Photo: Taco Bell
Taco Bell is giving customers free tacos for the next five Tuesdays. To get yours, walk into just about any Taco Bell location on August 15, 22, 29, and September 5 and 12, and say, “Give me a free Doritos Locos Taco.” No purchase is necessary.
It’s part of this “Free Taco Tuesday” advertising campaign/legal imbroglio that’s been going on all summer involving a supposed trademark dispute with Taco John’s over the trademark for the words “Taco Tuesday.” I didn’t really pay attention until there was free food.
According to the corporate kayfabe, Taco John’s took a “courageous step by releasing their trademark registration in 49 states” and now anyone can talk about “Taco Tuesday,” and any restaurant can say “hey, it’s Taco Tuesday” whenever they want.
I’m not sure which of our 50 states isn’t included, and I don’t know how I feel about using our legal system as part of a fast food advertising campaign—but hey, free tacos, am I right?
How to get free or cheap food from other Mexican restaurants on September 12
As much as I don’t like participating in the viral marketing stunts of multinational food service corporations, I do like free tacos, so I may take advantage of the other offer Taco Bell and DoorDash announced.
On September 12, the Bell is promising to pay up to five million dollars to refund “some portion” of bills for anyone who uses DoorDash to get Mexican food from any participating retailer. They haven’t released the full details on all this yet, so there’s still time to plan your mid-September taco party.
Taco Bell and Taco John’s charitable donations
Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation(?) has also committed to donating one million dollars “to support young people who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.” (That’s like all young people, though, isn’t it?). This is in response to Taco John’s donation of $40,000 to Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE) via the Taco Bell Foundation.
