Canadian shoppers irk Costco customers in Wash.

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www.thestar.com/business/article/1241964--canadian-shoppers-irk-costco-customers-in-bellingham-wash


Canadian shoppers irk Costco customers in Bellingham, Wash.
Published on Tuesday August 14, 2012

Attention Canadian Shoppers: Mind your manners!

That’s the message residents of Bellingham, Wash., have for Canadians who have been pouring across the B.C. border to shop for bargains at the local Costco.

A Facebook page called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans,” has drawn local and international attention, garnering more than 3,000 likes and hundreds of comments since being created July 19.

Whether it was started in earnest or as an inside joke by a few Bellingham residents, as claimed by one poster pleading for peace, it’s managed to raise hackles on both sides of the border.

Canadians are being admonished on the Facebook page for littering, bad parking, cutting off other drivers, pushing past other customers to grab merchandise and clearing Costco shelves of milk.

“It’s not Costco, it’s everywhere!!! I feel like I’m in Canada anytime I drive anywhere in Bellingham. I wouldn’t have a problem if they were considerate people ... but they are the rudest people I’ve ever encountered,” according to poster Julie Lawson.

It’s that kind of ire that inspired Todd Smith, 25, of Coquitlam B.C., to launch his own Facebook page: “Canadians invade Bellingham Costco,” inviting Canadians to shop the Bellingham Costco on Saturday, Aug. 18.

Smith says he and his partner make the half-hour drive across the border weekly, not only because gas, food and clothes are cheaper in the U.S., but because stores there offer greater variety. About a dozen people have said they’re interested in the shop-the-Bellingham-Costco event.

“It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but we do go down there quite regularly and we might go down Saturday,” said Smith. “I find it kind of odd that these people would take such trivial things out of context. Have they not stopped to consider that we’re supporting their economy?”

Many of the posters to the Facebook page leapt to the defence of Canadian shoppers. “I want to apologize on behalf of Bellingham for this page,” wrote a poster identified as Ali Taysi. “Your shopping provides invaluable tax revenue for our community.”

The administrator of the site did not respond to an email request for an interview.

On June 1, duty-free limits for Canadian shoppers in the U.S. were raised to $200 from $50 for a 24-hour stay and $800 for visits longer than 48 hours.

A BMO report in May predicted that cross-border shopping would boom as a result, particularly in border states.

Statistics Canada figures on travel and net expenditures abroad have not yet been released for the period, so it’s too early to say what impact the changes to duty free have had so far, said BMO deputy chief economist Douglas Porter Tuesday.

Matthew Davison, a spokesman for the Peace Bridge, said traffic volume was up 2 per cent in June, and is up a total of 1.3 per cent for the year to date. But traffic was down in July over July 2011.

Davison said traffic at the border is driven more by events and currency changes than it is by changes in duty-free limits.

[UMaineTeach]

fine, they can come to ME and give us their $$



Edit: also, wanted to say - thank goodness they raised the duty limits. Duty dodging queens were as prevalent as welfare queens.

[AJL]

This just makes me giggle.

[mominatrix]

I have to say that the Bellis Fair Mall, in Bellingham, usually has more BC cars parked there than cars with WA plates, by a lot.

Personally, though, I could give a ratsass where people are from, when they're shopping in my state with a sales tax and no income tax.

[picksthemusic]

My ILs live in Bellingham, and I can tell you from experience driving up there, the Canadians I've encountered on the road have NO idea how to drive. It's insane. I've never been to that Costco, but I'm sure as heck going to tell my MIL to avoid Costco on the 18th! LOL

ETA: Just wanted to add that I have no problem with people spending money in our state. But I have seen some of what those people are complaining about.

[UMaineTeach]

Aug 15, 2012 17:08:48 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I have to say that the Bellis Fair Mall, in Bellingham, usually has more BC cars parked there than cars with WA plates, by a lot.

The big place near me for Canadian plates out numbering ME plates is Burlington Coat Factory. Don't know what the draw is, but it brings in NB, NS, and QC cars like nobody's business.

