Sean's Letters

Sean wrote the following letter to The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m Sean O’Connell, a lifelong Coca-Cola fan who always chooses a Coke or Coke product over the alternative. Coke Classic is the best cola in production, in my opinion, and I think that Coke has domination in most soda flavor categories, especially the citrus lineup. The best tasting citrus soda ever was Surge. When it was introduced several years ago, Coke took over the citrus beverage market. Surge had a lightly carbonated, unique taste that was far easier to drink than other citrus sodas. Nothing produced today tastes quite like it! But when it was cancelled and slowed from full production in bottles and cans to a seriously limited production of only fountain syrups, I believe Coca-Cola lost most of its dominance citrus-soda wise, sadly, to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew. I think Surge, and Mello Yello for that reason, are far tastier than Dew. Now that Surge is gone, and Mello Yello is almost impossible to find in my area now too, I believe that when someone reaches for a citrus soda, they are pretty much forced to pick a Pepsi product, namely Mountain Dew. (I don’t consider Sprite, Citra and Fresca to be the same type of citrus sodas, since their tastes are far different than those of Surge or Mello Yello) I have missed Surge dearly since its departure some time ago, but it wasn’t until I stumbled upon www.SaveSURGE.org that I realized I can make a difference in bringing it back. So far, this is my fourth letter to a Coca-Cola bottler on this issue.

I think that your attempts at creating a good, popular citrus soda are clever, but they aren’t working good enough. Sprite Tropical Remix, soon to be replaced by Berry Clear Remix, wasn’t the beverage for me, and I doubt the new “remix” will be either. I just recently had the chance to taste Diet Coke w/lime, and that didn’t appeal to me either. Not that these sodas were bad, they just weren’t the right approach and aren’t advertised enough. I believe every soda has its fan base, and those were no exception, but face it. Coke needs to bring Surge back! Without it, Pepsi will always have the advantage when it comes to a good citrus soda.

America needs a “fully loaded” citrus soda, and the only soda that fits that description is Surge. Please cancel the “remixed” Sprite flavors, and stop the Coke with lemon and lime, and give Surge a shot again. With the right soda (Surge) and the right advertisements, Coca-Cola can once again regain its rightful control over the citrus soda market. Thank you for your time, and please get back to me a.s.a.p.

Thanks again,
Sean O’Connell

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Sean O’Connell, and I am a dedicated fan of Coca-Cola and all of its products. I enjoy such beverages as Citra, Mello Yello, and Fresca, and of course I prefer an ice cold Coke Classic to a Pepsi any day. However, my all-time favorite drink is no longer available to me as of a few years ago now, and that Coke product goes by the name of Surge. Ever since its introduction in 1997, and my first sip of a free promotional bottle of Surge, I have been hooked, but my addiction has been slowed to an occasional serving of Surge when I stumble upon it in a soda fountain, when I purchase some online (for extreme prices), or when I mix different ingredients to produce something that tastes like a homebrew Surge. I’ve sent numerous letters to Coca-Cola bottlers locally, to restaurants that stopped serving Surge, and to restaurants trying to convince them to sell Surge. It is a long and tiring process, but I won't stop until my favorite green soda is put back in its rightful place on store shelves across the U.S. Since its departure, I have always missed Surge, but it was when I stumbled upon www.SaveSURGE.org when I decided to start taking action to bring it back. Now, myself and hundreds of other Surge fanatics are tirelessly nagging Coke bottlers and representatives about Surge and when its comeback will be. I don’t think that Surge was given a fair chance during its years in full production. There wasn’t enough advertising and promotions. Although the ads it did have were quite good, they didn’t get the message across enough in my opinion. There currently are numerous amounts of Surge and Surge products on Ebay and other websites that are being sold for a pretty penny, which shows how much we miss our favorite soda. If Surge were to be brought back to full production, not only would consumers be royally pleased, but it would increase sales for Coca-Cola across the States. Plus, loyalty to the Coke brand would also go up because you would be producing such an awesome product for the thirsty masses. I don’t think you understand the amount of business you are missing out on by not producing Surge other than in fountain syrups, which don’t sell great. The reason I know this is because I recently contacted a representative of a small restaurant chain in New York called Hot Dog Charlies. I told them that bringing Surge to their fountains would increase business, and I would visit daily for hot dogs and Surge. The man was kind enough to talk to his soda supplier, and he was informed that requesting Surge syrup wasn’t a good idea because it wasn’t a “big seller.” That’s not true, because myself and numbers of others LOVE Surge, and would do anything to get it, and if it was brought to soda fountains locally where it could be purchased for normal amounts of money.

