NOT SO SLICE
‘What’s next, no free samples,’ Costco members rage over store change that follows the legendary combo pizza’s fate
The bulk retailer announced another major change
COSTCO has announced that they will be selling novels for a limited time throughout the year.
The retailer said they would only sell books during the holiday season.
4
4
Costco's plan to pull the books from its hundreds of stores was announced by The New York Times last week.
According to the report, the retailer is slated to start pulling books starting January 2025.
The report also said that while the chain may sell novels sporadically throughout the year, bookworms have a better chance of getting their brand-new read from September through December.
Four anonymous executives for Costco revealed the reason behind the shift was due to the additional labor associated with stocking books.
Read More Costco Stories
The changes have since angered several bibliophiles.
"These Costco changes," author LoanLe (@loanloan) wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
"First it was the combo pizza and Italian sausage, now books . . . what's next, no more free samples??"
"Tell me about it," literary agent Lane Heymont (@LaneHeymont) responded.
Most read in Money
A second user responded that they planned to "complain to my local Costco as a membership holder."
The retailer's upcoming shift has angered many members leaving several of them to question whether or not they want to keep their membership.
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
"With @Costco planning to stop selling books, guess it's time to cancel our membership," one shopper said on X.
"Gonna miss grabbing a book every week on our shopping trip, but oh well."
The angered customer also hinted that they may take their business elsewhere.
4
"SO SAD. THEIR BOOK PRICES WERE GOOD!!" another shopper said.
Costco's discontinuation of the books is also likely to affect the overall book market as well.
"It’s an easy place to just grab the latest in a series you’re reading or pick up a book for your kid," Brenna Connor, the director of US Books at the market research firm Circana told the New York Times.
4
"They are important for the book market overall."
This latest change comes after Costco axed its famous pizza combo in 2020.
The mouthwatering pie, sprinkled with veggies, pepperoni, and sausage, was once a fan favorite among Costco’s food court offerings.
According to Eat Pallet, the decision to get rid of the Combo Pizza mainly had to do with profitability for the company.
A Reddit post recently alluded that the pie would be returning to the store but not at the food court, rather at the giant's deli.
Read More on The US Sun
The pizza's fierce popularity triggered an online petition created by lovers.
Since its creation in August 2020, the page has garnered 18,300 of a targeted 25,000 signatures.