[emmybean]

Aug 15, 2012 17:08:48 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I have to say that the Bellis Fair Mall, in Bellingham, usually has more BC cars parked there than cars with WA plates, by a lot.

Personally, though, I could give a ratsass where people are from, when they're shopping in my state with a sales tax and no income tax.

What are the outlets up there? Is that tullalip? Regardless, that's where all the BCer's go far as I can tell.

I just wish they'ed drive a little faster! It's a long drive home from the boarder and I want to get there ASAP!

[cattledogkisses]

Aug 15, 2012 17:15:44 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:08:48 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I have to say that the Bellis Fair Mall, in Bellingham, usually has more BC cars parked there than cars with WA plates, by a lot.

The big place near me for Canadian plates out numbering ME plates is Burlington Coat Factory. Don't know what the draw is, but it brings in NB, NS, and QC cars like nobody's business.

Is this the one in Bangor? Because I will confirm that, haha. It cracks me up that they come to the mall in big busloads.

[UMaineTeach]

Aug 15, 2012 17:21:54 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:15:44 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

The big place near me for Canadian plates out numbering ME plates is Burlington Coat Factory. Don't know what the draw is, but it brings in NB, NS, and QC cars like nobody's business.

Is this the one in Bangor? Because I will confirm that, haha. It cracks me up that they come to the mall in big busloads.

Yup, that's the one

[marie427]

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

[cattledogkisses]

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

TBH, like UMaineTeach said, we get a ton of people from QB and NB here, and I haven't noticed that they're any ruder/worse drivers than the average American. The old people from Florida annoy me much more.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 17:15:23 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

My ILs live in Bellingham, and I can tell you from experience driving up there, the Canadians I've encountered on the road have NO idea how to drive. It's insane. I've never been to that Costco, but I'm sure as heck going to tell my MIL to avoid Costco on the 18th! LOL

ETA: Just wanted to add that I have no problem with people spending money in our state. But I have seen some of what those people are complaining about.

I swear the worst drivers in the world (after Italians) hail from Florida. But I can totally see Canadians driving badly down there, they are all high from their shopping purchases!!!!

What irks me is when Im shopping in Buffalo, all the other damn Canucks are at the Cheesecake Factory so we can never get in

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 17:30:41 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

TBH, like UMaineTeach said, we get a ton of people from QB and NB here, and I haven't noticed that they're any ruder/worse drivers than the average American. The old people from Florida annoy me much more.

I JUST said that.
So clearly, if we both think Floridians suck at driving, its true.

[teflep]

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

clearly you've never come across a driver from Quebec or went shopping in upstate NY. But if WA doesn't want them, come to ny

[basilosaurus]

I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but the Canadians flocking south to Florida in the winter have the reputation of some of the nastiest drivers. And that's saying a lot in an area known for rude and old (and old, rude) people.

But I thought BC was just lovely. Everyone was so friendly.

marie and I probably think this b/c she grew up in NY and I grew up with the NYer retirees

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:28 GMT -5 teflep said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

clearly you've never come across a driver from Quebec or went shopping in upstate NY. But if WA doesn't want them, come to ny

Quebecers are either awesome or assholes. There isn't an inbetween, really.

[UMaineTeach]

Aug 15, 2012 17:30:41 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I haven't noticed that they're any ruder/worse drivers than the average American.

growing up, to walk home from school I had to cross a busy road that was also one of the main roads from the boarder - we used to joke that it was ok to dart out in front of Canadians b/c you knew they would stop. Americans wouldn't.

[marie427]

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:28 GMT -5 teflep said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

clearly you've never come across a driver from Quebec or went shopping in upstate NY. But if WA doesn't want them, come to ny

What do they do??? Quebeckers have always been nice to us when we visit Quebec, but I also can speak French, so that must be why.

Busloads of Quebeckers come to my workplace too. They're not any more annoying or rude than any other large groups of tourists. Hmmmm.

Ditto Sibil. I have low standards for friendliness.

