« AirFork One | Home | Dome Security 'Camera' »
July 14, 2009
Energy Shots v NoDoz: Bulky, inconvenient, 20 times more expensive — and selling like hotcakes
I was confounded when I read William Neuman's July 10, 2009 New York Times article about the skyrocketing sales of 5-Hour Energy and its ilk.
Long story short: At $3 (or more) for a 2-ounce shot, they cost 20 times as much as Coca-Cola – and they taste terrible.
So why the huge popularity?
Ostensibly because they contain about as much caffeine in each shot as a cup of coffee (about 80–175mg).
But wait a minute: NoDoz, that relic from the mid-20th century, contains 200mg of caffeine/caplet — and a box of 60 costs $7.99
That's 13 cents apiece.
Same drug, much cheaper, far more portable, easier to swallow — I don't get it.
I mean, sure, Living Essentials (the maker of 5-Hour Energy) expects to spend $60 million this year alone on TV advertising, while NoDoz might as well not exist, it's so invisible in the media.
But it still makes no sense.
One more thing.
Look at the photo that heads this post: see that bottle of Decaf 5-Hour Energy in the front row?
Why bother?
July 14, 2009 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c5dea53ef011571f9ebb0970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Energy Shots v NoDoz: Bulky, inconvenient, 20 times more expensive — and selling like hotcakes:
Comments
I've never had one of the 'shots', but I'm usually thirsty at the same time I need an extra kick.
Posted by: Rocketboy | Jul 14, 2009 1:09:30 PM
Wow, I'd probably buy a jar of skunk urine if it had a revolving red light on top! Great idea.
It's probably been done; I'm outta touch....
Posted by: Flautist | Jul 14, 2009 10:08:40 AM
the no-doz packaging does not do the job it looks like a box of laxative pills
the dopes that buy those energy shots buy them at the quickie mart where in their freaky neon glory they grab their attention
take the No-Doze put it in a purple neon vial with a revolving redlight on top and sell twice as many, also sell it in liquid form
I bet if they sold tylenol in "shots" they would sell more of that too
Posted by: Fritz | Jul 14, 2009 9:14:15 AM
There are a lot of things that can wake one up without caffeine...that stuff makes me wired but sick and I can't think straight.
That said, I have plenty of EXTREME friends that use this stuff as if their lives depended on it...Me? I'm just going to get rich selling my ProRiterAll...ya take the best ADHD drugs, grind them up in a mortar and pestle, throw in a little cinnamon and baking soda and mix it all with granulated sugar like the adult version of Pixie Sticks. What? There is already an established adult Pixie Sticks? And it keeps you wired even longer??? And you can get all your household chores done in just two hours? Someone sign me up!
Posted by: clifyt | Jul 14, 2009 9:05:41 AM
