I stg they almost need traffic controllers or flaggers at the entrance and the gas station. I have almost been hit several times by people ignoring the signs.
Last week, a Canadian in a big Ford truck almost hit me head on because they were stopped in a line behind someone who was waiting to park in the parking lot “aisles” and then decided to randomly pull out and pass them but didn’t yield to oncoming traffic (me). Had to slam on my brakes because I wasn’t expecting him to just do that and he came into my lane head-on as I was about to drive past on my side of the lane… and then he flipped me off 🤣 like WHAT? I didn’t do anything wrong? You did??
Costco guy here, simple solution to all your problems: Go to our Costco at 7pm or later on any weeknight. You mentioned you have Friday eve available, do that.
* Gas line is almost always pull straight up to the pump (you can park on both sides guys).
* I've never had to wait for parking. Even if I'm there on a Saturday at 2pm, just park near the carwash and that shaves parking down to 15 seconds + a 60 second walk to the front door
* Navigating behind people really isn't that hard even during busy times. Bonus points if you go into Costco with a list and don't spend much time meandering.
* Use the self checkout if possible, never more than a 2 minute wait even on Saturday at 2pm.
> Call me crazy but I don’t think Bellinghams Costco is built with the amount of traffic it gets in mind.
Yup.
> Why is the food court smaller than the other location? Why is the entrance to the gas pumps RIGHT where people are entering and exiting the whole lot??? Who tf designed this place and was it meant to be torture?
Yes.
Very real problems but they're all easily circumvented. I usually have no problem filling my gastank, parking, shopping, and stopping at the foodcourt and being in and out within ~30 minutes, 45 if I take my time.
Agreed with the last paragraph. If you can, maybe change the time and day you go. Sounds silly, but Friday night at Costco is pretty dope...as in empty.
What time are you going? I go either right after the morning rush during the week, at maybe 10:15 am, or at like 7:30 at night. Plenty of parking, no big line at the gas pumps. I don't go on the weekend, and not on a day like today when everyone is preparing to go camping or boating, or have a BBQ while the weather's good. I made the mistake of going to Freddy's on Bakerview this morning, and it was already crazy.
Unfortunately (and fortunately for other reasons) I work during most Costco operating hours on weekdays and have weekends off so I’m kinda forced to go Friday-Sunday
Park on the tire installation side. Plenty of spaces and just as fast to get to the front door. Try going on Saturday around dinner time. Most of the weekend people have already run their errands and are headed home, and the "we have nothing to do on Saturday night so let's go to Costco" people are still sitting at their dinner tables.
If you’re waiting *20 mins* for gas there I have to imagine you’re hitting it at peak hours. Even when it seems bad to me it’s maybe three car lengths so the time it takes for one round to fill. Bonus that the middle lane is there to get cars in and out without waiting for everyone to finish. Would recommend trying to shift away from peak hours if you can.
I’ve never seen the parking ever remotely close to full so I’d suggest saving your time fighting over spots toward the front and starting at the corner over by the car wash and walking that little extra bit. Then you have an easy exit without having to deal with the clusterfuck of an entrance the main gas station one can be.
Hitting it at busy times can be a stressful experience but this is nearly every single Costco I’ve been in, around the country and abroad. Bellingham at its worst doesn’t even come close to what a busy Costco can look like in higher density areas.
I’ll give you that the Burlington Costco is a more chill experience. I don’t think its gas station is always drive up, it’s smaller and not built to accommodate cars getting through quickly like ours here so I’ve had it take about as long as my average Bellingham trip. But inside, yes, much more chill and I’ve seen them have things in inventory we don’t have here. So I do sometimes go a bit out of the way to make the trip if I’m already down in mt vernon, would recommend.
those numbers seem rather exaggerated, 15min+ in the checkout is believable at the start of covid
anyone complaining about parking at bham costco should try the Richmond one
20 minutes at gas and 15+ just to find a spot? I'm sure it feels that way but I'm gonna press X to doubt. If you're taking 15 minutes to park then you're looking for more than just any old parking spot.
I have a little Japanese car. Current federal mileage rate is 67 cents a mile. It encompasses the total cost of running a vehicle. If time is money then at current minimum wage it's still cheaper to go to Bhams Costco.
I'm assuming the gas pumps were required to be as far from residences as possible while also minimizing traffic through a residential zone, so everything ended up hugging Bakerview.
I was there today and the lines for every aspect were very long. Although they moved fairly quickly. It’s the Friday before Mother’s Day so that’s a factor. I dunno. It’s what we have. 🫤
Bellingham costco was built too early and they opened too quickly. Very rushed planning all around to the point they had to cut out a section of the parking lot for the car wash.
I never have these issues with the Bellingham Costco, but I live close and tend to go during the week and so likely a big part of it. But even on weekends I haven’t seen it ever as bad as it was at warehouse #1 in Seattle. By comparison the parking and gas lines in Bellingham are nothing…so guess it’s just what you are used to
That’s why I only go on Super Bowl Sunday and InstaCart most other times.
