ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. will begin closing all photo centers in its warehouses nationwide beginning Feb. 14.
The company confirmed the decision and timing in a message titled “Important Photo Center Announcement” posted on the Costco Photo Center website.
Costco also advised club members to pick up all remaining photo orders no later than March 28.
According to KRON, the following products and services will remain available on the website for delivery after the departments close:
• Prints, enlargements and posters
• Stationery and photo greeting cards
• canvas, metal and acrylic prints
• Photo books and calendars
• Photo blankets and other photo gifts
• Business printing products
Meanwhile, services such as ink refill, passport photos, photo restoration and YesVideo home movie transfer will not be available following the department closures, the company stated.
Costco representatives told USA Today that the company had “no comment at this time” on the decision to close the departments, nor did it confirm how many locations nationwide have photo departments.
In an email sent to members, however, Costco provided insight into the decision.
“Since the introduction of camera phones and social media, the need for printing photos has steeply declined, even though the number of pictures taken continues to grow. After careful consideration, we have determined the continued decline of prints no longer requires on-site photo printing,” Costco stated in the email, according to USA Today.