Live data from Hacker News

The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

mentalfloss.com

1–10 of 135 posts

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#2
Cumberland Farms doesn't cost much different. Hotdogs are about the cheapest possible meat, and fountain soda costs nothing, effectively.

My dark secret is that I absolutely love gas station hot dogs. Especially at old country stores that have a steamer loaded with red hotdogs on one side and the buns on the other.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#3
The last thing they want to do is make it more expensive for their members to feed themselves sickness and disease. Costco reaps the benefits of having unhealthy members in their Pharmacy department among others, including over consumption of other food items, especially prepared factory foods and lower quality animal products.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#4
post #3

The last thing they want to do is make it more expensive for their members to feed themselves sickness and disease. Costco reaps the benefits of having unhealthy members in their Pharmacy department among others, including over consumption of other food items, especially prepared factory foods and lower quality animal products.

Your cynicism is misplaced. CostCo may be a large money-making company, but they really seem to be "one of the good guys." They take care of their employees and are a well-liked consumer brand.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#5
post #3

The last thing they want to do is make it more expensive for their members to feed themselves sickness and disease. Costco reaps the benefits of having unhealthy members in their Pharmacy department among others, including over consumption of other food items, especially prepared factory foods and lower quality animal products.

Your cynicism is misplaced. CostCo may be a large money-making company, but they really seem to be "one of the good guys." They take care of their employees and are a well-liked consumer brand.

Taking care of employees has nothing to do with what I said. Tobacco companies also take care of their people.

Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#6
post #3

The last thing they want to do is make it more expensive for their members to feed themselves sickness and disease. Costco reaps the benefits of having unhealthy members in their Pharmacy department among others, including over consumption of other food items, especially prepared factory foods and lower quality animal products.

Your cynicism is misplaced. CostCo may be a large money-making company, but they really seem to be "one of the good guys." They take care of their employees and are a well-liked consumer brand.

Costco has the highest employee satisfaction according to Glassdoor of any major US retailer. From what I've been able to find they have really good benefits and pay as well.

I personally have bought a bit of Costco stock just because I like supporting businesses that treat their employees well. Everyone I know who worked at or works at Costco can attest to that.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your cynicism is misplaced. CostCo may be a large money-making company, but they really seem to be "one of the good guys." They take care of their employees and are a well-liked consumer brand.

Taking care of employees has nothing to do with what I said. Tobacco companies also take care of their people. Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products.

The real problem with what you said is probably the visit frequency of your average Costco customer. It's not likely to be the place you go often enough to get unhealthy off the hot dogs - the whole point is stocking up on items in bulk. A hotdog a month isn't going to make you need blood pressure or cholesterol meds.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#8
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your cynicism is misplaced. CostCo may be a large money-making company, but they really seem to be "one of the good guys." They take care of their employees and are a well-liked consumer brand.

Taking care of employees has nothing to do with what I said. Tobacco companies also take care of their people. Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products.

>>Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products.

Free will. You may become e vegan, but I want to eat meat products and drink beer. I will bear any consequences, if any, just like that person that doesn't exercise.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taking care of employees has nothing to do with what I said. Tobacco companies also take care of their people. Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products.

>> Panda Express and Five Guys are also well-liked by the customers who get sick consuming their products. Free will. You may become e vegan, but I want to eat meat products and drink beer. I will bear any consequences, if any, just like that person that doesn't exercise.

I agree. Adults have free will. I cringe though every time I see an adult feed their kids such nasty disease forming foods. Borderline child abuse.

Re: The Enduring Enigma of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

#10
It is not unlike Prime Video and Prime Music (among others). When you run a membership program you create offers that increase the perceived value of the membership and engagement with your ecosystem. Similar is Costco gas, people wouldn’t drive out of their way for the discount if they didn’t already pay the membership. And while you are there you might as well pick up four times the bread you need, more milk than you consume in a week, a new camera (that was probably cheaper online), and a hot dog on your way out. Getting the value out of that $100 membership leads people to consume far more than they normally would.
Post reply on HN