Costco has abruptly shut down Costco Next, the members-only online program that gave shoppers special pricing on products from selected third-party brands. The service appears to have ended around August 31st, 2026. The most shocking part for shoppers is that the warehouse didn’t announce the change ahead of time.
According to Fast Company, shoppers visiting CostcoNext.com over the past several days found that the site was no longer operating. Instead, visitors are now directed to Costco’s customer support page, which states that “Access to Costco Next storefronts is no longer available.”
It’s not surprising that members are shocked and looking for answers. Costco Next wasn’t part of the warehouse experience most shoppers think about, but it could be a handy place to find deals on things the store didn’t regularly carry, or on larger items in the warehouse. Losing it without any notice makes the change feel even more abrupt.
Started in 2017, Costco Next complemented the chain’s regular selection rather than replacing it. Members could verify their membership through the program, choose an eligible brand, and then shop through that company’s website at a Costco-exclusive price. The individual vendors handled fulfillment.
The setup made Costco Next different from simply browsing online. Members got access to products and brands that might not have been available through the warehouses or regular online stores. Plus, participating companies gained exposure to Costco’s large customer base. Fast Company described the marketplace as a curated collection of products selected by buyers for quality and customer service.
For bargain-focused shoppers, that extra selection was the driving appeal.
Don’t worry if you just recently ordered something through Costco Next before the shutdown. Costco’s updated support information directs shoppers with return or warranty questions to the individual vendors.
In other words, the brands remain responsible for applicable returns and warranties at this time.
Unfortunately, this question is hard to answer.
The warehouse hasn’t publicly explained why Costco Next was discontinued. The company was contacted for comment, but as of now, they have not reached out to any news outlets about the decision.
Naturally, many members aren’t happy about the disappearance. The Sun reported that longtime shoppers expressed frustration online, particularly over losing a service they considered useful for finding discounts from familiar brands.
The shutdown doesn’t mean the wholesaler has stopped experimenting with services outside its traditional warehouse model.
Just recently, the company announced a partnership with SCAN Group to offer Costco-branded Medicare plans in select markets. The New York Post announced that the planned offerings could eventually include benefits involving areas such as over-the-counter products, vision, and audiology services.
For now, though, Costco Next is gone. And for members who used it to stretch their shopping dollars a little further, that’s a noticeable loss.
