Costco shoppers have beef with a new big-ticket item in the food court

Business

By Mary Kay Linen

February 25, 2023 | 1:38 p.m.

Price-conscious shoppers are broadcasting a beef with Costco – chiming in on the jaw-dropping price of the latest item from the discount warehouse food court.

The $9.99 roast beef sandwich that appeared on the menu at a Costco store in Lynnwood, Wash., last week was a huge departure for a big-box retailer that has made its mark with its famous hot dog and soda combo at $1.50, Whole roast chicken at $5 and 18-inch pepperoni pizza at $9.95.

“Is wagyu beef?” Reddit user wats6831.

“It should be for $10.”

The high-roller’s hoagie — a 790-calorie concoction of sliced ​​roast beef, roasted cherry tomatoes, red onions, lettuce and onion relish on an “artisanal roll” — garnered more than 500 incredulous reactions when a Costco member posted a photo of the store. menu board on Reddit on Sunday.

“Only a little more expensive than two whole roast chickens,” sniffed a miffed buyer.

“A roast chicken, a slice of pizza and a hot dog with a combo drink are always cheaper than this sandwich,” said another bargain hunter. “Difficult pass.”

“Just tried the sandwich,” said another. “It was good, but not good at $10…It’s hard to go when you know you could have a whole pizza.”

Costco CEO Craig Jelinek revealed in December that the big-box retailer had maintained its $1.50 price for the hot dog and soda meal despite soaring inflation by making its own franks — and accepting cheap meals as a loss leader for hungry doorstep shoppers.

“Are we getting a lot of margin out of it? No,” admitted Jelinek.

Other items sold in the food courts at the front of Costco’s store are also wallet-friendly. The chain charges $3.99 for a hot turkey and provolone sandwich, $4.99 for a BBQ beef brisket sandwich, and $1.99 for a slice of pizza.

The Lynnwood outlet is located 30 miles from Costco’s headquarters in Issaquah, sparking speculation that the new food is part of a nefarious corporate plan.

“That’s how when the next new items start coming in at $7-$8 apiece, they look like a bargain,” said one cynical commenter.

The ‘Costco brides’ have become famous on social media in recent months as shoppers seek bargains in an inflation-ridden economy.