I’m sure you’re familiar with the take a penny, leave a penny concept. You take a penny when you need it, and you sure as hell better leave one when you have it.
Only who’s counting, right?
Honest Tea has taken this age old dilemma to the viral-marketing extreme. On July 19, in 12 cities across the country, they set up unmanned stands with racks of ice tea and a box to put money in.
The idea was that, instead of taking a penny, you took an iced tea, and instead of leaving a penny, you left… well, hopefully more than a penny.
Oh, and they filmed the whole thing and put it up online in real time.
Obviously, hilarity ensued.
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Highlights included people compulsively touching multiple bottles and hordes of would-be thieves squirming indecisively. Users could also access the “experiment” online, ticking off whether they would take off with the loot or leave a dollar… in return for a $1 coupon.
Honest Tea complied the results and ranked each city from most honest to least honest. Boston scored a three-way tie at number two with Seattle and Dallas, Chicago got the top spot, and New York landed at the bottom.
So just in case you needed proof that New Yorkers are a bunch of soulless bastards, here ya go:
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