[teflep]

Aug 15, 2012 17:42:15 GMT -5 marie427 said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:28 GMT -5 teflep said:

clearly you've never come across a driver from Quebec or went shopping in upstate NY. But if WA doesn't want them, come to ny

What do they do??? Quebeckers have always been nice to us when we visit Quebec, but I also can speak French, so that must be why.

Busloads of Quebeckers come to my workplace too. They're not any more annoying or rude than any other large groups of tourists. Hmmmm.

Ditto Sibil. I have low standards for friendliness.

the shopping is no worse than your avg American so I shouldgive a pass. The driving..usually the middle line becomes more of a suggestion and the left is no longer for passing, but cruising.

[SusanBAnthony]

What I want to know is how anyone can go to Costco and spend less than 200$. Lawbreakers!!!!!!

[basilosaurus]

Growing up, my dad told me if I could learn to drive in S FL, I could drive all over the world. Between old people who can't see, aggressive assholes, and snowbirds from all over, but mostly the NE and Quebec, it's a melting pot of shitty drivers.

He was right. I had no problem driving in Tokyo (they're so polite) or Korea where traffic laws are mere suggestions. Red light? Eh, I'll think about stopping (seriously, the street by the base had 3 lights that no one bothered stopping for, maybe a slight pause). Lanes? Good enough, unless I feel like ignoring them and making my own. I'll admit, Korea scared me.

[WOT?*]

Aug 15, 2012 17:08:48 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I have to say that the Bellis Fair Mall, in Bellingham, usually has more BC cars parked there than cars with WA plates, by a lot.

Personally, though, I could give a ratsass where people are from, when they're shopping in my state with a sales tax and no income tax.

This is where I stand, even (or especially) having worked retail in Washington and having to deal with exchange rates when they spend in CDN rather than US dollars. More money from them means less taxes for us.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 18:01:31 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

What I want to know is how anyone can go to Costco and spend less than 200$. Lawbreakers!!!!!!

Thats why our gov't upped our daily and weekly quotas!!

We bought a car in Florida, shipped it to Detroit and drove it over the border. Even paying duty it was much cheaper. For some reason, despite having almost identical salaries, costs, etc. car companies are charging more for Canadian cars. There was even a big investigation on it. Basically, they gauge cause they can.

[caden]

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:51 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but the Canadians flocking south to Florida in the winter have the reputation of some of the nastiest drivers. And that's saying a lot in an area known for rude and old (and old, rude) people.

I didn't think it was possible to find worse drivers than people in FL.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 15, 2012 18:57:47 GMT -5 caden said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:51 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but the Canadians flocking south to Florida in the winter have the reputation of some of the nastiest drivers. And that's saying a lot in an area known for rude and old (and old, rude) people.

I didn't think it was possible to find worse drivers than people in FL.

It's so much worse in the winter with all the snowbirds, so I think the tourists can share a lot of that blame

Don't get me started on Canadians and Cheesecake factory. Laurier knows how I feel about that one!

[Deleted]

We've had the CF discussion before. And I dont care what you all say, I still love it.

Which is ironic considering I can actually be a bit of a food snob, and I grew up in a foodie town..

Last night I had dinner HERE: theprune.com/index.php

And had a starter of quails egg wtih smoked maple green bean.

And yet, I love the Cheesecake factory.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 17:30:41 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:26:43 GMT -5 marie427 said:

BUILD A WALL!!1!!11

I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as a rude Canadian.

TBH, like UMaineTeach said, we get a ton of people from QB and NB here, and I haven't noticed that they're any ruder/worse drivers than the average American. The old people from Florida annoy me much more.

Ha, the YOUNG ones in FL are even worse.

[statlerwaldorf]

[teflep]

Aug 15, 2012 18:57:47 GMT -5 caden said:

Aug 15, 2012 17:34:51 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but the Canadians flocking south to Florida in the winter have the reputation of some of the nastiest drivers. And that's saying a lot in an area known for rude and old (and old, rude) people.

I didn't think it was possible to find worse drivers than people in FL.

they all drive through PA. Wth?!!

And bad drivers? Come to Maryland. Seriously, I think this state must be the stepping stone for fl in terms of lack of skill and common sense.

[josieposy]