Catch Your Own Dinner
08/04/08
Tony at Zappos twittered last night about seeing one of those crane games that usually retrieve stuffed animals and candy. This one, however, allowed you to catch live lobsters. According to one sign: You catch ‘em, we cook ‘em, and you eat ‘em.
I love unique product ideas, and I’m pretty impressed by this twist on a tired classic. Apparently it does the job, too. According to Tony:
“Lobster game machine at bar is brilliant. Watched people spend $20 in past hour trying to catch a live lobster. “
A little web research brought me to the the site of Lobster Zone, Inc. The company claims to have over 300 such games placed around the US and has been around for roughly 10 years.
The “press section” of the site has an interesting article written back in ‘98. It says that many of the machines (placed primarily in seafood restaurants at the time) were making over $1000 a week. It also estimated that it took a patron 18 tries with the crane before they mastered it.
The price was only $2 a try back then, and after 10 years -it still hasn’t budged. So there, quit your complaining about inflation.
Here’s a YouTube video of the crane in action: Lobster Game
2 Comments, Leave A Comment
GirlPie
Always catch something interesting on your blog David! Now you’ve got to put in a PP kiosk next to it that has pre-printed postcards (alongside blank postcards) that say “That lobster escaped me ___ times — but then I caught him and I ate him!” Let them fill it in, mail off the bragging rights, and then the advertised restaurant and you and the lobster-eater — everyone but the lobsters! — are all happy.
08/04/08
David
@ Girlpie - You’re always thinking about the next promotional tie in. I love it!
08/09/08
Reply to “Catch Your Own Dinner”