This startup company offered users a juicer that used single serving pre-packaged packets of fruits and vegetables, made exclusively by them, that the machine turned into juice. The Juicero connected to wi-fi and before each use, the packet’s barcode had to be scanned and approved. The company claimed this was to ensure freshness, but many believed it was so that you would have to purchase only their packets, which cost between $5 and $8 each.
The company raised a lot of money at first, but when claims surfaced that you could squeeze the packets with your hands and get the same results, people stopped buying the expensive juice maker. The product launched in 2016, but by 2017 they were finished, although they did manage to buy back the juicers sold.
Twitter Peek
In 2009, Twitter and technology company Peek Inc. released the Twitter Peek, a handheld device that let you tweet anywhere and didn’t even require wi-fi. The idea behind it, was a device for Twitter enthusiasts who didn’t have a smartphone, but do those even exist, and if so why would they pay nearly $200 for this product?
The worst part is that the device only displayed 20-character previews of tweets, and reading the whole thing was quite complicated. This frustrated users to no end and they gave the Twitter Peek a hard pass. By 2012, the company cut off all the support to this product. The only surprise is that it took so long.
Cue Cat Barcode Scanner
In 1999, the Digital Convergence Corporation decided that what people who were reading a magazine really needed was a cat-shaped device that could help them find information about things that were of interest to them without actually typing in the URL. In order to do so, all you had to do was scan a barcode in the magazine, use a USB cable to plug the Cue Cat into your computer, and just like that, you would be directed to the correct web page.
Sounds simple, right, wrong. Users couldn’t understand why they needed this device and those that did use it, had to deal with privacy issues and a famous information breach. By 2001, codes were no longer generated for the scanner and by 2005, Cue Cats were being sold for 30 cents a pop just to get rid of them.
Keurig Kold
The veteran coffee and beverage company tried to expand their brand into the in-home soda machine company, but couldn’t make it work. In 2016, they launched the Keurig Kold, a machine that could make sparkling water, soda and other cold beverages. They offered users flavors from the Coca Cola Company, Dr. Pepper and Snapple.
The machine, however, was too expensive for what it was offering, retailing at $369, when SodaStream only cost $79. The pods they sold were also pricey, costing $3.99 to $4.99 for a pack of four, and each pod only made one glass of soda. Other complaints were that the machine was loud and that it took a long time for the beverages to cool. The Kold was pulled from the market in mid-2016.
Thirsty Cat! and Thirsty Dog!
It’s hard to believe, but someone thought it would be a good idea to make bottled water for cats and dogs, which as we all know lick themselves and drink from the toilet. The water was enriched with vitamins meant to promote healthy skin and thicker fur and came in two flavors, crispy beef for dogs and tangy fish for cats.
Pet owners didn’t see the point and weren’t willing to shell out the money for the flavored water. Others believed the product was a joke. Sales were low and after a short while Thirsty Cat! and Thirsty Dog! were removed from the shelves.