10 Infamous Product Failures from the ’90s
Here's a look back at the most notorious product flops that defined the '90s for all the wrong reasons.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Innovation was booming in the 1990s, but not most of the ideas were successful. Even large corporations make mistakes, as seen by these notorious product failures, which range from tech catastrophes to odd branding. Whether it was a combination of odd marketing, lousy design, or bad timing, these failures left a lasting impression.
1. New Coke II (a.k.a. Coke II)
Eric Schmuttenmaer on Flickr
Trying to win back fans after the original New Coke debacle, Coca-Cola rebranded the failed drink as “Coke II.” Consumers didn’t buy it — literally. The taste was still off, and people just wanted their classic Coke back.
2. Apple Newton
Felix Winkelnkemper on Wikimedia Commons
Apple’s early attempt at a personal digital assistant was ambitious but buggy. Handwriting recognition was its key feature, but it rarely worked well.
3. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
PatrickRich on Flickr
Marketed as a “grown-up” burger, the Arch Deluxe failed to resonate with adults or kids. McDonald’s poured millions into ads, only to find no one really wanted a gourmet fast food burger.
4. Pepsi AM
Tatsnorad on Wikimedia Commons
Caffeine-packed Pepsi in a can, meant to compete with coffee? That was the idea behind Pepsi AM. Released in 1989 and disappearing shortly after into the ’90s, it never caught on.
5. Crystal Pepsi
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Clear cola with no caffeine and a “healthier” image, Crystal Pepsi was eye-catching — but not in a good way. Consumers were confused by the look and underwhelmed by the taste.
6. Microsoft Bob
microsoft on Wikimedia Commons
Microsoft’s attempt to simplify computing with a cartoonish interface fell flat. It featured a virtual assistant named “Bob” and was meant to make PCs more friendly.
7. Coors Rocky Mountain Spring Water
Jay Miller on Unsplash
Coors thought its brand name could sell bottled water. It couldn’t. People were confused — was it beer or not? Without a clear identity, this water product quickly evaporated from the shelves.
8. Harley-Davidson Perfume
Badis Benkhelil on Pexels
When the motorcycle icon launched a cologne, fans scratched their heads. The rugged brand didn’t translate well into personal fragrance. Neither bikers nor average shoppers embraced the scent.
9. Nintendo Virtual Boy
Christo on Wikimedia Commons
This clunky 3D gaming system promised immersive play — but delivered headaches. The red-and-black graphics were disorienting, and the setup was awkward.
10. Orbitz Soda
Scott Schiller on Flickr
Floating gelatin balls in a clear soda bottle made Orbitz look like a science experiment. People were intrigued — until they tasted it. The texture was off-putting, and the flavors were strange.