The key to successful social media management is meme-ing.
And no one is doing a better job of spreading information through memes than Arizona Iced Tea. You know, the company that – much like Costco with their hotdogs – insists that they keep their price low for the sake of good paying customers? Arizona Iced Teas came out in 1992, and when the tall, beautiful cans made their debut, they were priced at 99 cents a piece. Guess how much they cost 33 years later?
99 cents.
It’s a beautiful thing really. Inflation and interest rates be damned… Arizona Iced Teas will always stay one cent below a dollar. Why? Well, in the past when Arizona co-founder and chairman Don Vultaggio has been asked that question, he simply responds with why not:
“We’re successful. We’re debt free. We own everything. Why? Why have people who are having a hard time paying their rent have to pay more for our drink? Maybe it’s my little way to give back.”
As we all know, there aren’t many guarantees in life. There’s death and taxes, right? The third thing listed might as well be the selling point for Arizona Iced Teas. And I can guarantee you that the beverage company loves to dunk on other businesses for raising their prices and pointing towards the economy or rising production costs or whatever other excuse they want to use.
Recently, Arizona Iced Tea put Netflix in a body bag when the streaming service once again announced a monthly price increase (with little reason to show for it). And I said earlier that the Arizona brand loves to meme, but really, they are just stating the facts and comparing them to other situations.
As you can see here:
AriZona Iced Tea is still 99 cents https://t.co/Ih9ZAkjtZU
— AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) January 22, 2025
Brilliant work. That message was viewed over 27 million times and was liked by over 770,000 people, by the way.
Since then, Arizona has really found a lane with their on-the-nose economy commentary. You’ve probably heard of (or felt) the rising cost of eggs, right? The tea brand sure has, and they made sure to point it out online:
— AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) February 13, 2025
It’s simple math really. The more things change, the more Arizona’s Iced Teas stay the same price.
And today, the latest company to announce modifications to their product/service was Southwest Airlines. The semi-budget airline has always been unique among its competitors for offering low-cost fares, free checked bags and open seating, where customers are able to pick any seat that’s available when they board based on their assigned boarding positions.
The airline has become insanely popular over the past few years for being a cheaper alternative to some of the other big brands, all while still offering the same quality of service and better perks. And that’s all coming to an end sooner rather than later, as Southwest announced last year that they’d be doing away with open seating, and then today made it known that they’d be axing their signature “two bags fly free” deal… all with the aim and motivation of nickel-and-diming their customers.
Arizona Iced Tea had something to say about it:
still 99 cents https://t.co/Uu7wMK5EeO pic.twitter.com/u7mS4U7gaL
— AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) March 11, 2025
Damn straight.
Those simple words, which are now going viral much like the Netflix repost did, are striking a chord with those on social media. Individuals online can’t help but notice that as other companies pass the buck on to customers, Arizona Iced Tea remains loyal to the people with their price tag:
Yall the only ones loyal!
— Kelsey Nicole Nelson (KNN) (@therealknelson) March 11, 2025
This is why you guys will always be the GOATS pic.twitter.com/r5MDHihwIU
— Sycamore’s Source (@sycamoressource) March 11, 2025
A consistent light throughout many dark times, thank you
pic.twitter.com/sefT5vtGo9
— Storm
(@Stormviking010) March 11, 2025
(@Stormviking010) Southwest cares about greed. Whereas for your company, you care about seeing people happy.
— Spazitious (@spazattack13) March 11, 2025
The only company (along with Costco and their $1.50 hotdogs ) that cares for the people.
— The Shady Ones (same on Blue Sky) (@PettyAndShade) March 11, 2025
All of those replies have a point. Customers love to feel loved, and most companies only value the relationship they have with their bottom line. Brands that continue to raise prices and take away perks need to take a page out of Arizona’s book… and keep the price point where it’s both profitable for the company and affordable for the customer.
And with that, I’ll leave you with this:
The post Arizona Iced Tea Dunks On Southwest Airlines Over New Bag Fees: “Still 99 Cents” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.AriZona Iced Tea should be in charge of the economy pic.twitter.com/WlKUib1BvR
— AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) February 18, 2025