On occasion, we have seen companies offering specialized options for fans of their products. M&M’s has options for selecting color choices and even personalized words and images on the candies, while Lays Potato Chips a few years ago invited snackers to create new flavors, with an option to even design the bag. Sometimes, these offers that allow the public to put the “custom” in the word customer can deliver problems.
Usually, these promotions have built-in auto-approve software that limits selections so that offensive, vulgar, copyrighted, or other types of unacceptable options cannot be made. The Coca-Cola Company has a current promotion where drinkers can design a customized can with a select name or phrase printed on the label and have it delivered to their home or office. It has been discovered the company may have revealed its political leanings through this offer.
At the…