Coke's conspiracy against tap water

[KamaAina]

http://jimhightower.com/node/8193#.Up5KiuL_5ZZ

Coca-Cola is running a stealth advertising campaign.

Stealth? Why would a corporation as ad-dependent as Coke spend big bucks on advertising that it doesn't want consumers to notice? Shhhh – because the campaign is a surreptitious ploy to enlist restaurants in a marketing conspiracy that targets you, your children, and – of course – your wallet.

Coke calls its covert gambit "Cap the Tap," urging restaurateurs to stop offering plain old tap water to customers: "Every time your business fills a cup or glass with tap water, it pours potential profits down the drain." Cap the Tap can put a stop to that, says Coke, "by teaching [your] crew members or waitstaff suggestive selling techniques to convert requests for tap water into orders for revenue-generating beverages."

The program provides a guide for restaurant managers who would direct Coke's customer assault, a backroom poster to remind waitstaff "when and how to suggestively sell beverages," and a participant's guide to put "suggestive selling" foremost in mind as staff confronts the enemy… uh, I mean customers. Tactics include outflanking those recalcitrant customers who insist on water. Just switch the sales pitch to bottled water – remember, Coca-Cola also owns Dasani, one of the top-selling brands of bottled water in the US.

[Bennyboy]

1. and Dasani IS TAP WATER!

Atlanta. Bottled with less regulation and oversight than tap water too.....

They won't get me, I never ever order a beverage, I drink water with all my meals..... (Well hot wings and beer don't really count as meals do they?)

[Avalux]

4. So is Aquafina - from Houston tap water.

It really boggles my mind how people have been brainwashed into thinking they HAVE to buy bottled water (no matter the source!!).

[KamaAina]

5. It gets better. Some of the brands out here are from springs in SoCal

notably Arrowhead.

So at this moment, while Jerry Brown is pondering his $30 billion tunnel to ship your water to SoCal, there is a tractor-trailer headed north on (the) 5 bringing their water to you!

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Restauranteurs, be aware

that if any of your waitstaff employ 'suggestive selling' techniques to sell Coke products, I will never enter your establishment again.

[Vashta Nerada]

3. What's Coke going to do if I order milk?

That's profits not going to Coke.

This is ridiculous.

[KamaAina]

6. Go them one better

order milk and Pepsi!

[Glassunion]

7. I'd hardly call it a conspiracy. More of a marketing technique.

Up-selling is nothing new and happens everywhere. It's good for business.