Costco to End Year-Round Book Sales in Most Stores Starting January

The retailer cites labor-intensive stocking processes as the main reason for the decision, with books to remain only in select stores or during the holiday season.

Costco will stop selling books year-round in approximately 500 of its 600 U.S. stores starting January 2025, retaining them in only about 100 locations year-round.
Books will still be available seasonally from September to December and at other intermittent times, such as during the holidays.
The decision is attributed to the labor-intensive process of stocking books, which must be done manually rather than with forklifts used for other items.
The shift reflects broader trends in consumer behavior, with more shoppers turning to online platforms like Amazon for book purchases.
Costco has indicated it will monitor book sales trends, which could influence future decisions to reintroduce books to more stores or keep them seasonal.