Costco quietly pulls popular member perk seemingly without warning: 'Real bummer for the deals'
Costco Next appeared to close at the end of August
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Costco Next, an online marketplace Costco members often regarded as one of the retailer’s most coveted hidden perks, has quietly disappeared from the company’s website.
The service gave members up to 40% off on certain products not offered at its warehouses. The program featured items from a specific list of vendor partners, ranging from home goods and luggage to electronics.
Shoppers visiting the Costco Next online page are now met with a message: "Access to Costco Next storefronts is no longer available."
Costco said shoppers seeking to return items previously purchased through the program should contact the vendors directly.
COSTCO'S LESSER-KNOWN MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, EXPLAINED
FILE — Costco appears to have shut down its online marketplace, Costco Next, ending a members-only program that operated for nearly a decade. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
"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 retail giant said.
The program previously featured about 80 vendors, including Anker Electronics, Caraway, Travelpro and Priority Bicycles. In the program, shoppers who selected an offer through Costco’s website were redirected to a custom storefront on the vendor’s website, where they completed the purchase directly with the brand.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP. | 925.41 | -3.07 | -0.33% |
Some shoppers said they noticed the closure on Sept. 1, with the move apparently coming without warning.
"A real bummer for the deals," one Reddit user said.
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FILE — The Costco Next page now directs shoppers to vendor contacts for returns and warranty questions after the online marketplace suddenly disappeared. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
The decision came as the platform appeared to be gaining momentum.
During the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call on May 29, 2025, Costco Next’s quarterly sales equaled the platform’s total sales for the entire 2022 fiscal year.
Nino Garcia, assistant general merchandise manager at Costco Next, previously said the concept was born in 2016 and took several years to fully materialize as the retailer refined the program.
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FILE — Costco Next’s sudden closure appears to have occurred at the end of August, with some shoppers noticing the change on Sept. 1. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
"The Costco Next idea was born in 2016 but did not fully materialize until a few years later," Garcia said.
"There was a real learning curve as we developed the program, and there were a lot of refinements, from site improvements and product selection, to ensuring that every supplier understood the concept. In the end, Costco’s goal will always be the same: offering our members quality goods at a great value."
FOX Business reached out to Costco for more information.