Costco did not even promote merchandise on its web site until 1998, and in those days, the choice was very restricted.
Sure, Costco Travel lived there, but the web site was more about promoting ancillary companies such as TurboTax access than about promoting anything to members.
In latest years, however, Costco has provided a enormously expanded choice, and it permits members to use Instacart and Shipt to order choose gadgets instantly from its warehouses.
It had also been building on that with its digital-only program, Costco Next, which lets members access gadgets the warehouse membership does not stock. It’s not a new service; it has technically been around since 2017. But Costco does not promote the offering, and it’s something I, and many other members, did not know about.
Now, that service has been shut down with no discover.
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Costco closes Costco Next
Visitors to the Costco Next web web page got a terse message from the company.
“Access to Costco Next store fronts is no longer available. Please refer to the list below for contact information for vendors with active return policies. For eligible returns and warranty inquiries, contact the vendor directly,” the company shared.
That was adopted by a long listing of company names with their contact info.
A 3rd-party market like the model pioneered by Amazon, Costco Next provided an expanded choice of gadgets that never make it into a Costco warehouse. The program, however, differed from Amazon’s strategy in important methods.
More Costco:
Costco Next allowed the retailer to offer more merchandise, but have it shipped instantly from companions. The warehouse membership, however, is still cautious with its merchandise, and its consumers labored with companion retailers.
Next offered a more fastidiously curated choice than Amazon does, because Costco stays targeted on delivering worth to members.
Costco not too long ago celebrated Costco Next’s success
“Costco Next, our curated marketplace, also continues to show healthy year-over-year growth. In Q3 fiscal year 2025, our sales on Costco Next equaled our total sales for all of fiscal year 2022, and we are excited about the pipeline of new vendors and development for future rollout,” CFO Gary Millerchip said during the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call.
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Products are provided from hand‑chosen suppliers chosen for the high quality of their merchandise and sturdy customer support, increasing the selection beyond typical warehouse stock.
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The platform helps Costco offer larger‑margin discretionary gadgets (e.g., electronics, home equipment, items bought instantly from distributors) while leveraging member pricing perks.
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The impetus for Costco Next is to strengthen e‑commerce and cell growth by offering discounted offers from trusted manufacturers that complement warehouse stock.