Costco is making a rare change to its legendary $1.50 hot dog combo, but don’t worry: it’s a good one.
The price isn’t going up, staying true to the founder’s commitment to keep the famously cheap meal intact. Instead, Costco shoppers can now opt for bottled water as part of the combo, rather than being limited to a fountain soda alongside the oversized hot dog.
It’s the first notable tweak to the $1.50 deal in more than 40 years, dating back to its debut in the 1980s, according to USA Today.
This upgrade is seen as a major plus at a time when fast food chains are being accused of reducing portion sizes, at least according to people posting viral videos online about “shrinkflation.”
Costco, by contrast, has built a reputation around holding the line on its food court staple. CEO Ron Vachris recently reiterated that commitment, saying the $1.50 combo will “not change as long as I’m around.”
The promise echoes the stance of co-founder Jim Sinegal, who was famously adamant that the price never increase. Former CEO W. Craig Jelinek once recalled suggesting a price hike, only to be swiftly shut down.
“I came to (Sinegal) once and I said, ‘Jim, we can’t sell this hot dog for a buck fifty,” Jelinek said, according to Delish. “We are losing our rear ends.’ And he said, ‘If you raise the effing hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out.’ That’s all I really needed.”
While haters like to point out that the deal is only available to Costco members, with memberships starting around $65 annually, the combo remains one of the most iconic bargains in retail.
