COSTCO has pulled a very popular product from its shelves – and shoppers are unlikely to welcome the change.
The mega-chain has reportedly scrapped books from a number of its warehouses, meaning customers will have one less way to entertain themselves over the holidays.
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It’s understood stores in Hawaii, where Costco has seven warehouses, and Alaska, where the wholesaler has four, will stop selling books all together.
Costco media buyer, Alexandria Kanenwishera, announced the news to distributors back in September, Honolulu Civil Beat reports.
Management in Hawaii pointed to slipping sales as the reason, but Bennett Hymer, owner of Hawaii-based publisher Mutual Publishing, claimed otherwise.
Mr Hymer said: “Costco told our office that the elimination of books in its stores had to do with the expense of shipping to Hawaii and Alaska, but that makes no sense because Hawaii published books were delivered locally, not shipped in.”
“Costco said also it was because of the expense of returning books that didn’t get sold.
“But that still makes no sense because there was no shipping expense to return books to us.”
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Denby Fawcett said books were nowhere to be seen on her last visit to the Hawaii Kai Costco.
And the latest changes mean Barnes and Nobles is the only main bookstore in Hawaii – with much higher prices.
The news is set to come as a blow to book distributors, authors and publishers.
Millions of customers who shop in the affected areas will also be left empty-handed.
A spokesperson for Costco declined to comment when approached by Best Life.