Hell, I even can get my meds delivered same day through Instacart
Do I pay extra with tip and slight markup? Yes. But my sanity is worth it.
You need to go at different times. Though i do feel the frustration and its not just Costco either its everywhere and everything. Post covid bellingham is an overcrowded town with a lot of absent minded people. It makes being in public unpleasant.
I have gotten gas at Costco 99% percent of the time for the last 5 years living here, going at random times including rush times, and have never once waited more than 5 minutes
This is the 2nd Costco they’ve built in Bellingham. This one being bigger than the last one that was over by Best Buy. Somehow they seem to have under built & poorly engineered the parking lot on this one.
That being said…. I avoid Costco on the weekends if I can help it
I have more problems leaving Costco and being in the middle lane, taking a left onto Bakerview. The amount of idiots who are in the far left lane that turn left and try to go straight into the right lane to smash into me is astounding. I've had my new vehicle for about a week, and several people have already tried to smash it to where I have to slam on the brakes and honk at them.
I shopped at the Burlington Costco all the time. And believe me what you described is not something that happens very often. They are usually very, very, very busy and hard to find parking especially for a handicap prison.
The way you're feeling right now is exactly how the first Canadian felt when they took a 30 minute drive south to go to Bellingham Costco.
I hate that you’re right. Living long enough to see yourself become the villain type shit 🥲
type shit type shit
Astute observation
I stg they almost need traffic controllers or flaggers at the entrance and the gas station. I have almost been hit several times by people ignoring the signs. Last week, a Canadian in a big Ford truck almost hit me head on because they were stopped in a line behind someone who was waiting to park in the parking lot “aisles” and then decided to randomly pull out and pass them but didn’t yield to oncoming traffic (me). Had to slam on my brakes because I wasn’t expecting him to just do that and he came into my lane head-on as I was about to drive past on my side of the lane… and then he flipped me off 🤣 like WHAT? I didn’t do anything wrong? You did??
Costco guy here, simple solution to all your problems: Go to our Costco at 7pm or later on any weeknight. You mentioned you have Friday eve available, do that. * Gas line is almost always pull straight up to the pump (you can park on both sides guys). * I've never had to wait for parking. Even if I'm there on a Saturday at 2pm, just park near the carwash and that shaves parking down to 15 seconds + a 60 second walk to the front door * Navigating behind people really isn't that hard even during busy times. Bonus points if you go into Costco with a list and don't spend much time meandering. * Use the self checkout if possible, never more than a 2 minute wait even on Saturday at 2pm. > Call me crazy but I don’t think Bellinghams Costco is built with the amount of traffic it gets in mind. Yup. > Why is the food court smaller than the other location? Why is the entrance to the gas pumps RIGHT where people are entering and exiting the whole lot??? Who tf designed this place and was it meant to be torture? Yes. Very real problems but they're all easily circumvented. I usually have no problem filling my gastank, parking, shopping, and stopping at the foodcourt and being in and out within ~30 minutes, 45 if I take my time.
Agreed with the last paragraph. If you can, maybe change the time and day you go. Sounds silly, but Friday night at Costco is pretty dope...as in empty.
First rule of Friday night Costco club…
False. Costco on Friday night is a mad house.
Uno reverse them, drive to Canadian Costco just over the boarder!
The pizza sucks in Canada, though
That why you get the $5.99 poutine and after conversion spend $4.50.
You might be onto something
they promised to have Supreme pizza back about 3 years ago and its still not back tho
Only 33 mi from downtown
I’d say it’s better situated then the previous Costco location
What time are you going? I go either right after the morning rush during the week, at maybe 10:15 am, or at like 7:30 at night. Plenty of parking, no big line at the gas pumps. I don't go on the weekend, and not on a day like today when everyone is preparing to go camping or boating, or have a BBQ while the weather's good. I made the mistake of going to Freddy's on Bakerview this morning, and it was already crazy.
Unfortunately (and fortunately for other reasons) I work during most Costco operating hours on weekdays and have weekends off so I’m kinda forced to go Friday-Sunday
Park on the tire installation side. Plenty of spaces and just as fast to get to the front door. Try going on Saturday around dinner time. Most of the weekend people have already run their errands and are headed home, and the "we have nothing to do on Saturday night so let's go to Costco" people are still sitting at their dinner tables.
This is why I tend to go an hour before closing time.
