Mr. Pibb
So, the other day, I went into McDonald’s to get a bite for lunch. As I was on my way there, I started thinking that I’d really like to have a Dr. Pepper with my Big Mac, although I couldn’t remember if McDonald’s has Dr. Pepper. I don’t drink Dr. Pepper very often, but once in a while it’s just the thing.
So, I get there, and I while I’m waiting in line, I check out the soft drink selection, and notice that they don’t have Dr. Pepper, they only have Mr. Pibb. Now, I realize that there are Dr. Pepper snobs who won’t touch Mr. Pibb, but I think Mr. Pibb may actually be even better, although of course I respect that Dr. Pepper is the original, and realize that Mr. Pibb is just a ripoff. So and but anyway I do like Mr. Pibb just fine in any case, and like I say maybe even more than Dr. Pepper.
But there’s just one problem. This McDonald’s is not the sort of fast-food joint that has self-serve beverage selection. If I want a Mr. Pibb, I’m going to have to actually ask for Mr. Pibb, by name, when I place my order. I’m not even halfway through the line before I realize that this will be simply impossible. No matter how tasty and refreshing it might be, I just cannot bring myself to say “Yes, I would like a Mr. Pibb, please” to the nice teenager behind the counter. Again, I would happily drink the stuff if I could fill my own cup from a tap, or buy it from a vending machine, or even off the shelf at a store. But something in me fills with shame at the idea of asking for it by name, and balks at saying “Mr. Pibb” out loud, particularly to a stranger in public. It’s just to damn silly to live with, the idea that I would actually have to admit to drinking something called “Mr. Pibb”.
I ended up just getting a Coke.
I wonder if the Mr. Pibb people realize that this could be having an effect on sales.
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