# How do I get another $2 Chipotle burrito?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 28, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556 "2005-04-28T14:56:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/1 "2005-04-28T14:56:57Z")

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I’ve developed an addiction to Chipotle burritos.

I usually order: “Chicken burrito, no beans, no salsa” with sour cream and cheese (I’m picky) The price is usually 5.98 if I get chips to go with it. Free soda for students.

Last night I went in past my usual time after going to the movies (Sin City!!!)

I ordered the same thing the same way. Except the guy making it started telling the cashier that it was “sides” of rice and chicken, or somesuch. I got chips and the free soda, and she rang me up.

The total was $2.53 :eek:  
My receipt reads:

Extra Chicken 1.35  
Sides 0.55  
Chips 0.45

Sub Total 2.35  
Tax 0.18  
DINE IN Total 2.53

How do I give my order to the Chipotle burrito-maker-dude(ette) in the future so that I can continue to get half-price burritos?

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### Author: ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/2 "2005-04-28T16:56:20Z")

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Bring the recipt and say “I want this.”

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### Author: ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/3 "2005-04-28T16:58:17Z")

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My guess is that the cashier erred; the “extra chicken” should have been in addition to the regular charge for the burrito, so you’re not likely to get the same deal again.

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### Author: ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/4 "2005-04-28T17:02:33Z")

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Maybe the cashier was new and messed up. But I can tell you from working at a food place that out of the ordinary prices will make you double check the order, especially for a place like Chipotle where all their food items are at similar prices.

They may have done it intentionally for some reason, or it was probably an accident and they just didn’t care to take time to fix it. If they did it on purpose, it was stealing from the company so enjoy it while it lasts.

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### Author: ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/5 "2005-04-28T17:15:55Z")

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> [@aeropl](#):
>
> They may have done it intentionally for some reason, or it was probably an accident and they just didn’t care to take time to fix it. If they did it on purpose, it was stealing from the company so enjoy it while it lasts.

Some months ago, the cashier at Chipotle waved me past and said “No charge,” but everyone before and after me paid full price. My guess is that they sometimes undercharge or do not charge patrons in order to generate goodwill.

(In my case, it worked - I go back there every week or two. But then, I would have been a regular customer anyway…)

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### Author: ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/6 "2005-04-28T18:09:25Z")

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Go there frequently, be recognizeable, and tip well.

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### Author: ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/7 "2005-04-28T20:13:37Z")

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Chipotle has a corporate policy to comp $100 of food a day. I have two friends that are managers at different Chipotle restaurants.

Be nice, tip well, joke with the servers and learn their names. Don’t ask for special favors when they are very busy. You will get comped eventually. DON’T ASK FOR FREE FOOD! This just makes them think you’re taking advantage of them and they will NOT comp you.

I LOVE getting free Chipotle.

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### Author: ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/8 "2005-04-28T23:43:35Z")

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I know that in the Chipotles I frequented in north San Antonio, on Tuesdays every 10th or so burrito tinfoil had a sticker that made that burrito free. Their policy was free beverage to military members with every burrito. Also, all San Antonio area Chipotles had free burritos to anyone with a military ID on Mondays in April; too late now of course.

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### Author: ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/9 "2005-04-29T17:20:49Z")

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It’s nice to see companies that have an active “goodwill” program like this. Free food for military personnel should be a given, but the random freebie for the general public is cool.

Makes me wish their food wasn’t pumped full of cilantro so I could go there. Even their \*rice \* has cilantro in it.

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### Author: ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/10 "2005-04-30T00:41:06Z")

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> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> Free food for military personnel should be a given, but the random freebie for the general public is cool.

This’ll get me flamed, but why?? I’m a college student, chances are I’ll do more good for this country than the average joe in the army. I will certainly be better for the economy (excluding of course the average guy in the army that then goes to college). Wheres my free burrito?

> [@](#):
>
> Makes me wish their food wasn’t pumped full of cilantro so I could go there. Even their \*rice \* has cilantro in it.

I like cilantro.

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### Author: ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/11 "2005-04-30T00:54:12Z")

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> [@CynicalGabe](#):
>
> This’ll get me flamed, but why?? I’m a college student, chances are I’ll do more good for this country than the average joe in the army. I will certainly be better for the economy (excluding of course the average guy in the army that then goes to college). Wheres my free burrito?

Actually, all military personnel (at least all Air Force personnel) go to college (the Community College of the Air Force/Navy/Marines/whatever) for their job training, and I’d say most people enlisting now are going to college outside of work as well, both at their service branch’s community college and at civilian colleges and universities. Many, MANY officers in the military got there by going to college. Ever heard of ROTC?

