Americans Fed Up With Canadians Taking Over Local Costco

Residents of Bellingham, Wash., are fed up with Canadian shoppers who cross the border and buy up the goods at the local Costco.

Canadian residents are driving less than 30 miles across the U.S. border and taking full advantage of the favorable exchange rate when buying food, gas and other items. Right now, Canada's dollar is much stronger than the U.S.'s. Gas is more than a buck less in the U.S., and milk is nearly $5 a gallon less.

Many British Colombia license plates have been popping up in the Costco lot, preventing locals from finding spots, according to many Bellingham residents. Videos have been posted to YouTube showing long lines at checkout and a mad dash for cheap American milk in the store.

Things have gotten so bad for local residents that they have started a Facebook page with the pleading title, "Bellingham Costco Needs a Special Time Just for Americans."

"It's like the border dropped 25 miles. Americans should be able to find parking in their own country," reads one post.

As of Tuesday morning, the Facebook page has more than 2,900 "Likes" and tons of debates between Americans and Canadians.

"It's like going through Disneyland when you come to Costco here," said one woman.

A senior vice president at Costco told CBC News that anyone with a Costco membership can shop at any store in the world.

As long as the exchange rate stays in favor of the neighbors to the north, the residents of Bellingham, Wash., can expect more of the same.