Business

Biggest Product Flops in History

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Source:Community curated
Updated:4/9/2026
18/18
Product
Company
Launched
Killed
Est Loss (USD M)
Why It Failed
New Coke
Coca-Cola
19851,98534Replaced beloved original formula, triggered nationwide consumer backlash, pulled after 79 days
Ford Edsel
Ford Motor Company
19571,960350Ugly horse-collar grille, priced wrong for recession, overhyped marketing, poor build quality
Google Glass
Google
20132,015895Privacy backlash, Glasshole stigma, 1500 dollar price, limited battery, no killer app
Crystal Pepsi
PepsiCo
19921,99450Clear cola confused consumers, taste did not match expectations, fad novelty wore off fast
Juicero
Juicero Inc
20162,017120400 dollar press was unnecessary - Bloomberg showed hands squeezed the bag just as well
Microsoft Zune
Microsoft
20062,011289Arrived five years after iPod, brown color option, weak music store, no ecosystem
HP TouchPad
Hewlett-Packard
20112,011885Killed after 49 days, webOS had no apps, could not compete with iPad, fire-sold at 99 dollars
Amazon Fire Phone
Amazon
20142,015170Locked to AT&T, gimmicky Dynamic Perspective, overpriced, no Google services
Segway PT
Segway Inc
20012,020100Hyped to change cities, too expensive at 5000 dollars, looked dorky, no infrastructure
Sony Betamax
Sony
19752,016500Lost format war to VHS which had longer recording time and open licensing
Apple Newton
Apple
19931,998100Handwriting recognition was terrible, Doonesbury mocked it, too expensive and too early
McDonald's Arch Deluxe
McDonald's
19962,000300Tried to be adult burger, 150 million dollar ad budget, customers wanted kid-friendly Mickey D
Cosmopolitan Yogurt
Hearst
19991,9995Magazine brand extension to dairy - customers found it gross and confusing
Colgate Kitchen Entrees
Colgate-Palmolive
19821,98510Toothpaste brand selling frozen dinners triggered mental ick factor, no one wanted it
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Nintendo
19951,996350Red monochrome graphics, caused headaches, no head tracking, only 22 games ever released
DeLorean DMC-12
DeLorean Motor Company
19811,982250Underpowered, overpriced, company collapsed amid founder cocaine scandal
Qwikster
Netflix
20112,011800Plan to split DVD business triggered subscriber revolt, reversed in 23 days, stock crashed 77 percent
Bic for Her Pens
BIC
20122,0165Pink gendered pens became a global joke, Amazon reviews mocked them mercilessly

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