Carl’s Jr. just held a live meeting with Amazon, in a bid to get the e-commerce giant to buy the food chain. But Amazon never showed.
Here is a play-by-play of what happened during the bizarre video feed:
2 p.m.: The live Periscope video feed starts, showing nothing but a Carl’s Jr. $5 All Star Meal and drink on a boardroom table. The feed is labeled, "Carl's Jr./Amazon Pitch Presentation: Main Boardroom."
2:30 p.m.: The meal was replaced with an identical meal (possibly because it was getting cold).
2:42 p.m.: Someone placed a moving fidget spinner on the table. It was re-spun two more times over the next 10 minutes.
2:45 p.m.: The drink was replaced with another drink.
2:50 p.m.: Another moving fidget spinner was placed on the table.
2:52 p.m.: A third fidget spinner (this time, a light-up one) was placed on the table. All three are spun.
3 p.m.: Why is this feed not ending? I have work to do.
3:04 p.m.: The intercom on the table is ringing! No one is picking up.
3:06 p.m.: Carl’s Jr. posted a tweet saying even though Amazon didn’t show up, it will go ahead with its presentation on YouTube Live.
Alright @Amazon didn’t show up. But we’ve got a plan. We’re just gonna do our presentation on YouTube LIVE! #AmazonBuyUs
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 10, 2017
All the viewer could hear for the duration of the feed was the sound of a wall clock ticking in the background. Occasionally, a door opened and closed, and muffled chatter could be heard (sometimes laughter), taunting viewers into believing something might actually happen.
Carl’s Jr. / Amazon Pitch Presentation : Main Boardroom https://t.co/AhY4aen2Gx
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 10, 2017
Carl’s Jr. occasionally tweeted, wondering where Amazon was.
Ok... @Amazon must be running a few minutes late. #AmazonBuyUs
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 10, 2017
Live views fluctuated between 150 and 200 throughout the feed.
Update: The YouTube presentation lasted for 28 minutes, starting off almost seeming real, and then descending into weirdness. It includes all the worst things about presentations: Awful graphs, poorly Photoshopped images, and cringeworthy stock photos. The full video can be seen here.
Carl’s Jr. has been sucking up to Amazon since Sunday, when the chain tweeted about how quickly Amazon delivered a drone.
Got a new drone in the mail for the office from @Amazon earlier today—they're so cool. They even deliver on Sundays! pic.twitter.com/d5cfyL5ewi
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 9, 2017
Carl’s Jr. began comparing similarities between the two companies: i.e. both use boxes, both have logos that include smiles. Then, Carl’s Jr. launched a tweetstorm about how Amazon should buy the chain, using the hashtag #AmazonBuyUs.
HEY @Amazon BUY US. Srsly. For real. Let’s do this. Let’s change the future of eating!! #AmazonBuyUs
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 9, 2017
On Monday, every hour on the hour, Carl’s Jr. tweeted ideas for how the partnership would work. That’s 24 ideas. They included: a self-driving restaurant, a "Tender Button" so customers merely have to push a button to get a tender, and hiring an Alexa for every one of Carl’s Jr.’s locations.
HEY @Amazon! FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS WE WILL BE SHARING ONE OF OUR BIG IDEAS EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR!!!!!!! #AmazonBuyUs
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 9, 2017
BIG IDEA 3/24: "Self-driving Restaurant" The charbroiled goodness of our kitchen comes to you!! @Amazon #AmazonBuyUs pic.twitter.com/qFxkYjMVXZ
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 9, 2017
BIG IDEA 5/24: "Spaceshakes" You’re headed to space & we’ve got hand-scooped milkshakes!! @Amazon #AmazonBuyUs pic.twitter.com/if79wLLzYA
— Carl's Jr. (@CarlsJr) October 9, 2017