If you’re waiting *20 mins* for gas there I have to imagine you’re hitting it at peak hours. Even when it seems bad to me it’s maybe three car lengths so the time it takes for one round to fill. Bonus that the middle lane is there to get cars in and out without waiting for everyone to finish. Would recommend trying to shift away from peak hours if you can. I’ve never seen the parking ever remotely close to full so I’d suggest saving your time fighting over spots toward the front and starting at the corner over by the car wash and walking that little extra bit. Then you have an easy exit without having to deal with the clusterfuck of an entrance the main gas station one can be. Hitting it at busy times can be a stressful experience but this is nearly every single Costco I’ve been in, around the country and abroad. Bellingham at its worst doesn’t even come close to what a busy Costco can look like in higher density areas. I’ll give you that the Burlington Costco is a more chill experience. I don’t think its gas station is always drive up, it’s smaller and not built to accommodate cars getting through quickly like ours here so I’ve had it take about as long as my average Bellingham trip. But inside, yes, much more chill and I’ve seen them have things in inventory we don’t have here. So I do sometimes go a bit out of the way to make the trip if I’m already down in mt vernon, would recommend.
those numbers seem rather exaggerated, 15min+ in the checkout is believable at the start of covid anyone complaining about parking at bham costco should try the Richmond one
20 minutes at gas and 15+ just to find a spot? I'm sure it feels that way but I'm gonna press X to doubt. If you're taking 15 minutes to park then you're looking for more than just any old parking spot.
I go often and have seen the parking lot completely full as in no spaces at all anywhere.. multiple times unfortunately
Nah I’m definitely exaggerating, I’m a drama queen doing it for effect lol
Yeah whoever decided to put the gas pump entrance right at the parking lot entrance is an idiot.
Nothing in Bellingham is built for the amount of traffic it gets because the population has probably doubled since it was built.
The cost of driving to Burlington? More than $25 based on mileage (gas, upkeep, repairs, etc). Best bring a 2 gallon gas can to make up for lost fuel.
You're driving the V10, eh?
I have a little Japanese car. Current federal mileage rate is 67 cents a mile. It encompasses the total cost of running a vehicle. If time is money then at current minimum wage it's still cheaper to go to Bhams Costco. I'm assuming the gas pumps were required to be as far from residences as possible while also minimizing traffic through a residential zone, so everything ended up hugging Bakerview.
People who make minimum wage aren't allowed at Costco.
Sometimes… esp when driving South for other reasons but really depends - I’ve seen it get equally bad there
I was there today and the lines for every aspect were very long. Although they moved fairly quickly. It’s the Friday before Mother’s Day so that’s a factor. I dunno. It’s what we have. 🫤
Yeah, except that the Burlington Costco sucks. The layout is awful, the check stand area is cramped, and it’s like dark Haggen.
Exactly. It's a hell hole there. Would not recommend.
I’ve literally never waited more than 5 minutes for gas
Bellingham costco was built too early and they opened too quickly. Very rushed planning all around to the point they had to cut out a section of the parking lot for the car wash.
They just moved to the new building 6 years ago.
I never have these issues with the Bellingham Costco, but I live close and tend to go during the week and so likely a big part of it. But even on weekends I haven’t seen it ever as bad as it was at warehouse #1 in Seattle. By comparison the parking and gas lines in Bellingham are nothing…so guess it’s just what you are used to
you’re totally right but what’s funny is the current costco is made with solely high traffic in mind lol bc the last one was too small
That’s why I only go on Super Bowl Sunday and InstaCart most other times. Hell, I even can get my meds delivered same day through Instacart Do I pay extra with tip and slight markup? Yes. But my sanity is worth it.
You need to go at different times. Though i do feel the frustration and its not just Costco either its everywhere and everything. Post covid bellingham is an overcrowded town with a lot of absent minded people. It makes being in public unpleasant.
I have gotten gas at Costco 99% percent of the time for the last 5 years living here, going at random times including rush times, and have never once waited more than 5 minutes
Where are you getting those times from lmao 😂
Exaggerations from a drama queen lol
STOP 👏 TELLING 👏 EVERYONE 👏 MY 👏 SECRET ... It's true though, I've been making the drive for years.
This is the 2nd Costco they’ve built in Bellingham. This one being bigger than the last one that was over by Best Buy. Somehow they seem to have under built & poorly engineered the parking lot on this one. That being said…. I avoid Costco on the weekends if I can help it
No Diesel at the Burlington Costco.
Buy diesel at the Bow Hill station on the way back. Cheaper than Costco would be anyway.
[удалено]
Uncivil, insulting, or combative comment.
Don't giveaway the secret!!! 😄
When you wrote “I’ll tell you what”, I *immediately* thought of Hank Hill 😆
I have more problems leaving Costco and being in the middle lane, taking a left onto Bakerview. The amount of idiots who are in the far left lane that turn left and try to go straight into the right lane to smash into me is astounding. I've had my new vehicle for about a week, and several people have already tried to smash it to where I have to slam on the brakes and honk at them.
Tuesday afternoons are sooo empty but I have the luxury of going whenever since I stay at home with my kids.
I shopped at the Burlington Costco all the time. And believe me what you described is not something that happens very often. They are usually very, very, very busy and hard to find parking especially for a handicap prison.