Dr. Pepper Guns N' Roses Promotion Brings Site to Its Knees

Yah know, after tons of events like this, you know, running some sort of promotion on a website, or launching some sort of new product on a website, you'd think Dr. Pepper would be ready for a site overload.

I guess not.

As you know, Guns N' Roses first album in 17 years, Chinese Democracy, launched today in stores, though it was available streamed for free via MySpace Music for a few days. Well, earlier in the year Dr. Pepper promised a free soda to everyone in America if the long-delayed album launched in 2008.

They are keeping their promise, sort of.

While Tony Jacobs, Dr. Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement last week:

"We never thought this day would come, but now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us,"

the problem is, that in order to get a coupon for a free 20 oz. Dr. Pepper, you have to go to their site. That site is currently unreachable, at least unless you are lucky. I've been getting the above all morning.

And if you want a freebie, you only have 24 hours, beginning at 12:01 AM. I'm unclear if that's EDT or PDT.

Coupons will be honored until Feb. 28, 2009. Frankly, based on how slow the site is, it ain't worth it. My time is more valuable than a 20 oz. drink, even in a recession.