I have noticed, during various Pepsi promotions, that some retailers, mainly "mom-and-pop" amd independent grocers and convenience stores, refuse to accept Pepsi bottle caps that either offer "Buy Dew or Pepsi 20 Oz (or 1 Liter) Get One Free", or for some promotions, a free 20 ounce or 1 liter bottle.
I have no problem redeeming the caps at corporate-owned supermarket, drug store, convenience store, gas station, and mass merchandise chains, but many mom-and-pop/independent grocers and c-stores refuse to accept the bottle caps for free or buy one get one free product.
I was told by a beverage store owner that the way Pepsi sets up their bottle cap redemption policies, that Pepsi bottlers will only give credit for the bottle caps if they are redeemed in lots of 100, a plan that heavily favors chains over independents. Stores such as Giant Eagle, Tops, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, K mart, Target, Wal-Mart, Circle K, or Speedway would have no problem obtaining 100 or more Pepsi caps for redemption, but the owner of "Joe's Market" may have problems coming up with a few, thus not being able to accept the bottle caps. Pepsi needs to make it clear in their contest rules that some retailers, mainly small businesses, have the right to refuse to accept bottle caps offering either free product or buy one get one free product.
Most people who see this kind of cap on a Pepsi bottle tend to assume that any retailer who sells Pepsi products is obligated to accept the bottle caps, when, in reality, the only businesses accepting the bottle caps are major corporate chain stores. Another suggestion would be for Pepsi to change its bottle cap redemption policies so small businesses can get equal footing with the major chains, whether the business is getting credit for one bottle cap or 100,000 bottle caps.
I also understand that these same stores also refuse to accept "free product" caps from Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up promotions as well for the same reasons.
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