r/explainlikeimfive • u/bigdubsy • Dec 16 '12

ELI5: Why does Coca-cola still advertise? Explained

Why do companies that have seemingly maxed out on brand recognition still spend so much money on advertising? There is not a person watching TV who doesn't know about Pepsi/Coke. So it occurs to me that they cannot increase the awareness of their product or bring new customers to the product. Without creating new customers, isn't advertisement a waste of money?

I understand that they need to advertise new products, but oftentimes, it's not a new product featured in a TV commercial.

The big soda companies are the best example I can think of.

Edit: Answered. Thanks everyone!

Edit 2: Thanks again to everybody for the discussions! I learned alot more than I expected. If we weren't all strangers on the internet, I'd buy everyone a Pepsi.

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18

u/onceforgoton Dec 17 '12

No, most pills do actually taste absolutely horrible if you chew them. That's because pills weren't meant to be chewed, so why waste money finding ingredients that taste good and still provide the chemical properties you need?

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u/JakeCameraAction Dec 17 '12

Then why does cough syrup still taste like you're rimjobbing a giant toad?

4

u/Shadow647 Dec 17 '12

I dunno, cough syrups over here taste like Jagermeister.

1

u/Zwiseguy15 Jan 07 '13

over where?

1

u/Shadow647 Jan 07 '13

Northern Europe

4

u/[deleted] Dec 17 '12

To prevent overconsumption of it which can either make you puke your guts out because of the Guaifenesin in it or tripping thanks to the DXM in it.

1

u/r16d Dec 17 '12

they don't care about you vomiting from overconsumption. guaifenesin can cause aneurysms.

1

u/Species7 Dec 17 '12

Source? I know DXM can cause Seratonin Syndrome/Storm, but I've never heard of Guaifenesin being dangerous due to aneurysm. I thought it was more likely to cause dehydration in an overdose.

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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '12

Because OTC (and most prescription cough syrup) can get you high.

6

u/Esparno Dec 17 '12

They add stuff to make it harder to drink/make you puke so people don't abuse the stuff. You can get really high from Dextromethorphan.

7

u/0sseus Dec 17 '12

I've drank enough robotussin that I can now just imagine artificial cherry flavor and my appetite will vanish.

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u/tomtom5858 Dec 17 '12

Sounds as though you have no problems losing weight.

3

u/much_longer_username Dec 17 '12

This is the correct answer. It intentionally tastes bad.

1

u/skaarup75 Dec 17 '12

TIL rimjobbing a giant toad tastes quite nice.

0

u/onceforgoton Dec 17 '12

Lmao. I'm sure they try to mask it as best they can. Sometimes the stuff you need in it just tastes terrible.

0

u/Guru6969 Dec 18 '12

I actually don't mind the taste of cough syrup anymore, I'm assuming you're still a little kid?

I sometimes drink pomegranate juice with vodka and find it tastes very similar to generic cough medicine.

2

u/BrokenSea Dec 17 '12

It also stops children thinking they are lollies - so they don't eat them and die.

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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '12

I've had caffeine that comes in powder and capsulated in gelatin (not sure what its called in english). First I thought the capsule was plastic so I removed the shell and put the caffeine powder on my tongue (guessing it is almost only caffeine?) and the taste was so bitter I couldn't believe it.