Costco, the land of bulk everything—from toilet paper to tubs of peanut butter—has decided books just aren’t worth the shelf space anymore. Starting in January, the beloved book section in most U.S. Costco stores will be history, except for a brief seasonal revival from September to December. For bookworms who’ve enjoyed snagging bestsellers alongside their six-gallon jugs of olive oil, this is, frankly, a letdown.
The reasoning? Stocking books is “labor-intensive,” Costco says because books can’t be stacked and moved by forklift like the pallets of Kirkland bacon or the cases of bottled water. Let’s pause here. Costco can handle pallets of flat-screen TVs but can’t figure out how to efficiently stock a few tables of hardcovers? Sounds more like a convenient excuse than a legitimate logistical nightmare.
Of course, the real villain here is Amazon—or so the story goes. With consumers increasingly buying books online, Costco sees the writing on the wall (or the Kindle screen) and is trimming the fat. But isn’t Costco’s whole business model about offering the things you need in person, in bulk, at unbeatable prices? Apparently, that philosophy doesn’t extend to books, despite their popularity among customers.
Costco will stop selling books year-round in January in most US stores: reports https://t.co/dMlObdGrFA pic.twitter.com/tVow1Fl6V2
— New York Post (@nypost) November 30, 2024
The decision isn’t universal. About 100 stores will keep year-round book sections, but for most shoppers, Costco’s books will become as seasonal as pumpkin spice lattes and inflatable snowmen. Unless, of course, the Eras Tour book changes everything. Yes, Costco is reportedly watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour book sales at Target to decide whether books deserve a broader comeback. Because nothing says “commitment to literature,” like letting Taylor Swift fandom dictate the future of your book aisles.
Making room for double chunk chocolate chip cookies pic.twitter.com/DDSxmfnzXX
— Repo Mang (@Repo_Mang) November 30, 2024
This move feels like a missed opportunity. Costco’s book tables weren’t just a sales gimmick—they were a quiet little treasure trove for families, avid readers, and bargain hunters alike. They offered something the Amazons of the world can’t: the joy of discovering a great read while buying a 72-pack of granola bars. But hey, why prioritize enriching minds when you can just sell more tubs of mayonnaise?
Here’s hoping Costco rethinks this one. Maybe instead of scrapping books, they could innovate—streamline stocking methods, feature local authors, or even gasp cater to the customers who’ve always appreciated their affordable literary offerings. After all, a store that can sell a 40-pound bag of dog food should be able to figure out how to keep The Nightingale on the shelves.
