Arby’s holding month long promotion
Customers can get a free roast beef sandwich at Arby’s today with purchase of a beverage. But wait! There’s more! This marks the start of Arby’s Free Wednesday, a promotion that will continue each week for the month of August.
There will be a different free item available each week. I know what they are, but to find out you’ll have to read all the way to the end! Or, you know, skip to there. The last Arby’s Free Wednesday will be Aug. 26.
Increasingly popular marketing technique
Arby’s isn’t the only chain giving out free stuff this month. Domino’s is promoting its new Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake by offering a free piece with purchase of a PastaBread Bowl. The PastaBread Bowl is also a relatively new item at Domino’s, so a little cross-promotion might help.
Arby’s Free Wednesday does follow the common free-with-purchase rule, so if you’re living on a short term personal loan, you might want to think twice before spending borrowed money on a soft drink. Still, if you’re a soda drinker anyway, the free sandwich is a great deal. Baja Fresh had a similar promotion to Arby’s Free Wednesday recently when it gave out free burritos with purchase of a drink.
Internet promotion
A lot of chains have been offering free stuff lately, including Chick-Fil-A, which gave customers free chicken for dressing up like cows last month. Many chains, including KFC and Jack in the Box, are using a different method that’s becoming more popular.
Both of those chains offered free stuff — totally free, not with purchase — but you had to download and print out an online coupon. Yesterday Jack in the Box held free taco Tuesday using the internet coupon method.
Free philosophy
Establishments — especially the type that sell food — know that giving away free stuff is a great way to lure new people into their businesses. This pays off pretty well, otherwise why would they continue to do it? The print and online coupon strategy keeps things under control by keeping too many people from getting free stuff.
The free-entree-with-drink thing, though? That’s pretty genius. You might think that it makes more sense to give a free drink with purchase of entree, but would that really cause a stir and get people who otherwise wouldn’t to come in? Free drink? Snore. But a free sandwich? A free burrito? That gets people excited. Furthermore, fountain drinks barely cost food places anything. Really, we’re talking a few cents. The cup costs more than the soda inside it.
Arby’s Free Wednesday offerings
Next week, Aug. 12, you can get a free Roast Chicken Club, if you buy a drink. Aug. 19 the tables are turned a bit, and you can get a free FruiTea with purchase of any sandwich.
On the final Arby’s Free Wednesday this month, Aug. 26, you can get a free Regular Beef ‘n’ Cheddar with purchase of a soft drink. So there you have it: What to look forward to on Arby’s Free Wednesday.
