COSTCO fans predict the retail chain will not offer discounts on books after bosses announced the wholesalers would stop selling books all year round.
Costco chiefs have already removed books from shelves in stores in Alaska and Hawaii, but the policy will be rolled out nationwide.
Costco will stop selling books all year round, according to reports[/caption]
This policy shift will come into force in January of next year, as reported by The New York Times.
Members now predict that the wholesaler will send the books it has already stocked back to the publishers instead of selling them for a discount.
One shopper posted on Reddit: “I suspect Costco will send the books back to the publishers.
“Walmart’s terms say they could return stock back for a full refund for any reason, up to two years after initial delivery.
“It’s a big risk going into big box stores unless you’re confident the sell-thru rate will be good.”
Execs revealed the decision had been taken just to sell books between September and December.
This would mean members could buy their favorite tomes as presents for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
However, a report in Publisher’s Weekly suggests that books will be sold all year round at 100 stores.
Costco has not commented on the speculation.
The wholesaler’s decision to stop selling books all year round has raised eyebrows among some.
Bookworms admitted they were relieved that there are Barnes and Noble stores near them.
Others fear that buying a book at a store like Costco is becoming a thing of the past.
“It pains me to say this, but the home library is a thing of the past,” a shopper said.
Shoppers have discussed the impact of the audiobook market.
“I haven’t read a book from beginning to end in a number of years,” a shopper said.
“Audible is awesome and when I do wanna book I can get it from my library within one or two weeks.”
The move to stop selling books all year round was met with disdain on Reddit.
Shoppers reminisced that the children’s section was great.
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they’ve been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
Avid readers said the books section was their favorite part of the warehouse.
Research from Publishers Weekly, obtained by USA Today, revealed stores such as Costco only make up 4% of book sales.
The outlet also reported that Costco’s Canadian stores have also been scaling back their book sales.
Costco is not only in the headlines for scaling back its reading section.
The U.S. Sun has reported how bosses hiked the price of a membership for the first time in seven years earlier this year.
A standard subscription now costs $65 instead of $60.
BJ’s Wholesale Club has confirmed that the price of a membership will rise next year.
Costco has been heavily criticized for clamping down on shoppers without a membership.
The wholesaler has been criticized for rolling out a new policy requiring shoppers to scan their membership cards rather than show them to a worker.
Those who do not have a photograph on their card have been forced to show extra proof of identity, sparking outrage.
