In 2009, the Seattle Times asked Costco co-founder (and then-CEO) Jim Sinegal, “If [the price of the hot dog] ever goes up, what will it mean?” Sinegal replied, “That I’m dead.”
Craig Jelinek, Sinegal’s successor as CEO, revealed in 2018 that he approached Sinegal about raising the price of the hot dog combo, saying, “Jim, we can’t sell this hot dog for a buck fifty. We are losing our rear ends.” According to Jelinek, Sinegal replied, “If you raise the effing hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out.”
Coincidentally, that’s around the time when they stopped offering onions.
Yo Costco hot dog is great. It isn’t perfect but it serves its $1.50 purpose. The utility hot dog.
The value improves the taste
This is unironically the best description
It was a lot better when they had onions. But in the constant tightening of corporate belts in pursuit of that perpetual growth, we lost those too.
You can request them and they give you a cup!
Oh yeah? Well that’s news to me! Perhaps I’ll start ordering the hotdog combo again!
I love me some hot dogs.
I do not like Costco hot dogs. There. I said it.
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You get a hot dog and a drink at $1.50.
Was near a Costco today and decided to grab a hot dog for lunch. Turns out, you now need a membership to buy from the food court.
Sigh, the decline of civilization continues
They shouldn’t card you to go in the exit, which is where the food court is. That’s also where the service and returns desk are. Just waltz in and head on over.
They specifically check at certain locations now: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/costco-food-court-hot-dog-membership-card/
Yep, the food court is outside the entrance and you have to show a card to buy food
And there’s no onions!
Nobody likes it, they like feeling thrifty after buying a bootload of pickles or whatever the fuck
I like it, but I have low standards
It’s filling and doesn’t taste like crap. Add ketchup, mustard, relish and if they have them onions (at the counter) to taste. It gets the job done.
Yep, the onions are a must
They’re always out 😢
They used to have hot peppers too before COVID.
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Wtf? I love Costco hot dogs.
I used to like their Polish dogs but they got rid of them to cut costs. I didn’t renew my membership after that.
I do miss the Polish and combo pizza.
OMG, I literally thought I was only one. I dropped my membership for that exact reason. I was on the fence, but that was enough for me.
They have them up in Canada still.
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Are you secretly the CEO of Costco or just a shareholder 😂
I never get the hotdog. It’s all about the chicken bake.
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I recall seeing chicken bakes for sale inside Costco (not the food counter) and realizing that they were not the same thing.
I used to eat them all the time at home when they had the frozen ones at my store. Then they stopped carrying them.
Don’t understand the thing with the food court. The five buck chickens are huge but I have tried and not been impressed by the food court fair including the hot dogs. I get that they are cheap but the whole chickens are cheap and yummy.
Taste is subjective! It’s ok not to like it, but for many it is a beloved and iconic place to eat. The rotisseries are another costco classic for sure.
