“From Disasters to Duds: The Failed Products That Tanked Giants’ Fortunes”
Believe it or not, the product did well at first, selling over 25 million bottles in six years. In 2006, sales declined, and EZ Squirt Ketchup left the market. It’s unlikely that we will see colorful ketchup again.
The Exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Samsung is a reputable company with successful products. But in 2017, disaster struck. Hundreds of their new Galaxy Note 7 devices overheated and caught on fire. News articles erupted with headlines of “exploding” phones. The company spent $5.3 billion to recall all of the phones.
According to the company, the design and manufacturing ruined the product. The phone’s insulation did not meet safety requirements. Samsung took responsibility for its flaming phones, but it lost many customers’ trust with this product.
Remember Clippy?
Some people look back on Clippy fondly, but the animated paperclip was not well-loved back in the day. Clippy was an AI assistant for Microsoft Office, released in 1996. In its five years of life, Clippy earned awards such as “One of the Worst UIs Ever Deployed” and “The Most Annoying Software Bug.”
Microsoft didn’t only annoy users with Clippy’s constant suggestions. They also refused to listen to feedback, and they made few changes to the program.
McDonald’s Most Expensive Flop, The Arch Deluxe Burger
McDonald’s has tested many failed products throughout the years, but the Arch Deluxe was their biggest flop. The Arch Deluxe was supposed to cater to “grown-up taste,” instead of the “kid’s taste” of a Happy Meal. To date, it was one of the most expensive advertising campaigns in America, with over $300 million down the gutter.
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