The change starts in 2025.
Costco is set to discontinue selling books in most of its U.S. stores starting in January. The company announced that its popular book section will be removed from the majority of its more than 600 locations, with plans to only bring books back seasonally, from September to December, and during other occasional periods.
The decision to scale back book sales was influenced by the labor-intensive process of stocking books, which requires manual placement instead of using forklifts like other products. Additionally, the rise of online shopping, particularly through platforms like Amazon, has contributed to the decline in in-store book sales.
However, around 100 Costco locations across the U.S. will continue to carry books throughout the year. This move marks a shift from earlier plans to eliminate books entirely. The store is also closely monitoring sales trends, including those for Taylor Swift’s official Eras Tour book, which is exclusively sold at Target. If book sales remain strong, Costco may consider expanding its book selection in stores or keeping it as a seasonal offering across all locations.
