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Costco quietly makes change to famous $1.50 hot dog combo

Nbcwashington · · 559 words · By Chrissy Callahan; TODAY
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/costco-quiet-change-hot-do…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

13 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 7
schedule Pending 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 1
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“Fans of Costco’s popular hot dog combo now have another drink option to choose from when they order the $1.50 meal.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results report that Costco updated its hot dog combo to include a bottled water option alongside the traditional soda, indicating a new drink choice for the meal. This is reported by multiple independent news/blog sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — To view products on Costco.com, either type what you’re looking for into the Search box, or mouse over "Shop" to view our different categories. Simply click on the name or picture of an item to naviga…
https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — To search for a product online at Costco.com, enter a keyword or an item number into the search engine at the top. If the item you’re seeking is in stock and available for purchase, your search will p…
https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Find your nearest Costco warehouse location and explore helpful self-service options for customer support.
https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/answer_view/a…
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“The membership warehouse club is known for its steep discounts on household essentials, but its food court has also gained a loyal following for offering the affordable hot dog and soda combo, whose price hasn’t increased since the 1980s.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the hot dog combo is a staple known for its steady price. One source mentions the combo has not changed since 1985, and another notes the price has not changed in over 40 years, corroborating the claim that the price has remained stable since the 1980s.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Costco Wholesale Corporation, trading as Costco, is an American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Costco hot dog is a 1⁄4-pound (110-gram) hot dog sold at the international warehouse club Costco's food courts. It is notable for its steady price and cult following as a combo deal with a soda at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco_hot_dog
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — James D. Sinegal (born January 1, 1936) is an American businessman, co-founder and former CEO of the Costco Wholesale Corporation, an international retail chain. He served as Costco's president and CE…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sinegal
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Recently, many customers have noticed that Costco is now offering the option to order a water bottle with a hot dog instead of a 20-ounce soda.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Costco is offering a bottled water option (e.g., 16.5 Kirkland's water bottle) as an alternative to the 20-ounce fountain soda for the hot dog combo.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Andrew "A.J." Befumo Jr. (born January 16, 1976) and Eric Justice Befumo (born April 8, 2013), collectively known online as both A.J. & Big Justice and the Costco Guys, are American social media perso…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._&_Big_Justice
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Costco Wholesale Corporation, trading as Costco, is an American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Costco hot dog is a 1⁄4-pound (110-gram) hot dog sold at the international warehouse club Costco's food courts. It is notable for its steady price and cult following as a combo deal with a soda at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco_hot_dog
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“One Instagram user recently shared a screenshot of the updated menu, which includes a Hot Dog & Soda Combo and a Hot Dog & Water Combo, both for $1.50.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm the introduction of the water option and the $1.50 price point, indicating the combo includes both the hot dog and the water option at the stated price.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Costco Wholesale Corporation, trading as Costco, is an American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Costco hot dog is a 1⁄4-pound (110-gram) hot dog sold at the international warehouse club Costco's food courts. It is notable for its steady price and cult following as a combo deal with a soda at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco_hot_dog
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A loss leader (also leader) is a pricing strategy where a product is sold at a price below its market cost to stimulate other sales of more profitable goods or services. With this sales promotion/mark…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_leader
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“In November, one customer shared a video of herself purchasing the hot dog and water bottle combo.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results cite a specific instance where a customer shared a video of purchasing the hot dog and water bottle combo, confirming the timing and nature of the change.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — According to a Reddit post shared by a Costco member in Virginia, customers can pair their hot dog with a 16.9-ounce bottle of Kirkland Signature water, instead of a soda.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/costco-hot-dog-comb…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This may be tough for some chowhounds to swallow. Costco, a members-only warehouse club, oft-praised for its $1.50 hot dog combo, which offers shoppers the meaty treat and a 20-ounce refillable ...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/food-and-drink/beverages/costco-ma…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In November, one customer shared a video of herself purchasing the hot dog and water bottle combo.
https://www.today.com/food/news/costco-hot-dog-combo-options…
info
“One Canadian customer said their local store in Toronto had already been rolling out the menu update “for several months” at the time.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the web search results discuss the water option, the specific detail that the Toronto store had been rolling out the update 'for several months' is not corroborated by other sources. The evidence is limited to the general announcement of the change.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Costco Wholesale Corporation, trading as Costco, is an American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of the east–west expressways and arterial thoroughfares in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The city is organized in a grid pattern dating back to the plan laid out by Augustus Jones …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_east–west_roads_in_Tor…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A warehouse club (or wholesale club) is a retail store, usually selling a wide variety of merchandise, in which customers may purchase large, wholesale quantities of products, which makes these clubs …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warehouse_club
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“In 2024, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip addressed concerns that the store may need to raise the combo’s price amid increasing inflation.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results report that CFO Gary Millerchip addressed concerns about the combo's price amid inflation, specifically mentioning the $1.50 price point and the context of the Q3 2024 earnings call.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Costco hot dog is a 1⁄4-pound (110-gram) hot dog sold at the international warehouse club Costco's food courts. It is notable for its steady price and cult following as a combo deal with a soda at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco_hot_dog
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A hot dog and drink combo at Costco.Costco hot dog price comparison among countries (exchange rate accurate as of Feb 2026). Country. Meat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco_hot_dog
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Costco’s new chief financial officer has a reassuring message for inflation-weary customers: don’t worry about the price of the $1.50 hot dog-soda combo.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/31/food/costco-hot-dog-price
+ 1 more evidence source
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““To clear up some recent media speculation, I also want to confirm the $1.50 hot dog price is safe,” Millerchip said during the chain’s Q3 2024 earnings call.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Gary Millerchip stated during the Q3 2024 earnings call that the $1.50 hot dog combo price was 'safe' to clear up media speculation.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On May 30, Costco's newly-minted CFO Gary Millerchip said during the chain's Q3 2024 earnings call that the price of its iconic hot dog and soda combo will stay firm at $1.50 as it has since ...
https://www.today.com/food/news/costco-hot-dog-deal-price-rc…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — "To clear up some recent media speculation, I also want to confirm the $1.50 hot dog price is safe," said Millerchip, shortly after welcoming attendees to the company's Q3 earnings call.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/costco-cfo-makes-announcement…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The retailer's new finance chief Gary Millerchip is staying the course on the company's popular $1.50 hot dog and soda combo pricing.
https://www.cfodive.com/news/costcos-cfo-calls-150-hot-dogs-…
help
“The statement came after Millerchip’s predecessor, Richard Galanti, had suggested that the combo’s price could change, telling Bloomberg, “It’s probably safe for a while.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to support the claim regarding Richard Galanti's specific suggestion to Bloomberg about the price being 'probably safe for a while.'
help
“Previously in 2022, Galanti said Costco had no plans of increasing the combo’s price, maybe “forever.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to support the claim that Richard Galanti stated in 2022 that Costco had no plans to increase the hot dog combo's price.
schedule
“In 2024, Galanti told Axios that Costco locations with outside food courts would begin requiring membership cards to order from its menu.”
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“The same year, Costco announced it was raising customer membership fees for the first time since 2017.”
PENDING
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“And in 2025, its food court swapped out Pepsi products for those from Coca-Cola. It had served Pepsi since 2013, when it switched from Coca-Cola after 27 years.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.