- Costco will stop selling books on a year-round basis starting in January.
- The decision is aimed at reducing the workload for Costco staff.
- The change marks a symbolic blow to an industry already battered by rising costs and slumping print sales.
That pile of books in the middle of your local Costco may not be around for much longer.
The New York Times reported earlier this week, citing four anonymous publishing executives, that Costco plans to stop selling year-round book subscriptions starting in January 2025. Instead, the wholesale retailer will only sell books on an ongoing basis during the four-month period at the end of the year, when holiday shopping is most popular.
A Costco representative did not respond to a request for comment, but the publication confirmed the company’s decision to USA Today.
Costco may not be the nation’s largest bookstore — Publishers Weekly editor-in-chief Jim Milliot estimates that Costco and big-box stores like Target combined account for just 4% of book sales — but the change marks a symbolic blow to an industry already struggling to keep up with rising operating costs.
“There was a certain pride in the publishing industry that books weren’t just for the elite, but had a place in the mass market,” said Thad McIlroy, a publishing industry analyst and author. “It meant a lot to the industry that Costco was a strong outlet. It would not be good to see Costco become just another Christmas gift.”
What does this mean for Costco members?
Costco’s decision comes from the amount of labor required to stock books — books must be removed from boxes and stacked by hand, one by one, while other items are simply placed on pallets — and the company has already stopped selling books at its warehouses in Hawaii and Alaska in 2022.
Costco’s limited book selection has made it a convenient place for shoppers to pick up a book to read on the beach or check out a new cookbook while running errands. Now, that means one less opportunity to access books, which McIlroy said is a “big problem” for consumers.
“(Some people) are just not bookstore people. They don’t buy books on Amazon. So I think there’s a fair amount of people who find their reading pleasure at Costco, and that number is going to be significantly reduced,” he said.
Penny Clark Ianniciello, who worked as a book buyer for Costco for 32 years before retiring from the company in 2021, posted on LinkedIn that she was saddened by the news, but said Costco “will need to modify to meet its business needs” and that the publishing industry will find new ways to sell and promote publishing listings.
“I hope that true bookworms will discover new independent bookstores and that those who once ‘roamed’ the book selection will once again visit other retailers and libraries for their literary needs,” she said in the post. “There will be some unsettling times ahead and uncomfortable adjustments. I, too, will be making new plans for my book buying.”
Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog:Costco’s hot dog prices are ‘safe’, company’s new management says
“It’s a really tough time for publishers.”
Costco’s decision comes amid a decline in print book sales in the U.S. The book industry saw print sales of 767 million copies last year, down 3% from 2022, according to a February report from market research firm Circana.
The company noted that rising household debt could further restrict consumer spending on big-ticket titles, especially after the holiday season.
“It’s a really tough time for publishers of all sizes,” McIlroy said, “so to have something like this happen at a time when you’re feeling down is not a good thing.”
Publishing industry analyst Jane Friedman said that while a significant portion of some book sales come from Costco members, the company’s decision means little to the average author.
“Costco typically sells books and authors that are already hugely successful,” she said in an emailed statement. “While this is unwelcome news for bestselling authors and major publishers, it doesn’t change how publishing decisions are made. No one is going to buy a book thinking, ‘That’s a Costco book!’ It’s like icing on a cake.”
McIlroy agreed: “The ones who will really feel the pain are probably some authors and publishers.”
