McDonalds Cheddar Melt - Failure Museum

McDonald’s Cheddar Melt

Launched in 1987 as an adult burger, McDonald's Cheddar Melt had a beef patty, grilled onions, and cheddar cheese sauce on a rye bun. The burger had limited mass appeal since it didn't feel like a classic burger, it didn't pair naturally with fries ...

McRib Sandwich - Failure Museum

McRib

Launched in 1981 and discontinued in 1985, McRib was launched as a response to a chicken shortage for McNuggets. Many people tried it once but most didn't come back for another since it was too sweet, too sloppy, and had a weird texture. Plus it r ...

Wonder Sauna Hot Pants - Failure Museum

Wonder Sauna Hot Pants

Launched in 1971, Wonder Sauna Hot Pants were an inflatable product designed to be worn to produce a "sauna" effect, with the aim of melting fat while the wearer simply sat. Instead of cutting calories or hitting the gym - just "wear these hot pants ...

Moxion Power - Failure Museum

Moxion Power

Moxion Power raised $126M to replace diesel generators - used in construction sites, live events, film sets - with clean mobile battery-powered energy storage units. However, they aggressively ramped up production and headcount, as well as committe ...

Time Bomb Game - Failure Museum

Time Bomb Game

Launched in 1964, the Milton Bradley Time Bomb game involved passing around a toy "bomb" on a timer until it clicked. However, parents weren't comfortable with violent themes, the game novelty wore off fast for kids, and the timer mechanism sometime ...

Presto Burger - Failure Museum

Presto Burger

Launched in 1974, the Presto Burger was a small, electric hamburger cooker marketed as a "mini-appliance" designed to cook a hamburger quickly (in about a minute) with minimal mess. However, grease spattered everywhere, the device frequently produc ...

Hot Dogger - Failure Museum

Presto Hot Dogger

Launched in 1974, the Presto Hot Dogger was an electric hot dog cooker that could cook several hot dogs at once by electrifying metal prongs that pierced the ends of each hot dog - essentially using electricity to heat the meat directly. However, ma ...

McDonuts - Failure Museum

McDonuts

McDonuts were launched in the late 1980s and discontinued in the early 1990s. McDonald's was known for burgers, fries, and breakfast sandwiches, not bakery goods. Customers didn't associate the brand with fresh donuts like they did with Dunkin' or ...

Tarzan - Failure Museum

Rad Repeatin’ Tarzan Action Figure (1999)

In 1999 Mattel launched the Rad Repeatin' Tarzan action figure to tie in with Disney's animated film Tarzan. The 12-inch electronic figure could move its arm and repeat phrases when you pressed a button. It came with Tarzan's signature jungle yell ...

Bindeez - Failure Museum

Bindeez

In 2007, Bindeez were beads that stick together with water to make art.  It contained a cheap chemical that was a pharmacologically active sedative instead of the safer chemical specified by the designers.  Several kids went into comas after swallow ...