Hey, folks. Slug here. So I've fulfilled a couple Random Acts of Taco Bell and wanted to just give y'all a few quick tips for making it a smooth and rewarding experience.

FOR GIFTERS

• Ask for all of the information you need from the get-go. That is the receiver's local store address, whether they are going in-store or drive-thru, the time they want their food, and of course their order. You avoid necessary back-and-forth messaging and delays by having everything you need in as few messages as possible. Yeah, you don't need the time if they're going drive-thru, but smoothness is improved by a minimization of messages and you don't know their pick-up preference from the outset so get it even if you end up not needing it.
• Don't be afraid to ask for clarifying information in the request thread before committing to fulfilling the request. If something is unclear, ask! Is the request for multiple people? Is it for more than one meal's worth of food? These can be important things to know if you are being helpful, but didn't expect to be dropping a ton of money. You don't want to go in thinking you're buying someone a meal only to find out he wants 4 party packs or something and you feel obligated now.
• When using the app to place the order, make sure you select the correct store location first, before entering the order in. Not all locations have the same food, options and prices and if you spend the time to put the order together then change the store location at checkout, it may adjust things in the order unexpectedly. You also run the risk of ordering their order to your default local store by accident if you forget to change it from the outset (Yes, I've done this).
• You don't have to and it isn't expected, but don't be afraid to surprise your recipients. I often like to throw in a couple cinnaballs or twists to an order. They're inexpensive and a nice extra surprise can brighten up the day of someone who is in a bad spot.
• The app can get wonky sometimes, especially after updates and the launch day of new experiences. Don't forget that everything the app can do you can also do on http://ta.co . If the app is being dumb, try the website!
• Don't worry if you don't get a Thank You post. Sometimes people forget, sometimes people just don't bother. It happens. Those threads always feel great, but did you do this to make someone's day with tacos or did you do it for a pat on the back? At the end of the day, thread or no thread, we love you for it. :)
• Come join the Taco Bell / LivingMas Discord! You can chat about all things Taco Bell with fellow fans and there is also a #randomactsoftacobell channel with a bot that posts every time someone posts in this sub. No more pesky refreshing. Never miss a request or a thanks thread again!

FOR RECIPIENTS/GIFTEES:

• When you send that initial message to someone fulfilling your request, be sure to included all necessary information. Your Bell's address, whether you are going inside of using the drive-thru, what time you want to get your food, and of course your order. Having to keep messaging back and forth to answer all these questions just needlessly draws out the process.
• Sorry, but as far as I can tell the app won't let us put the order under a different name. If the gifter made his or her name in the app something like "Sparkles" when they created their Taco Bell account well, then... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• Be up front about how many people or meals you are ordering for. Do it in your request post. While several of us don't mind buying for multiple people or larger orders to get you multiple meals, not everyone can and gifters should know what they're getting into before committing. It's never fun to read, "Hey I could really use lunch today" only to be hit with a $30 request in DMs because it turns out the requester really meant him, his wife, and his kid for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow or a meal now and several party packs to last a couple days. Again, some of us are fine doing stuff like that, but not everyone is. Just be up front about it in your initial request post so nobody is blindsided.
• When messaging someone who has offered to fulfill your request, try to use Reddit's regular direct message system. Reddit has a "chat" system for messaging other users, but many of us use 3rd party apps to interact with Reddit (BaconReader, RiF, Sync, etc.) many of which don't or can't see those chat notifications. I've waited for hours for a response from a recipient only to realize that they'd messaged me using the chat system and I didn't see it until I got home and opened Reddit in an actual browser. Use the direct message system; it's the only method you can almost guarantee everyone will be able to see no matter how they consume Reddit.
• Be patient on the day of and possibly the day following a new Experience being released. As we saw recently with the launch of the Reaper Ranch, people can get very excited about new menu items. This causes Taco Bell's website to go down, the app to time out or crash, and more. We know you're excited too, but if online ordering isn't working we may have to ask if we can instead fulfill your request the next day or something when everything calms down.
• Don't be afraid to ask for customizations! The app makes it easy and you just might give us some good ideas for our own meals.
• Perhaps most important, don't forget the "Thanks" thread. Gifters here aren't in it for any reward. They're just good folk trying to do a good thing by spreading around some of that Taco Bell cheer. Give them back that little dopamine hit to perk up their day.

I hope y'all find this useful. If you have any other tips I'd love to hear them. :)

Gifter or recipient, you're all awesome. Keep Living Mas. :)