Coca-Cola phased out its My Coke Rewards loyalty program back in 2017, after which time you could no longer earn discounts and prizes by entering codes found on bottle caps or product packaging. And yet, five years later, Coke is still printing those codes on its bottle caps and packages, giving some people the impression they can still redeem them for rewards.
One New York man calls this “false and misleading” – so he’s suing.
“The Rewards Program no longer provides any things of value to customers, even though it is still described prominently as a Rewards program,” Glenn Coe of Orchard Park, New York argues in a federal lawsuit filed earlier this week.
When My Coke Rewards ended in 2017, participants were informed that any unused rewards points would be forfeited and donated to charities. From then on, any future product codes could be entered either for a chance to win an occasional sweepstakes prize, or to donate either to a local school or a Coca-Cola-chosen charity like the American Red Cross, Special Olympics or National Park Foundation.
Coe is unimpressed with his choice of “rewards.” Coca-Cola, his lawsuit states, “continues to sell Coke products with reward codes, even though the only benefit is to donate their accumulated value to one of its selected non-profit groups.”
And Coe says he’s not the only one who feels cheated. His lawsuit quotes a number of commenters on the consumer review website Site Jabber. “You are expected to spend hours entering your codes as a donation. You’d think Coke would just make the donation themselves instead of making us waste time to donate a few cents,” one commenter wrote. “I have probably 200-300 bottle caps and at least 100 codes from 12 packs that I will probably just end up tossing away,” another offered. “I refuse to waste my time scanning them for a charity which will probably never see a cent… This is worse than having no program,” a third commenter complained.
“Soon, getting rewarded with your codes will be easier, more fun, and more convenient than ever before,” Coca-Cola pledged as it planned to phase out My Coke Rewards. But Coe disputes this, saying Coke codes became essentially worthless.
And his lawsuit relies on an interesting legal theory to make his case. Coe says Coke’s rewards program should be governed under state laws that regulated old trading stamp programs. Under those rules, stamps were assigned a nominal cash value, like 1/100th of a cent, much like paper coupons today. “This requirement was designed to prevent customers… from being left without any value in the event of their accumulation of non-redeemable reward codes,” Coe’s lawsuit argues.
Many participants in the old program relied on its “small benefits, such as a five dollar gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts, to help their families scrape by,” the lawsuit states. Instead, they’re left with an unfounded belief that “a program described with the term ‘Rewards’ would provide a thing of value, and that the Program was operated in compliance with this State’s laws, which are intended to prevent customers from ending up with significant quantities of non-redeemable reward codes with no value.”
Coe is accusing Coca-Cola of fraud, misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, and is seeking class-action status for his case. He’s asking for a judgment in excess of $5 million for himself and other potential class members.
So the next time you find a code under a Coke bottle cap, you can submit it on behalf of a charity. Or you can hang onto it, in the hopes that Coe’s lawsuit might make that code worth something to you again – hopefully, more than 1/100th of a cent.
Image source: Glenn Coe
I just noticed that my 2 liter coke does not have a code under the cap. I have a box 9”x9”x26” full of caps and case flaps and was debating on throwing them away. I did an internet search and found this article. Guess I will hold them a little longer to see what happens. I thought it was pretty crappy of coke to just end the program. I received some good rewards when the program was going and had quite a few points expire..
I have a couple hundred codes that were never entered. Would love to join in any class action lawsuit
Please let me know how to join your lawsuit. Lenanyktas@aol.com
I have saved thousands of the codes and caps. Nothing good has come of this in the past years. What a waste of my time. Is there really a class action lawsuit against coke? I would like to know more.
How do I join the lawsuit.
I’d love to know too. I don’t mind giving some to charity but having it shoved down our throats, no.
I no longer collect.
This is stupid. It’s not about the people who feel this is fraud since no rewards bc some of us like donating and it’s not just charities, you can donate them for your kids school like Box tops for education.
I donate mine to my kids school and now they are stopping that too because you whiny people complained. Such bs.
I have boxes and boxes of these things. Found many going for walks. I now will have to throw them out once the program officially ends. Probably have over 500. t’s been nothing but a joke for the last year. The charities they have listed are scam charities or massively corrupt gov’t agencies like the Parks dept. I wouldn’t waste the time donating to those clowns. Too bad coke doesn’t worry about their rewards program like they do about diversity.
