Costco shut down its Costco Next online marketplace without advance notice, ending a nearly decade-old program that had been growing rapidly. The service, which let members order discounted products from third-party sellers like Anker Electronics and Priority Bicycles, went offline around August 31, 2026, according to reports from USA TODAY and other outlets. Visitors to the site now see only a message stating: “Access to Costco Next storefronts is no longer available.”
The closure came without any announcement from the warehouse retailer. Many members learned about the shutdown through social media and news reports rather than from Costco itself, with some commenting on Reddit that they were discovering the platform’s disappearance only as it vanished.
Costco Next launched in 2017 with a small group of brands and expanded significantly in 2021 as part of the company’s push to grow its e-commerce presence. By 2026, the platform had grown to include nearly 100 third-party sellers offering products across categories including electronics, home goods, sports equipment, and clothing. According to Mizuho analyst David Bellinger, the platform had been experiencing robust growth, with volume increasing at 20% or more year-over-year—a pace faster than Costco’s overall digital sales growth.
The platform’s financial impact on Costco’s bottom line appears to have been modest. During the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call in May 2025, chief financial officer Gary Millerchip noted that Costco Next sales during the three-month period ending May 11, 2025, equaled the program’s total sales for the entire fiscal year 2022, signaling growth from a small base. Bellinger stated that gross merchandise volume from Costco Next “was likely small,” though he had viewed it as “an interesting growth angle” for the company.
Costco has not publicly explained why it chose to shut down the marketplace or whether it plans to integrate the third-party sellers into its main e-commerce operation. Bellinger noted in his research report that he “awaits a further update from the company” and expressed interest in learning “if these products are simply being moved into COST’s first-party online operation.”
The move represents a shift in Costco’s strategy, as the company had previously promoted Costco Next as part of its e-commerce growth story. The closure also affects the third-party vendors who relied on the platform to reach Costco’s membership base. The company’s customer service page now directs members to contact vendors directly with questions about returns, warranties, and cancellations.
Wall Street analysts remain largely bullish on Costco stock despite the shutdown. Bellinger reaffirmed his Buy rating on the company and maintained his price target of $1,100 per share, implying about 18% upside. The consensus among analysts is a Moderate Buy, with 11 Buys, six Holds, and one Sell rating, and an average price target of $1,085.05.
Sources
- USA TODAY — Costco Next marketplace shutdown details, CFO Gary Millerchip’s May 2025 earnings call comments on platform growth
- New York Post — Costco Next launch timeline (2017), expansion history (2021), vendor count and categories, company statement on closure
- Fast Company — Shutdown timeline and customer response, vendor list, member confusion
- TipRanks — Mizuho analyst David Bellinger commentary on platform growth rate (20%+ YoY), GMV assessment, analyst rating and price target