So when you say “I’ll do more good for this country than [military personnel]…Wheres my free burrito?” (missing an apostrophe, BTW) what you’re really trying to say is “I’m better than my peers in uniform, many of whom go to the same college as I do, because I have different ideals, even though many of them risk their lives to support the infrastructures that allow me to go to college in the first place. Where’s my preferential treatment?”

Now, what might be a more logical and less resentful/bitter “where’s my free burrito” argument is this: Military personnel are insured for life, given free housing or the money to attain housing, and the government trains them well and gives them a good life even though in many cases they only serve for four years. If you don’t like it, join the Army or write your congressman.

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### Author: ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/12 "2005-04-30T06:58:25Z")

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Good point.

What I really am disliking is the automatic hero-worship of anyone who can sling on a uniform. This is not the pit, and its been discussed before, so I won’t go into my peeve over firefighter-worship.

The hole in your argument is that those soldiers are basically getting a vocational training, whereas I am getting more widely applicable knowledge (and soon an advanced degree). I believe studies have shown that I am conclusively of greater value to the economy than they are. I am more productive at almost any job I take, and generate more tax revenue for the government.

And I don’t get free health care anyway.

And I still want a free burrito.

And yes, I can’t spell and my grammar sucks.

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### Author: ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/13 "2005-04-30T08:49:36Z")

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> [@FilmGeek](#):
>
> Chipotle has a corporate policy to comp $100 of food a day. I have two friends that are managers at different Chipotle restaurants.

That can’t be right. Can it? That’s $36, 000 worth of food per year per location that’s given away.

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### Author: ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/14 "2005-04-30T13:16:52Z")

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> [@Askia](#):
>
> That can’t be right. Can it? That’s $36, 000 worth of food per year per location that’s given away.

$100 of food retail is probably costing them $30. From what I’ve seen of my little time in Chipotle, I’d bet they throw away more than that by the end of the day.

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### Author: ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/15 "2005-04-30T17:10:49Z")

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True. Plus I am positive it generates much more than that in increased business. If you suddenly got a free burrito, wouldn’t you be more likely to go there more often? Even if it made you go only 2 extra times per year, thats $12 coming in off a $6 expenditure/loss (in retail price), and they break even. Plus it generates goodwill and customer satisfaction.

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### Author: ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/16 "2005-04-30T17:39:53Z")

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It sounds like the free drink thing at Chipotles near a military base is similar to the free drinks for students at your school. The free Monday-in-April deal in SA was just that, only for a month, and the every-eighth-burrito-on-Tuesdays-is-free deal was for whichever person was in line, military or not.

We cracked that code by accident; my buddy and I got in line together and there were some high school kids hovering around the door that seemed kind of pissed off that there were two of us in line. The burrito-craftsperson explained the deal with the sticker on tinfoil (my buddy was only planning on getting a drink) and I guess she really didn’t want to give a burrito to these kids that were scamming their goodwill/marketing efffort, so she encouraged him to order a burrito and voila, it was free.

I agree with **CynicalGabe** that auto-hero worship is not the best reason for a military discount; though it’s certainly the business’ prerogative. Personally it makes me a little uncomfortable, so if a restaurant discounts my burger because I’m in uniform on my lunch break, cool. I don’t ask for it or show my ID when not in uniform and I don’t mind spending the extra few cents. I do appreciate that the business offers the discount and I know it’s good for the young enlisted troops who really don’t get paid enough. Additionally, you can chalk it up to marketing - to get the military folks out to buy more burritos near a military base, offer a military discount. To get the students out to buy more burritos near a college, offer a student discount. I definitely took advantage of those when I was in school - because I didn’t have much money!

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### Author: ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/17 "2005-05-01T07:11:56Z")

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I’m not automatically worshipping heros or people in uniform.

Perhaps what I meant to say was “These people have willingly signed up for the statistically significant opportunity to be seriously inujured or killed while working to maintain our rights of freedom of speech, pursuit of happiness, etc. I think they deserve a free burrito now and then.”

And yes, that does include \*\*Cynical Gabe’s \*\* right to think they’re better for the country than the targets, err, soldiers that we’re sending overseas, and his right to like stuff that looks like parsely but tastes like soap.

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### Author: ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2005, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/18 "2005-05-01T08:56:49Z")

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> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> his right to like stuff that looks like parsely but tastes like soap.

[Zel]

I wish we still lived in the day when you could challenge a person to a duel!

[/ZM]

😃

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### Author: ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/19 "2005-05-01T15:26:15Z")

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**gotpasswords** , either you’re getting very bad cilantro, or you use very tasty soap.

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### Author: ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-another-2-chipotle-burrito/301556/20 "2005-05-02T00:21:30Z")

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Tasting cilantro is a genetic thing. Some people taste it as soap, others taste it as, well, cilantro.

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