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

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

#21

Post by bvc35 »

kodablah wrote: post #12

> When California recently enacted a soft drink tax that would have raised the consumer's cost, Costco locations in the state switched the combo to include Diet Pepsi. What are they going to switch to when the state enacts a hot dog tax? Or a fat tax? Or a preservative tax? Or a disposable cup tax?

While we're at it, let's add a sugar tax, high-fructose corn syrup tax, fried food tax, GMO-food tax, extra car taxes,poor-taste book tax, and a bad-movie-tax. Hopefully this will force people to do what I damn-well know they should be doing, and make them run their lives better than they could themselves.

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

#22

Post by gowld »

KSS42 wrote: post #19
gowld wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is that possible, for Costco or for any restaurant that has a self-serve soda fountain?

In those cities, Costco only offers diet drinks. They removed the sugary drinks from the fountain.

Aha. The article links to paywall-dodging cache link for a news item with more detail.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/05/03/costco-r...

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

#23

Post by jeremyt »

gowld wrote: post #18
biastoact wrote: post #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 y…

Your examples don't makes sense, as bread and milk (which Costco sells as multi-packs) keep fine in storage. Buying perishables and junk food would be a better example. Costco electronics prices are competitive and have the best return policy and practice in the industry.

In what world does milk "keep fine in storage"?

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

#24

Post by ouid »

jeremyt wrote: post #23
gowld wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your examples don't makes sense, as bread and milk (which Costco sells as multi-packs) keep fine in storage. Buying perishables and junk food would be a better example. Costco electronics prices are competitive and have the best return policy and practice in the industry.

In what world does milk "keep fine in storage"?

The modern world. Milk no longer goes bad quickly.

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

#26

Post by mywittyname »

gowld wrote: post #18
biastoact wrote: post #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 y…

Your examples don't makes sense, as bread and milk (which Costco sells as multi-packs) keep fine in storage. Buying perishables and junk food would be a better example. Costco electronics prices are competitive and have the best return policy and practice in the industry.

Bread and milk are considered by most people to be perishable -- they go bad within a few weeks of purchase.

Non-perishable goods are canned or sealed items that can be kept for years in cool, dark, dry places.

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

#27

Post by wtfreally »

aviv wrote: post #5
neogodless wrote: post #4

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.

How do you get sick eating Panda Express?

You can get veggies and noodles in addition to meat there...

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

#28

Post by wtfreally »

aviv wrote: post #9
onetimemanytime wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> 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.

How is Panda Express a "disease-forming food"

Is all Chinese food "disease forming", in your downvoted opinion?

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

#29

Post by pooya13 »

It's also interesting how they design the warehouses to place the unnecessary items in the front (where you are excited to shop) and the essentials at the back (where you might be more hesitant to pick up anything). They also sometimes reduce prices on memorable items to induce the sense of affordability for the whole store.

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

#30

Post by ballenf »

arkades wrote: post #17
1701d wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except you don't have to be a member to eat at Costco.

You have to be a member, or accompanying a member, to walk in the door. The hot dogs lie beyond the checkpoint.

The membership checkers are there to give members the feeling of exclusivity and belonging. They do not generally turn people away and will accept basically any reason from "meeting someone" to no response at all, in my experience. But I haven't been to more than half dozen Costco's, so can't speak broadly.
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