The Lifestream of Jon Moss

Such A Thing As Too Viral?

January 18 2009, 12:41am

It appears there is indeed such a thing as too viral…especially when it concerns free food.

It seems as though a Carl’s Jr. online promotion for a free $2.75 “Famous Star” hamburger coupon went a little too viral. The Carpenteria-based chain promptly stopped honoring the couponsfor their franchise burger after what seemed like a harmless onlinepromotion was supersized by the net. During a promotion at a recent Los Angeles Lakers-New OrleansHornets game at the Staples Center in L.A., the 276 winning contestantswere texted a passcode and a 48-hour-only URL on the Lakers’ website,showing where they could download their free red meat. A day later, the URL and passcode spread faster than a Paris Hilton homemade porno. Hundredsof bargain-hunting websites posted the URL and passcode — promptingthe hamburger outlet to discontinue honoring them amid fears of a runon their burgers. “We’re wanting things to go viral, just not free offers,” said BethMansfield, a Carl’s Jr. spokeswoman. She said that was the first, andlikely the last, time the chain would give out free burgers that way.

From: Wired News