Costco's food court famously sells a hot dog and soda combo for $1.50. This price has remained the same since the retailer introduced it in 1984. Costco has made several changes over the years to maintain this price, including moving their hot dog production in-house and changing their soft drink provider to Pepsi. ¹⁾

Costco sells large quantities of goods, often in bulk packaging. Typically, wholesale warehouses target the retail customer (i.e., stores) and set a second price level for merchandise after the manufacturer, earning a margin. Customers are required to document their business activities and pay an annual membership fee. ²⁾

To shop at Costco, you must have purchased a membership, as evidenced by a plastic card with your photo, which is checked at the entrance and at the checkout. Purchases made through the website do not require any ID, although non-members must pay an additional 5% on the price of each product. ³⁾

To avoid brokerage fees, Costco does not accept credit cards. Exceptions include Visa Card (as of 2020) and debit cards. You can also pay by cash and check. ⁴⁾

In the 2000s, Costco received permission through a Washington state court decision to buy wines directly from producers, breaking the state monopoly. ⁵⁾