Costco to stop selling books in surprise blow to publishers: report

New York Post ^ | 06/06/2024 | Ariel Zilber

[SeekAndFind]

Costco will no longer offer books for sale year-round and will instead stock them only for the holiday shopping period and during special promotions, according to a report — a surprise move that poses yet another threat to the publishing industry.

Several publishing executives who were informed of the retailer’s plans told The New York Times that Costco will cease offering books for sale on a consistent basis starting in January.

The decision was met with criticism on Reddit, where users vented that the decision was akin to “cancelling the hot dog in the food court” — a reference to Costco’s beloved $1.50 hot dog-and-soda bundle deal that remains a hit with customers.

The executives said that Costco was looking to cut back on labor costs associated with stocking books, which is often done by hand.

Unlike books, many of Costco’s other products are rolled out on a pallet.

Costco staffers also have to devote considerable manpower to put new books on display every week when they are released for sale while returning old books that went unsold.

The decision is a blow to the publishing industry given that Costco buys books in bulk — ordering tens of thousands of copies of a book at a minimum — and offers them for sale to shoppers who may not otherwise seek them out.

“Costco across the country was a big outlet for books,” Robert Gottlieb, a literary agent who heads Trident Media Group, told the Times.

“There are now fewer and fewer places to buy books in a retail environment.”

Last week, Costco reported robust earnings in its most recent quarter as cash-strapped consumers flocked to its warehouses to grab low-priced discretionary items and groceries.

[Billthedrill]

I have an extensive hard copy library that cannot be revoked, revised, disappeared or otherwise fvcked with, as repressive regimes tend to do.

Like ours. I have a fairly extensive library of both real books and Kindle, and the latter really excited me with the idea of a whole library in my pocket. Until the 1984 scandal. There one day, gone the next. Amazon says they'll never do it again. Sure they won't.

These can be backed up, however. There are several free Kindle format converters that will take that AMZ format to a PDF and free you from the greasy Amazon fingers riffling over your collection.

I've gotten into the habit, though, of purchasing a dead tree edition of anything I think is good enough to justify the shelf space. Because you never know. The idea of politically correct teams of "firemen" burning your library was perfectly silly when Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451, but it's very believable now. Maybe I'll bury mine for a future and more deserving generation...

[HartleyMBaldwin]

When/if the grid goes down, people with books will be at a comfortable advantage. No batteries required.

Time enough at last! Just make sure you have spare glasses.

[OneVike]

Nothing like a book in my hand to rerad as I sit in my recliner. I have a whole library, and while I do use online for gathering information when working on my Bible commentaries, there is nothing like reading a book as I sit back listening to a little classical music.

I have some books that date back to the early 1800s, and I still pull them out to read. The image below is just the books around my desk. I have many more on bookshelves behind me from where I took the picture.

[OneVike]

I suggest you checkout my self published book. I have been told the editing is great, and I did it myself.

[tired&retired]

I’m limiting myself to 20,000 books in my home. Not kidding. It’s my addiction.

I owned a bookstore for many years, and every time someone ordered a good book, I got one too. (Inventory shrinkage) All non-fiction.

My bookshelves are 10 ft high with two wooden rolling library ladders.

Problem is, I have a second home with about the same number of books.

[laplata]

Lol That’s right.

[laplata]

Great point.

[laplata]

👍

[moovova]

I still have a few college textbooks around.

Don’t ask me why.

[Lizavetta]

I feel the same. I enjoy a real book. Books are treasures.

Agreed. Hardbacks if possible.

A house with bookshelves full of books is so comforting. I've been in homes where there are none and the feeling is off putting. Something missing, an emptiness, a lacking. Can't quite explain it.

[JimRed]

If they were selling, COSTCO would continue to stock them.

[JimRed]

Besides, most of the books on print that I want to read are available at our library system.

Liberal librarians will go out of their way to bury conservative literature and promote progressive crap.

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will. Your page on Amazon sold me! :-)

[aMorePerfectUnion]

#metoo

[ridesthemiles]

I have ALOT of paperback books & fewer hard cover books.

Except for certain ones good for pedigree research....MY will gives them all to a local retirement home.

[OneVike]

Thank you

[Political Junkie Too]

"Books, young man, books. Thousands of them. If time wasn't so important, I'd show you something. My library. Thousands of books."

-PJ

[SunkenCiv]

The books display had shrunk dramatically over recent years, at least at the Costcos around here. Even during the holidays the display space devoted to books has been perhaps half the size of the former everyday display.

On the other hand, Amazon doesn't sell rotisserie chicken. :^)

Because the books sold at Costco included books on science topics, as well as history, bio, and politics, his ping is to five lists, including GGG, but I don't want to put all the regular ping messages in it.

• catastrophism topics list
• pages topics list
• stringtheory topics list
• xplanets topics list

[Monkey Face]

I buy printed books, but I get them at used book stores, either bricks and mortar or online. I love the smell of them when I open them to read.

‘Face

;o]

[FreedomPoster]

Late 90s was about when I kicked National Geographic to the curb over their politics.