Dr. Pepper has been hiding coins in strange places, including 347-year-old Granary Burying Ground in Boston that houses the remains of many of the nation’s most prominent forefathers.
According to The Boston Globe:
After discovering another unconventional marketing campaign gone awry, angry Boston officials locked the cemetery grounds yesterday, fearing that the landmark cemetery would be damaged by overeager contestants seeking to win the North American top prize of $1 million. Their action frustrated dozens of people who had unraveled clues over the past month and were waiting to get in to seize the booty.
Cadbury Schweppes PLC, which makes Dr Pepper, canceled the Boston portion of the 23-city coin hunt promotion yesterday after acknowledging it had stashed the coin, in a leather pouch, amid the remains of Samuel Adams , John Hancock , Paul Revere , and other historic figures.
“It absolutely is disrespectful,” said Boston Parks Commissioner Toni Pollak. “It’s an affront to the people who are buried there, our nation’s ancestors.”
Dr. Pepper has announced the end of their “Hunt for More” promotion, despite no problems reported in other cities.
The promotion, executed by Circle One Marketing of Norwalk, Conn., involved purchasing specially marked bottles with codes printed on the underside of the caps or behind labels. The codes could then entered into the brand’s promotional web site for clues leading to the location of the coins.
After the 30th and final clue in the Boston hunt was released, Tuesday at 3 a.m., within minutes, dozens of people were camped out in front of the cemetery, waiting for it to open, according to contestants who said they were there.
[via USA Today’s On Deadline]