Barq’s Diet Root Beer 2003 Taste of Louisiana Mississippi EMPTY UNOPEN 12oz Can

Description

New Unopened (but Empty) 12 Ounce Can of Coca-Cola’s “Southern Style” Barq’s Diet Root Beer (Circa 2003).
NOTE: This offering is for ONE collectible can. It is NOT for a six-pack. NOT for a 12 pack. NOT for a truckload. It is for ONE collectible can, as stated.
FAQ: Why So Expensive?
DETAIL
: Traveling internationally as part of my occupation, I continually have friends and customers ask me to bring back to the USA Pepsi and Coca-Cola cans and bottles from elsewhere in the world. Surprisingly, I have had many friends and customers outside of the USA ask me to secure for them collectible cans of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Here’s one such offering, an unopened (but emptied) can of a “southern style” sarsaparilla-laced “Barq’s Diet Root Beer” (now owned and distributed by Coca-Cola). Many collectors ask for empty cans. The normal procedure is to carefully drill two small holes into the bottom of the can, being carefully not to damage the can, and then shaking it to make sure all of the contents are remove, and carefully rinsing it. The end result is an emptied can which still looks full (as the two tiny holes are underneath the bottom of the can), it’s still sealed, but it is empty of contents. It is cleaned, and ready to ship, albeit carefully packaged as an empty soda can is actually very fragile and susceptible to damage. Again, it is unopened, but empty. If you’re in the USA, this might not at first blush seem a “collectible”. But then in Eastern Europe or Central Asia for instance, a can of Coca-Cola printed in their alphabet might not seem very unusual or collectible. But to an American, that same can is quite collectible. Likewise in Europe or Asia, American cans, especial those of limited production, are likewise quite collectible. So for all of my friends in Europe and Asia, here’s a genuine, unopened (but emptied) can of Coca-Cola’s “Barq’s Diet Root Beer”.
The Barq's Brothers Bottling Company was founded in 1890 in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, by Edward Charles Edmond Barq and his younger brother, Gaston. The Barq Brothers bottled carbonated water and various soft drinks of their own creation. Early on their most popular creation was an orange-flavored soda called Orangine, which won a gold medal at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Edward Barq moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1897 with his new wife. The following year he opened the Biloxi Artesian Bottling Works. 1898 is often given as the debut year for what was later to be known as "Barq's Root Beer," but some sources say this particular product was not produced until some two years later.
For many decades Barq's was not marketed as a "root beer." This was in part a desire to avoid legal conflict with the Hires Root Beer company, which was attempting to claim a trademark on the term "root beer." It was also due to differences from other root beers at the time. The base was a sarsaparilla drink of the style of the late 19th century, in a formulation with caffeine, less sugar, and higher carbonation than other brands, though with less of a foamy "head." It was decided to market the soft drink simply as Barq's. The traditional slogan was the simple affirmation "Drink Barq's. It's good.” For a time it was marketed with the slogan "Is it root beer?" before the company decided to market the product as such.
There was some bickering between Barq’s family members, between those of the original Baton Rouge Barq’s, and those of the Biloxi Barq’s, stemming out of the early 20th century oral agreements between Barq family members and friends. There were extended legal conflicts over who exactly had the rights to the Barq's name and formula and in which markets, disputes which continued until 1995 when The Coca-Cola Company acquired both branches. Since then Barq's has been marketed with the slogan "Barq's has bite!", a reference to both its caffeine content and its crisper taste as compared to most commercial root beers. Regular Barq's has 22.5 mg of caffeine per 12 ounce serving (similar to green tea), while Diet Barq's has no caffeine. Barq's also produces both a Red Creme Soda as well as French Vanilla Creme Soda. They also once produced a Root Beer Float flavor which was eventually discontinued. In Canada they still presently produce a spicy cherry flavor.
SHIPPING & RETURNS/REFUNDS
: Shipping empty cans is a bit tricky, as they have to be boxed and heavily padded, otherwise they will be crushed. So the cost of shipping virtually weightless empty cans might be a bit higher than you might imagine – in essence you’re paying to ship a box, not the can. Domestic shipping is .49 for first class mail, .49 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates
include
USPS Delivery Confirmation. Canadian shipments are .99 for Air Mail or .99 for Global Priority Mail. All other International shipments are .99 for Air Mail, .99 for Global Priority Mail. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers.
All of our shipments are fully insured against loss, and our shipping rates include the cost of this coverage (through stamps.com, Shipsaver.com, the USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex). International tracking is provided free by the USPS for certain countries, other countries are at additional cost. Please note for international purchasers we will do everything we can to minimize your liability for VAT and/or duties. But we cannot assume any responsibility or liability for whatever taxes or duties may be levied on your purchase by the country of your residence. If you don’t like the tax and duty schemes your government imposes, please complain to them. We have no ability to influence or moderate your country’s tax/duty schemes.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASES
do receive a
VERY LARGE
discount (postal costs for additional empty cans from the third onward typically only cost each for both domestic and international shipping). We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation.
If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price; 1) less our original shipping/insurance costs, 2) less non-refundable eBay payment processing fees. Please note that eBay does NOT refund payment processing fees. Even if you “accidentally” purchase something and then cancel the purchase before it is shipped, eBay will not refund their processing fees. So all refunds for any reason, without exception, do not include eBay payment processing fees (typically between 5% and 15%) and shipping/insurance costs (if any). If you’re unhappy with eBay’s “no fee refund” policy, and we are EXTREMELY unhappy, please voice your displeasure by contacting eBay. We have no ability to influence, modify or waive eBay policies.
ABOUT US
: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Eastern Europe and Central Asia several times a year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient/antique jewelry and gemstones, a reflection of our academic backgrounds.
Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia antique gemstones are commonly dismounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them originally crafted a century or more ago. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.
How did we get "into" soda pop cans?
Pepsi and Coca-Cola are probably the most instantly recognizable cultural icons anywhere on the globe. And for that reason, somehow, Cultural Anthropologists, Sociologists, Archaeologists, etc., and those enthusiasts of these sciences, are irresistibly drawn to them. Our studies and travels have taken us from the frozen tundra of Siberia to the deserts of India and the Middle East, to communist countries, democracies, and dictatorships. And bizarrely, you can always find machines or shops vending Coca-Cola and Pepsi (and Marlboro, Pall Mall, Viceroy, Lucky Strike, and Camel cigarettes).
When we used to travel every year to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, friends and colleagues would ask us to bring back Coca-Cola or Pepsi cans. Christmas issues from various countries were always frequent requests (like Europe's Grandfather Frost and his Elves). We would put extras on our eBay store. Before long colleagues in Europe asked for cans from the USA. Not just iconic Pepsi and Coke cans. But limited edition Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper cans. We accommodated them too. And the extras went onto our eBay store. And suddenly, over 20 years, it grew to 500 offerings. They’re a complete money loser. It’s probably an obsession only a cultural anthropologist would understand. But we have thousands of followers around the globe, and we can’t let them down.