The $1.50 hot dog and soda combo at the Costco food court, which somehow hasn't changed its price since the 1980s, is something of a legend, like Prometheus stealing fire, or George Santos' resume. The loss leader has brought customers in droves to Costco's warehouses over the years, a fact not lost on co-founder James Sinegal, who is reported to have once replied, "I will kill you," in response to CEO Craig Jelinek's proposal to raise the $1.50 price.
So Costco's combo is still the best deal in encased meats you can get, right? Look out: Sam's Club, Walmart's membership-based warehouse brand, has entered the chat.
Sam's Club has its own $1.50 hot dog combo. And late last year, it announced it was dropping the price to $1.38 — a whopping 12 cents cheaper! The move, while perhaps not budging anyone's pocketbook (or Walmart's bottom line) in any meaningful way, was certainly a symbolic gauntlet thrown in Costco's general direction.
