I kinda sorta remember this playing out in the USA Today.

Short documentary about the kid (20 year old) who figured out how to collect enough Pepsi Points in the 90’s to redeem for the advertised Harrier Jet.

Binged four 40-minute episodes last night. A few thoughts:

- I didn’t hate the dude like I thought I would.

- Cindy Crawford may be more beautiful at 56 years old than she was “hot” in her 20’s. Wow.

- Pepsi f’d up multiple times but a billion dollar company is given a LOT of grace from the media, the courts, and even the government.

It reminded me of the 80’s when I’d play Mountain Dew blackjack. (Your “card” would be stenciled into the bottom of the can after you drank it)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ronin1069,

- I didn’t hate the dude like I thought I would.

- Cindy Crawford may be more beautiful at 56 years old than she was “hot” in her 20’s. Wow.

- Pepsi f’d up multiple times but a billion dollar company is given a LOT of grace from the media, the courts, and even the government.

I agree on all those points. He was just another goofy teenager, motivated by an extra buck in his pocket.

And don't forget, Pepsi in the early 90s had the 6th largest navy in the world. The Cola Wars ended at the same time. Coincidence???

Thought the show was fun to watch. **Spoiler Alert** I was disappointed he didn't the jet.

I don't know the law.

To me, it was obvious the Harrier offer was a joke.

There was no disclaimer.

I think the kid should have won the case, maybe not actually be given the Harrier but there should have been just compensation.

The judge's ruling was a joke.

I didn't take it that the offer of a Harrier was a joke. I wish the case had gone to a trial by jury. I think there might have been a different outcome.

I remember doing the math back then with my fellow junior accounts and deciding the jet was out of reach, but we didn’t know you could by the points for cheap though. Even then, we wouldn’t have been able to come up with the money.

Good on the guy for giving it a shot. Top Gun, Iron Eagle who didn’t want their own fighter jet back then? I’ve watched the first episode and will probably watch the rest because I like David vs. Goliath stories.

I enjoyed it and it was well done and edited.

SEMISPOILER:

It was also a good demonstration of what can happen when you roll the dice on going to court versus taking a firm offer up front.

The plaintiff, Leonard, got shafted. Things would have gone a lot differently if it went to trial, even if it were a bench trial instead of jury trial. Pepsico didn't want to go to deposition and be forced to air their dirty laundry.

The best part of the series for me was the middle of Ep4 when the former Creative Director of Pepsi's ad agency assigned to the commercial campaign said he wanted to "set the record straight."

******Minor Spoiler Alert******
The ad men originally drew up & filmed rough cuts of the commercial w/ 700,000,000 points for the Harrier jet, but it was Pepsi execs who balked to the number and thought 700,000 looked better on screen. The ad agency gave their client what they wanted.

I liked the doc. It's a reminder that in the court of law, the side that can afford better representation and is better connected overwhelmingly prevails.

If you care to read the legal summary,
https://law.justia.com/cases/f...upp2/88/116/2579076/