To cut to the chase, I want my Surge back, and so do thousands of people nation wide. Can’t Surge be given a second chance to prove how good it will sell and what a popular drink it was and still can be? Ill often ask someone if they remember Surge, and my most popular response is “Yeah, that was good stuff. Why was it ever stopped?” Please, Coke. We want Surge. Without the sweet taste of our beloved green beverage, how can America “Feed it Rush?

Let’s bring it back!

Sincerely,

Sean M. O’Connell
Dedicated Surge drinker

Sean wrote the following letter to Hot Dog Charlie's restaurants:

Dear Hot Dog Charlies,

My name is Sean O'Connell and I am a big fan of your restaurant chain, and I think your food is great! I visit a Charlies at least twice a month, but there is something that would make me, and many other people, visit even more than that. That is if you added Surge Soda to your lineup of soft drinks in the restaurants. Although Surge has been discontinued from production in cans and bottles, its syrup is still avaliable for purchase for fountain use. I think that 10 mini dogs with the works and hot sauce, along with a large Surge on the rocks, would make an absolutely AWESOME meal, and it would definately increase your business and the happiness of your customers. Thanks alot for your time!

Sincerely,
Sean M. O'Connell

Sean wrote the following letter to Hoyt's Cinemas:

Dear Hoyts,

Let me start off by saying that I visit your theatre chain 3 or 4 times a week and I truly enjoy it. Your employees are friendly, the theatres are clean and comfortable, but there is one thing that I think would help your sales go way up. If you were to put Surge Soda into your fountains at your chains, especially around Albany NY, your business would be so much better. I, especially, would visit much more often, and certainly purchase Surge Soda from you five times a week or more, maybe even daily! I know Surge has been discontinued, but you could still order the syrup for your fountains. I know a lot of people who would purchase that soda from you, so remember: Surge + a good movie at Hoyts Theartre = :) Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Sean M. O'Connell

Sean wrote the following letter to The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.:

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Sean O’Connell, and I am a lifelong fan of Coca-Cola products. A certain issue has been on my mind for a few years now, and I thought that writing to you might help fix it. The reason I am writing to you is because I am concerned about my favorite carbonated beverage, Surge. It’s been gone for a few years now, and since its departure, I have had to slowly consume the $200 worth of six packs and two-liters that I bought when I found that Surge was going, and possibly never coming back. Although you claim that Surge is still in production, but not in certain areas, I am yet to find someone who knows of large quantities of Surge on store shelves anywhere in the U.S.A. I thought Surge might be coming back, but it hasn’t in a very long time, so now, I want to ask you why Surge was ever cancelled from its rightful place in store shelves across the U.S., and when, if ever, will it come back?

Upon visiting www.SaveSURGE.org, I realized that I wasn’t the only dedicated Surge fanatic out there that was tirelessly fighting to bring back Surge, nor did I know that there was Surge 12-packs selling on E-Bay for over $60! Now, doesn’t that make you think, Coke? If we are willing to spend that much money on only 12 cans of Surge, then don’t you think that we would buy a lot of Surge if it arrived in our grocery stores? Here is another thing that might convince you to bring back Surge. The website I talked about, www.SaveSURGE.org, has a listing of restaurants that still have Surge in their fountains. A friend and I drove to Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts to try and get our Surge, but it was nowhere to be found. Then, we accidentally stumbled upon a to a one-stoplight town in Southern Connecticut, and there it was. We filled up 12 empty 2-liter bottles with the liquid green gold and took ‘er home with us. It is no longer in that town, and places that still serve Surge in their fountains are becoming more and more scarce, giving us more reason to take action.

Coke, we really want Surge. I am determined to bring my beloved green soda back, and I am inspired by the story of TAB. You discontinued TAB from store shelves, seen how much of a fan base that soda has, and then started making it again. While I don’t enjoy TAB, I am glad it was returned because it’s a horrible feeling to lose something you love. Now TAB fanatics don’t feel that anymore, but us Surge fanatics still do! You see the great lengths that we go through to get it now that it is gone.

I am sure I wasn’t the first to write or call about this, and I know I won’t be the last, but I believe my letter can make a difference in your decision to bring back Surge. Lately I have seen a decrease in Mello Yello around here as well. It hasn’t been in stores for years but it was in the buffet in fountains, and in the Chinese restaurants in bottles, but it is gone, and I believe that leaves a hole in your citrus soda category, and Surge would be a great addition to your already tasty lineup of carbonated beverages. Sales would go way up for you and places who sell your beverages and the consumer would have to stop going to the unsatisfying competition to quench their thirst for a citrus soda. We want the original formula of Surge back in stores and restaurants across the U.S.A. soon, because without Surge, how will we Feed The Rush?

Sincerely, Sean M. O’Connell

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