Costco print shop closing (Page 2): No news from the nearest (San Luis Obispo CA) Costco Photo location. Here on the Central Coast there are few Costco's. I will inquire on my next...

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

No news from the nearest (San Luis Obispo CA) Costco Photo location. Here on the Central Coast there are few Costco's. I will inquire on my next visit and post what I learn here.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

markngolf wrote:

I used to live nearby in Sunset Beach, NC. I hope that information is not true. Thanks.
Mark

Love Sunset Beach! Vacationed there many times before moving here permanently.

I am also hoping that it is not true. But the woman I spoke with seemed pretty certain it was a done deal. She said we could still upload photos online and they would be delivered in 4-5 days. But that they would no longer do any in stores printing.

About a year or so ago I asked a meat department manager about an item that was no longer being carried. He said the new CEO was cutting out anything that was not making them a profit. He also said to be prepared for some major changes. Since then they have cut ties with American Express, stopped having sanitizing cart wipes out, and now plan to close the in store photo printing. So it looks like he knew what he was talking about.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That is how we discovered Sunset Beach too. Vacationed there many years and moved after we retired. The only downsides were family back in NJ and a lack of immediate culture. It was a fabulous place to live for the 13 years we were there. I'll keep posting if Costco (here) closes.
Mark

Elliern wrote:

Love Sunset Beach! Vacationed there many times be... (show quote)

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

If it's not profitable, out it goes!

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

Hi, Guys. I was at Greenville Costco again today and they're already taking equipment out of the photo area. It is technically open until February but the woman told me it looks like they'll be ahead of schedule. As soon as they can move the stuff out at night they'll be gone. Spartanburg is going for sure.
I think this is pretty much a nationwide thing. It sounds like the plan is to have 3-4 processing centers nationwide, much like they do now for canvas and special orders.

Joanna27 Loc: Lakewood Ca

GENorkus wrote:

If it's not profitable, out it goes!

Too bad they don't raise prices a bit and keep the service going.

JoeM845

They closed a print center in Foster City (SF Bay area) a few months ago.

We lose something in addition to the turnaround. They profiled the printers at the local print centers. They do not provide profiles or options to select individual printers at the nationwide centers.

Grizzly Loc: USA

Greed?

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Could be. Profit for sure. It is my understanding that Costco does not gain a great deal of profit from selling merchandise. They mainly make money from their annual membership fees. They have approximately 65, 000, 000 members. At $65 per member, their profit is 4.2 billion. Even if they only clear 1% on sales, that's almost another 1 billion based on each member spending $1200 per year. Total = $5 billion per year. I'm probably grossly underestimating.

It's fun to make guesstimates.
Mark

Grizzly wrote:

Greed?

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

JoeM845 wrote:

They closed a print center in Foster City (SF Bay area) a few months ago.

We lose something in addition to the turnaround. They profiled the printers at the local print centers. They do not provide profiles or options to select individual printers at the nationwide centers.

That's a good point. It makes a difference when you're picky.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

markngolf wrote:

Could be. Profit for sure. It is my understanding ... (show quote)

The Kirkland brand is big, and is on very many diversified products. Costco relies on products sales as well as membership fees.

Have heard nothing about closing the photo shops in Miami, at least not yet.

Drala2k Loc: Vermont

I was just in my Costco in Burlington Vt. They said they would not be closing the print shop as it broke even last year. They did mention though that Boston had not and may be closing. So it appears to be dependent on whether or not that particular store did not lose money on printing photos and is not a corporate wide phenomena.

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

Drala2k wrote:

I was just in my Costco in Burlington Vt. They said they would not be closing the print shop as it broke even last year. They did mention though that Boston had not and may be closing. So it appears to be dependent on whether or not that particular store did not lose money on printing photos and is not a corporate wide phenomena.

I hope that works out for you but I think the bomb will drop. I find it hard to believe that Burlington does more business than Greenville/Spartanburg. Keep us posted.

Drala2k Loc: Vermont

londonfire wrote:

I hope that works out for you but I think the bomb will drop. I find it hard to believe that Burlington does more business than Greenville/Spartanburg. Keep us posted.

I have to agree with you there, it is good so far but when it does not break even then gone. Costco has a new CEO and it sounds like they are shifting the way they do business. We will just have to wait and see how far this shift goes.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I was told by an employee that the Costco in Southwest Miami is not on "the list".
So, there is a "list."