Seems like any reward program brands used to have they have phased out and it is frustrating. I saved monster tabs and right when i had enough for what i wanted they did the same thing and canceled it. Coke is another one of them i saved codes for that also did the same. It’s annoying to still see codes and not be able to get anything considering it’s about $9 for a 12 pack. Thanks Biden. Hope this lawsuit is a success!
What does Biden have to do with the cancellation of this program? Didn’t you read the very first sentence in this article? “Coca-Cola phased out its My Coke Rewards loyalty program back in 2017”. Who was the president starting 2017?
The $9 price tag Duh!
They were referring to “Bidenflation” which has directly caused your grocery bill and mine to substantially increase. Coca Cola products I purchase have steadily risen so now I buy less.
How do I join in the COKE REWARDS LAWSUIT?? Bradforddeloris@gmail.com
i have been saving rewards for when the program goes back to what it was originally meant to be. It was fun to enter them and get something for the points or chance to win something. I could not believe that they changed their rewards to only charities and charities of their choice. i have so many that i still keep and hold on to for the hope that they return to a actual “REWARD” point. I am anxious to see outcome of the law suit!!!!!
I entered code for St. Judes Hospital charity as I love what they do. I have been entering codes but as of January 1, 2023 no more…. I don’t care about freebies just nice to donate money to a good cause.
I just googled this and find it funny this article popped up. I emailed Coca Cola asking if they are only doing charities now since I’m only ever able to donate my points not claim any rewards.
It’s been a very long time that I even saw a sweepstake to enter. I have hundreds of caps too and asked in the email if it will only be able to donate to charities now or will they be updating with new rewards because if they are no longer having prizes I’m just going to enter all my codes now to get rid of them but if rewards will come I would like to save some for them.
The response I got was we don’t have a schedule of upcoming rewards and would not be able to tell you when rewards are available but to check back for any available rewards.
Well that answer got me no where. So does that mean rewards will come again but then when? It’s been years! Or is it only charities now?
I hope this law suit either stops the caps or fixes the program because it is very misleading.
I so agree, and why can’t we choose the charity, what about Shiriners, or other worthy causes. If they choose to make these codes for charity, then step up and make the codes worth more, it’s not like they can’t offord it, considering what they charge for their products!
Me too! Hundreds of caps
Pls update my on lawsuit or how to redeem
Andreacarla.Michaels@gmail.com
I agree with this a lot. I have been a faithful diet coke drinker for 30+ years & we should be able to benefit if we are willing to enter codes. I used to enjoy saving up bottle caps & carton numbers just to spend time entering them into My Rewards. Not anymore. I still save codes but they sit in bags & drawers.
I have bags of them that are tossing and wanting to make sure they STILL have decided to not honor them. 12 packs of Cokes at CVS are over $9.00. I stick to Walgreens or Publix if on sale or buy the 24 pack at Winn-Dixie for about $12.75
I was just trying to figure out how to enter the thousands I’ve saved to get my free cokes but couldn’t. This is a rip off. Wonder how we can get in on the lawsuit? They don’t have the right to tell you if you buy a coke you’ll get a free one or other rewards by entering the codes and then secretly donating the rewards you’ve saved up under your account. They stole from so many people!
If you can even read them . Love the old program nothing now I would save them for . But I still do just in case .
I think it’s a shame that COKE TOOK AWAY THE REWARDS. The way things in the world . Who can afford price of 12 pk of coke $6.99 a 12 pack .. COKE SHOULD BRING THEM BACK FOR THE POOR PEOPLE THAT LOOKED FORWARD TO SAYING THEM AND USING THE GIFT CARDS. Some families are struggling.. so COKE IS BRING THEM BACK TO HELP WITH GIFT CARDS. After all if it wasn’t for LOYAL CUSTOMERS . People would not HAVE JOBS . VERY UPSET CUSTOMER.. and a lot of other folks feel the same way.. it’s a sin
I have alot of them in shoe boxes bags been holding on them for over 5 to 6 years now.And now some of the can coke right when u opened them they taste flat I buy 4 to 5 12pks a week.
I feel the same way with 3 bags of bottle caps saved. Back when you could enter for prizes I won 2 different times but when I tried to redeem the prizes it would not let me. Feel cheated! Would like to join the lawsuit also.
I too have m,any Coke bottle caps even from 2017 unused. How do I sign up and join this lawsuit. I am in Michigan and willing to join. I feel the same way. My email is 123aimfire@gmail.com
tell us how to join
How do I sign up for the coke cola lawsuit?