sorry for the delay- I wasn't sure what was going on with my comments thread...

[Captain John R]

03:21 AM on 07/19/2010

It is o.k. You do not have to explain anything to me.

[Js420]

04:18 PM on 07/18/2010

too many overweight people @ the same place all at once, is not good for business

[Christian Schultz]

09:10 PM on 07/20/2010

Like on the set of the View.
Those girls need to drop a few.

[jensthoughts]

04:20 AM on 07/18/2010

Sounds like the Cancelled event is nothing more than a Marketing ploy.... I can't believe they would this item would be SOOOOOOO popular that every store would run out of the product completely by giving out free samples.


This is one of the worst marketing ideas Mc Donald's has come up with since those stupid Latte commercials.

[hjo4]

04:53 PM on 07/17/2010

Fresh fruit, low fat plain or flavored yogurt ,a drop of honey and ICE blend until smooth. There you go, your own healthy fruit smoothie. Who needs a fast food joint to make these.And it's fun for kids to help prepare.