Is Taco Bell Guilty of False Advertising?

[The-Cardfather]

As I'm sure many of you watched the 2021 World Series on TV, you undoubtedly saw the Taco Bell commercials advertising their product (food). The commercial also featured baseball cards in a "2021 Collector's Pack - Taco Heroes Edition". Especially prominent was an Ozzie Albies card.

Here is the YouTube link to the commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkCU...&start_radio=1

Additionally, the same baseball cards were featured on the Taco Bell website.

To be fair; it wasn't clear in the commercial or on the website if the pack of baseball cards was free with a purchase or if there was a separate charge for it.

So off I go yesterday to two of my local Taco Bells. The employees at both locations had no idea what I was talking about. When I showed the promotion (via my smart phone) to the manager at one location, she said that her restaurant never received the cards.

When I got home, I telephoned Taco Bell via their toll-free number. I was told that the cards were non-existent and the images of them were created solely for the ads. When I asked if they had received any other phone calls inquiring about the baseball cards; the rep. wouldn't give me a straight answer, so I assume that there was.

I feel that Taco Bell engaged in deceptive advertising practices. Do you agree?

[butchie_t]

Yes they are guilty of false advertising. They say they sell food......

[mrreality68]

I thought it was just part of the commercial and never thought there were actual cards.
But I admit I was never really paying close attention to it.

But I do not agree with the False advertising related to the food.

I admit I am a Taco Bell Junkie

[philliesfan]

First off, I did not see the commercial.
I don't agree with the advertising this way. But I do not feel it was not false advertising because thy never said you get a pack or you can buy a pack of cards. Yes it is misleading. However if they did say you can get cards then yes it is false advertising.
Just my two cents.
Bob

[vthobby]

What I dislike is on Tuesdays I used to go there for my very own "Taco Tuesday" but it always seemed to lead to "Pepto Bismol Wednesday"! So I stopped!



Mike

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

I thought it was just part of the commercial and never thought there were actual cards.

Same. Taco Bell never offered a pack of cards either free with purchase or as a separate charge. It was just a cinematic effect/theatrical element (I don't know the correct industry term) added to enhance the commercial. The same commercial shows lightning bolts shooting from Albies cleats as he's stealing the base. If I buy a pair of those cleats, will lightning bolts shoot from mine? No, it was just an effect added for the commercial. Same reasoning applies to the cards since nothing was ever offered.

[Rhotchkiss]

I collect cards from the 1900s and Taco Bell was not around then

[HOF Auto Rookies]

You're kidding me? This has got to be a troll or joke thread, right? You actually called Taco Bell corporate about potentially a free baseball card they never even claimed to have?

[The-Cardfather]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

You're kidding me? This has got to be a troll or joke thread, right? You actually called Taco Bell corporate about potentially a free baseball card they never even claimed to have?

Thanks everyone. I guess I was wrong on this one.
But most of you seem to agree that although it wasn't "False Advertising", it was a bit misleading.

And a very special thanks to Brent Neiderman who went above and beyond to make me feel like a complete idiot.

[steve B]

I had to look up the ad.

I would have thought there were actual cards involved in some way too.

But then, I've had the reverse happen. I saw the mail in forms for the 84 Nestle set, and thought about sending in for one. But decided not to because the cards shown on the order form/ad were regular 84 Topps, and the price seemed a bit high for that. I didn't find out until a couple years later that the cards had a nestle logo where the Topps logo was and were actually sort of uncommon.
I still have those forms somewhere.

[swarmee]

YUM! brands throwback
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/1996-ma...a-harrier-jet/

But yes, when I saw the commercial during the WS, I would have expected them to have cards. But then I realized the logistics of printing cards immediately and having them sent out to a few thousand locations. Very unlikely.

[The-Cardfather]

Originally Posted by swarmee

YUM! brands throwback
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/1996-ma...a-harrier-jet/
.

That's a great story! Maybe I should sue Taco Bell.
I won't win, but I'll gain some media exposure. LOL.

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by The Cardfather

That's a great story! Maybe I should sue Taco Bell.
I won't win, but I'll gain some media exposure. LOL.

There was a radio station in LA that gave away a Toyota. The woman who won was thrilled. Until they gave her a Yoda doll. They claimed that it was all a joke, and the DJ was saying "Toy Yoda." I believe after all the really bad publicity they got they ended up giving her the car.

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

You're kidding me? This has got to be a troll or joke thread, right? You actually called Taco Bell corporate about potentially a free baseball card they never even claimed to have?

..never underestimate what people will do for a baseball card....

..

[todeen]

My son saw the ad, he's 8. He was sure there were going to be cards. I told him it's only tacos. Now I understand why he thought the way he did.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Peter_Spaeth]

There's always Taco John's that put out a set in 1995 with Kurt Warner's well-known pre-rookie.

[frankbmd]

Soft corners!