Arby's offers up 64-cent roast beef sandwiches in Facebook shill

Companies will do anything these days to get you to become their fan on Facebook. Free concert tickets? Check. Free donuts? Check. Deep discounts on sneakers? Check. Naturally, fast-food chains were way out in front of the trend, offering discounts to Facebook fans in exchange for them beaming marketing updates several times a day to everyone's favorite productivity-sucking website, the Facebook.

That's where Arby's comes in, with 64-cent Classic roast beef sandwiches this Saturday. As long as you become its fan on Facebook, of course.

To celebrate the founding of the chain by two brothers on July 23,1964, Arby's is offering the sandwich for 64 cents all day this Saturday, July 23. You have to hit up facebook.com/arbys (as of this writing, the coupon still hasn't been posted) to get your coupon. Also as of this writing, Arby's has not specified how many sandwiches one can buy, but it's a safe bet you won't be coming up with a garbage bag full of sandwiches on Saturday afternoon, which would actually be pretty great.

What Arby's says its Classic Roast Beef sandwich looks like:

What it looks like when you buy it in reality:

It's important to note that the comparison does not take into effect a variety of variables, most notably the hunger -- or the hangover -- of the consumer.

Here's the full release:

64-Cent Classic Roast Beef Sandwiches on Saturday, July 23

ATLANTA, July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 years ago, two brothers from Ohio - Forrest and Leroy Raffel - set out to shake-up the fast food industry. Their vision: a quick service restaurant that served something other than the standard burgers and fries. Thus, on July 23, 1964, Arby's was born. In celebration of its anniversary, this Saturday, July 23, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is offering customers nationwide its signature sandwich, the Classic Roast Beef, for just 64 cents all day long, with purchase of a 22 oz. drink (coupon required).* To receive a coupon, people must "like" Arby's at www.facebook.com/arbys.

The Classic Roast Beef sandwich is the hallmark of the Arby's experience, featuring mouthwatering roast beef that is slow roasted for three hours in-store daily, then freshly sliced and piled high on a toasted sesame seed bun. For the signature Arby's experience, smother the Classic Roast Beef with tangy Arby's Sauce® or zesty Horsey Sauce®.

"For nearly 50 years, Arby's has offered a variety of sandwiches, signature sides and shakes that put people in a good mood," said Bob Kraut, Senior Vice President, Advertising & Marketing Communications, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. "We're excited to celebrate our anniversary by giving people a chance to try the sandwich that started it all at this special price."

Some Arby's anniversary fun facts:
The first Arby's, in Boardman Ohio, had just 10 seats and was shaped like a Conestoga wagon

In addition to the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, potato cakes and Jamocha shakes are two other original menu items that remain among the most popular today

The Raffel Brothers originally wanted to name the restaurant "Big Tex," but settled on Arby's, which stands for R.B. (Raffel Brothers); to this day, many people still believe it stands for roast beef

The neon cowboy hat has been an Arby's icon since the chain launched in 1964

For more information, or to download the coupon, please visit www.facebook.com/arbys.
*Arby's Classic Roast Beef sandwiches are available at 64 cents with purchase of a 22 oz. beverage. The offer is valid on July 23, 2011 with Facebook coupon during regular business hours at participating locations. Limit one coupon per transaction. Not valid with any other coupon or offer.

About Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc.
Atlanta-based Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. with more than 3,600 restaurants systemwide. In addition to its classic Roast Beef and Beef 'n Cheddar sandwiches, slow-roasted and thinly sliced in store daily, Arby's is also known for its deli-style Market Fresh® line of sandwiches and salads, Curly Fries and Jamocha Shakes. The latest news includes the 2011 introduction of Arby's first premium Angus beef menu line called Ultimate Angus. To learn more about Arby's, please visit www.arbys.com.