Launched in 1999, Hot Wheels and Barbie computers came with so many manufacturing issues that it drove the company out of business, with thousands of unfilled orders.
General Motors’ EV1
In 1996, General Motors introduced EV1 as the first mass-produced electric car. It was a big hit with consumers and environmentalists. However, six years after the release, General Motors recalled the model, claiming liability and spare parts problems, making quite a few people angry.
McDonald’s Mighty Wings
Launched in 2013, McDonald’s added Mighty Wings to their menu to lure in more customers. But this new addition failed to succeed. It is believed that the reason for this flop was price, insufficient taste and the appearance wasn’t appetizing enough. Mighty Wings lasted only a year in the market.
Corfam Shoes by DuPont
In 1964, DuPont launched Corfam shoes with synthetic leather. They were advertised as a much better alternative to leather shoes and managed to rustle up some excitement about their new product. However, these shoes flopped after people started complaining that the shoes were stiff and too hot for feet. It resulted in the company losing over $100 million.
Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino
Launched in 2017 and only on the market for 5 days, the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino used sweet pink powder, mango syrup, and sour blue drizzle to create the effect. The taste didn’t match the hype and disappointed many people, while the drinks was notoriously difficult for baristas to make.
Charmin Spacemaker
Launched in 1993, Charmin Spacemaker allowed you to squeeze toilet paper into half the space.
Green Works
Launched in 2008, Green Works were Clorox’s cleaning products. The products didn’t perform as well on grease or kill germs, while they contained environmentally toxic compounds and skin allergens. A class action lawsuit was filed alleging that the company deceptively labeled Green Works products to make consumers think they contained only natural ingredients. Surprisingly the products were sold at a premium to conventional cleaners, but consumers were not willing to pay more for them.
Thunder (Warriors Mascot)
Thunder debuted in 1997 as the Warriors mascot. It was a trampoline-bouncing, basketball-dunking, uniform-wearing superhero. Thunder was banished in 2008 when the Oklahoma City Thunder debuted.
Huddles (49ers Mascot)
The NFL created a line of plush dolls known as Huddles. A larger version of the 49ers Huddle the mascot during the 1980s. Since then the 49ers’ mascot has been Sourdough Sam.
Oral-B Brush-Ups
Launched in 2004 and discontinued in 2007, Oral-B Brush-Ups were not effective for cleaning teeth. Wiping teeth with a finger made it difficult to reach hard-to-access areas in the mouth. The market size was much smaller than expected since mostly only kids were comfortable putting their finger in their mouth to brush teeth.