Molson Coors Brewing Co. has egg on its face after pulling the iPhone as a contest prize in Quebec. There was controversy over when Apple’s phone will be available in Canada, so the beer company admitted it made a mistake to offer the iPhone.
Digital Journal — A Molson beer contest is recovering by publishing two supposed mistakes: listing the iPhone as a prize in a Quebec-only contest, and indicating it would run through Rogers Wireless. Molson said the device will be available in January 2008 and valued it at $800. But Molson had to take it all back yesterday.
Molson spokeswoman Marie-Helene Lagace said:
“The information published in our rules and regulations for our promotion turned out to be mistaken. There seems to have been a misunderstanding with our agency.”
Also on the defensive was Rogers Wireless. Spokeswoman Odette Coleman told the media yesterday, “This is news to us. We heard the news this morning and said: ‘What’?”
Molson pulled the contest page from its website until further notice.
This snafu highlights the mystery over when the iPhone will land on Canadian soil. Although Rogers Wireless is cagey about saying whether it will bring the iPhone to Canada, the company did tell DigitalJournal.com in a previous interview that it would be carrying the iPhone.
Then, Elizabeth Hamilton, director or corporate communications for Rogers told DigitalJournal.com: “The iPhone is a phenomenal product and at Rogers Wireless we look forward to being able to offer it in Canada. When we have a public announcement to make, we’ll let you know.”
