Shopping and waiting … and waiting .. at Costco. (Photo is from a Miami Costco, by Creative Commons Flickr user miamism).
If you’ve ever shopped at Costco on a weekend, you know it’s like an endurance sport, with tough parking, packed crowds and competitive lines for those mini-sausage samples.
But Costco shoppers in Bellingham, Wash. have an additional challenge: Canadians. It seems that the store, 90 miles north of Seattle and near the border, attracts flocks of Canadians in search for cheaper American milk and gas. And that’s making some locals grouchy.
A Facebook page has emerged to vent the grumpiness, called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans.” With more than 4,200 likes so far, it features rants about crowds, parking and rude Canadians who buy up all the milk (by the double-gallon) and take forever in the gas line (with their extra gas cans). There’s at least one photo of a bad British Columbian park job that committed the sin of hogging up two spaces.
“Costco should make a special time during the day that is American members only,” wrote the page’s administrator, who described local Costco shoppers as “Founding customers.”
“They used to do it for Business members, why cant they do it for us.”
But not everyone is complaining about the “mob show” at the Bellingham Costco. One Facebook poster called the comments “discrimination” and wrote, “I say to Canadians boycott, and watch how fast your city begs for Canadians to return.”
Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville also continued to welcome Canadians. “The unpleasant comments we’ve seen on social media regarding Canadians are offensive and inappropriate,” Linville said Monday.
The Facebook page creator wrote that the problem isn’t Canadians personally, but the need for a larger store. That may not happen any time soon. An executive with Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco told CBC News the company wants to expand, but there’s no room on the current property.
Also, don’t expect any special U.S.-only shopping hours. Costco said it’s planning to continue its policy of letting Costco members shop in any Costco they choose.
For more on Costco, and the secrets behind its odd success, here’s a gallery from the story: Peek inside the ‘Costco craze‘:
Costco’s success: Wine and toilet paper
It’s just like the people of Bellingham to actually speak up and suggest something so racist, so bigoted here, what a bunch of hicks. If you ever visit here be sure to stay close to Fairhaven, it’s safe there, they actually have a very open friendly excepting nature, kinda reminds me of Seattle Freemont area.
build a costco in canada
How about at “no fat people” day? They take up too much room and clog up all the aisles. They should weigh them at the door.
And DEFINITELY have a “no kids” day. They run around the store screaming – it drives me bananas.
They should divide the whole store into specific sections for different nationalities — keep all those Spanish products separate – who can even read those labels?? Make everybody bring their passports and check them at the entrance.
@ Medward11- I am not of Ecuadorean or Brazilian descent,and I find your comment highly racist,offensive and disgusting.Who are you/they to allow or disallow?What everybody definitely doesn’t want is the likes of people like you…… Maybe you share a neighbors/ friend’s card because you can’t afford one yourself and that is why you need to go on weekends. Try weekdays, not so busy.
Don’t these people know how to beat the crowds?
The Costco in Brookfield, Connecticut is also willing to accept Canadians. They already allow Ecuadoreans and Brazillians to mob it.
Hey Canadians come to Bridgeport Connecticut and spend some money here. Your Loonies are more than welcome in our cash registers!
So the people in Bellingham want to descriminate. Sounds real American to me, come on people, quit your crying. You would do the same if you were them.