Interestingly, Costco stopped selling books in Mexico several years ago, so I liked going during my vacations to the american stores to see what they were selling. I remember buying my Harry Potter illustrated hardcovers well below MSRP and being tempted by a huge Hardy Boys boxed set. Sad to see books gone in the US stores as well. As you say, the rosy past of everyone buying from quaint independent bookstores never existed.
Tarantino released his boovie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" well after the movie left theaters https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523. That's the kind of book that belongs in Walgreens. Great cover too. Joyce Carol Oates, the living, female incarnation of Edgar Allen Poe, has a new short story compilation out "Zero Sum". I just read one entry, "Monstersister" fantastic . Belongs in every Walgreens within 25 miles of a beach.
When I owned a new-books store we periodically bought hot titles at Costco when our distributors were out. The margins weren’t as good, but as a reseller we didn’t get charged sales tax and a lower margin sale was better than no sale at all
I learned it from another bookstore, so I can't claim the idea was mine. How widespread it was, I can't say. But it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of smaller bookstores did it.
Yes! False nostalgia. Publishing and the book world seem to be rife with a false nostalgia that completely misses the realities of publishing history--many of which you've written about frequently here. We set up this--frankly--precious and delicate mode of book-buying-via-local-indy as the peak of some sort of publishing purity, when in fact not only is it impractical, but it's also based on a kind of fantasy.
I agree. And it's perceived somehow that reading a book (especially a physical book) is de facto virtuous, and reading something on a screen or a phone is not--as if the medium really were, in that way, the message (and the medium were universally acknowledged as good or bad and thus forever!).
Unfortunately I live in #DeathSantis' Floriduh 🦎🐍🐊where pythons are mire important than beleaguered books which aren't a priority to say the least. That map is missing fantastic Books&Books and a few others around Coral Gables.
I have bought many a good, trashy fiction to read at a Dollar General over the years! I was sad to see the news about Costco even though I don't have a membership. I would tag along with my parents every now and then over the years and peruse the piles. Grocery stores always had a good selection of books with magazines and those have all but disappeared in my area.
I loved "The Sense of an Ending"! I found it to be a very strangely-reviewed book, and wrote about it; self-linking is bad, but I honestly didn't find many reviewers who seemed to understand what was happening in it and thought it was worth discussing.
Costco ending book sales is less-than-great news for used bookstores. A lot of used popular fiction comes from stores like Costco, Walmart, and Target.
People who need the latest release by Lee Child or Nora Roberts often pick up those books at big-box stores, then trade them in at a used bookstore after reading, where customers with a little more patience then get to buy the book at a discount.
The store where I work would be sunk without places that sell new books.
I always make it a point to see what's selling at Costco. Last visit was a very clearance-sale looking pile of children's books. I wondered what was up. A good post that solves the mystery. Interestingly, Costco magazine used to be one of the best places to have your book written up as well. It's a well-done branded periodical and so that's a loss, too.
Good piece, thanks. Here's a problem: I'm currently at a writers conference that includes a kiosk of books for sale from the local bookstore here. Their books sell at retail prices through this venue. In these times when American workers have to stretch every dollar to makes ends meet, the purchase of books online at significantly cheaper prices is an allure many book buyers can't resist. And I don't blame them.
Costco in Canada is a mass-market bookseller and for much of rural Canada, it is the only retail outlet selling books in any volume. Thanks for this bigger perspective to the news story. Fist bumps and smashing the heart button doesn't do much for readers in the heartland.
Alas, no. My local beloved co-op independent college town (pop. 30K) bookstore offers that. Pickup or mail. We had a lot of hope for it a few years ago when we found someone with the tech skills to make it happen. It's pretty popular, we advertise it a lot, but it hasn't made much difference to our accounts. We still struggle to hit the national average marker of independent bookstore success--a 1% profit margin. Sidelines have been our saving grace in recent years--stickers, cards, chocolate, candles, socks, totes. Which brings it back to the Target/Walmart/hardware store model!
...No more than the local hardware store could undercut Home Depot, or the downtown locally owned department store could undercut the chains. If people can get it cheaper online, they do. We have sale shelves, discounted seasonal goods, and a ton of used books that our members bring in and donate to us, we don't even buy those! And every time I go in there, somebody's using us to browse, and then looking up books on their phone.
Interestingly, Costco stopped selling books in Mexico several years ago, so I liked going during my vacations to the american stores to see what they were selling. I remember buying my Harry Potter illustrated hardcovers well below MSRP and being tempted by a huge Hardy Boys boxed set. Sad to see books gone in the US stores as well. As you say, the rosy past of everyone buying from quaint independent bookstores never existed.
Our Walgreens doesn't sell books yet. But I like the idea of drugstore as middlebrow book selection curator.
Tarantino released his boovie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" well after the movie left theaters https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523. That's the kind of book that belongs in Walgreens. Great cover too. Joyce Carol Oates, the living, female incarnation of Edgar Allen Poe, has a new short story compilation out "Zero Sum". I just read one entry, "Monstersister" fantastic . Belongs in every Walgreens within 25 miles of a beach.
