# Free Tootsie Pops! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541 "2001-01-11T16:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/1 "2001-01-11T16:40:51Z")
When I was a kid, the word on the street was, if you got a Tootsie Pop wrapper with a star on it (there’s a kid dressed up like an Indian, aiming a bow and arrow at the star), you could bring it into the store for a free lollipop. I later dismissed this as Urban Legend. But, now, talking with others, I learned it actually _does_ get you a free lolly! (You could either send the wrapper to the company, or take it to your corner store). So – is this still done? Do most stores accept the “star wrappers” or only a few? Why is this only word-of-mouth, and not advertised? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/2 "2001-01-11T16:44:26Z")
Hey! I remember that! I, too, thought it was a rumor. How did you find out it was true? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/3 "2001-01-11T16:46:16Z")
Ummm… snopes says it’s false: [http://www.snopes.com/business/deals/tootsie.htm](http://www.snopes.com/business/deals/tootsie.htm) ---
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/4 "2001-01-11T17:49:07Z")
Dammit! I just talked with my girlfriend who said she used to do it, and another co-worker who told me they could be sent in to the company. What the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Hokienautic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@Hokienautic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokienautic)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/5 "2001-01-11T17:59:02Z")
I heard the same story when I was younger, and grew to find it was false as well. Just on a whim, I wrote to the Tootsie Company, claiming I had boxes of these in my attic, and asking if I could get any freebies. No dice. They said that while they’re aware of the rumor, there’s never been such a promotion. They also sent me a pretty neat “legend” explaining the Indian … if I can find it tonight, I’ll try to post it. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/6 "2001-01-11T18:02:29Z")
Dammit! I had a whole long post prepared and lost it when I was checking the links. Damned AOL browser. :mad: Anyway, theyve never done it, and all you’ll get if you try it on the company is a form letter telling you you’ve been had. It probably started from _a single store owner_ giving away free candy as a promo, but I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-tootsie-pops/49541/7 "2001-01-11T18:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hokienautic \* > \*\* They also sent me a pretty neat “legend” explaining the Indian … if I can find it tonight, I’ll try to post it. \*\* That’s okay – **Athena** ’s Snopes link has it. Click on “Legend of the Indian Wrapper” at the bottom of that page.