I wish they chose a different picture of Margot Robbie. (Yes, I know about QT’s fetish.)
Always wondered where books, once read, disappear to. As prices for new books increased, thought there would be a robust online used book market.
When I owned a new-books store we periodically bought hot titles at Costco when our distributors were out. The margins weren’t as good, but as a reseller we didn’t get charged sales tax and a lower margin sale was better than no sale at all
omg this is such a great anecdote. Were you unusual amongst new-book-owners in doing this do you know?
I learned it from another bookstore, so I can't claim the idea was mine. How widespread it was, I can't say. But it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of smaller bookstores did it.
Yes! False nostalgia. Publishing and the book world seem to be rife with a false nostalgia that completely misses the realities of publishing history--many of which you've written about frequently here. We set up this--frankly--precious and delicate mode of book-buying-via-local-indy as the peak of some sort of publishing purity, when in fact not only is it impractical, but it's also based on a kind of fantasy.
Yes yes yes. I do wish we could unbundle books, including where we buy them, from moralizing, of which there is far too much.
I agree. And it's perceived somehow that reading a book (especially a physical book) is de facto virtuous, and reading something on a screen or a phone is not--as if the medium really were, in that way, the message (and the medium were universally acknowledged as good or bad and thus forever!).
Unfortunately I live in #DeathSantis' Floriduh 🦎🐍🐊where pythons are mire important than beleaguered books which aren't a priority to say the least. That map is missing fantastic Books&Books and a few others around Coral Gables.
"Most people haven’t read a book since high school. For a lot of purposes, books are an outmoded technology," said writer Michael T. Foster https://x.com/realmfoster/status/1800338697436500468
I have bought many a good, trashy fiction to read at a Dollar General over the years! I was sad to see the news about Costco even though I don't have a membership. I would tag along with my parents every now and then over the years and peruse the piles. Grocery stores always had a good selection of books with magazines and those have all but disappeared in my area.
I loved "The Sense of an Ending"! I found it to be a very strangely-reviewed book, and wrote about it; self-linking is bad, but I honestly didn't find many reviewers who seemed to understand what was happening in it and thought it was worth discussing.
https://metaismurder.com/post/17039173878/the-sense-of-uncertainty
Also, strongly agree re: Costco. People really think everyone lives in a dense city, I guess!
Oh! I am almost done and then I'll read your review, along with the others. Thank you for self-linking!
Costco ending book sales is less-than-great news for used bookstores. A lot of used popular fiction comes from stores like Costco, Walmart, and Target.
People who need the latest release by Lee Child or Nora Roberts often pick up those books at big-box stores, then trade them in at a used bookstore after reading, where customers with a little more patience then get to buy the book at a discount.
The store where I work would be sunk without places that sell new books.
This is so interesting, Claudine!
I always make it a point to see what's selling at Costco. Last visit was a very clearance-sale looking pile of children's books. I wondered what was up. A good post that solves the mystery. Interestingly, Costco magazine used to be one of the best places to have your book written up as well. It's a well-done branded periodical and so that's a loss, too.
Good piece, thanks. Here's a problem: I'm currently at a writers conference that includes a kiosk of books for sale from the local bookstore here. Their books sell at retail prices through this venue. In these times when American workers have to stretch every dollar to makes ends meet, the purchase of books online at significantly cheaper prices is an allure many book buyers can't resist. And I don't blame them.
Costco in Canada is a mass-market bookseller and for much of rural Canada, it is the only retail outlet selling books in any volume. Thanks for this bigger perspective to the news story. Fist bumps and smashing the heart button doesn't do much for readers in the heartland.
Also not your point but here for the hammers and new releases⚡️
I am about to move to a bookstore desert and am inspired to launch this business, with perhaps also laying in some stock of garden supplies.
Strongly recommend a big rack of stickers.
rubber boots hammers books and tea is lots of peoples happy place. good luck!
I'm always perplexed why small bookstores don't have a buy online and pickup at the store option. That would sustain a small store, you would think
Alas, no. My local beloved co-op independent college town (pop. 30K) bookstore offers that. Pickup or mail. We had a lot of hope for it a few years ago when we found someone with the tech skills to make it happen. It's pretty popular, we advertise it a lot, but it hasn't made much difference to our accounts. We still struggle to hit the national average marker of independent bookstore success--a 1% profit margin. Sidelines have been our saving grace in recent years--stickers, cards, chocolate, candles, socks, totes. Which brings it back to the Target/Walmart/hardware store model!
Thanks. Maybe it's me, but I don't like delivery to where I live. How about discounts? Is it possible to undercut Amazon?
short answer: no.
...No more than the local hardware store could undercut Home Depot, or the downtown locally owned department store could undercut the chains. If people can get it cheaper online, they do. We have sale shelves, discounted seasonal goods, and a ton of used books that our members bring in and donate to us, we don't even buy those! And every time I go in there, somebody's using us to browse, and then looking up books on their phone.
No free refill for that person : )
absolutely not your point, but it appears that that west coast indies have fallen off this (otherwise informative) map ...
Just lost our local bookstore, so, yes, I have to drive at least an hour to get to an independent bookstore. Which is okay some days, but not always.