Wal Marts

[Hattie]

Update from RV Travel Newsletter: Is free "camping" at Wal-Mart doomed?

[wags999]

Sadly "free" draws many less than savory characters these days. Part is because of the non recovery in the economy and lack of jobs, part is just too many people living in their vehicles. It's not the typical RV who causes problems, but it will be the typical RVer who will pay the price.

People abuse the gesture all the time. Here in Az i have watched a TT with mat out sitting at Wally world for the last week. No vehicle around during the day but obviously living in it. I agree more and more cities will place restrictions on overnight parking because it is drawing the wrong people. Safety is being put in jeopardy. I agree with the article, WalMart and others will come to the conclusion the risk is not worth the few $ they may make, and I can't blame them.

[Bassdogs]

Too bad if WW ever is forced to change their policy. It is a great thing and has been a regular part of our on the road planning. Just overnite when on a multiday drive. Like I said before, have never had a problem.

And have to disagree with the poster who said that WW will conclude that it is not worth the ??few?? dollars they make. On our final stop before our destination site, we spend $300 - $400 for groceries, Rv supplies, and general merchandize. Everything from flip flops to a replacement electric space heater, and a vacumn to replace the one the wife forgot to bring. WW is a master at finding ways to get shoppers into their stores. Overnighting is just one of them.

[wags999]

It's called an attractive neusince. Other people had minor injuries, if they sue WM, they will win. $400 means nothing, they are attracting and allowing bad behavior. They are responsibe. If I can't afford the $30 or $40 then I should not be traveling. Their are neumeruous camp grounds within a few miles of this WM, no need for them to allow 8 people to live in an SUV for days. .

[Todd Klassy]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

And have to disagree with the poster who said that WW will conclude that it is not worth the ??few?? dollars they make. On our final stop before our destination site, we spend $300 - $400 for groceries, Rv supplies, and general merchandize. Everything from flip flops to a replacement electric space heater, and a vacumn to replace the one the wife forgot to bring. WW is a master at finding ways to get shoppers into their stores. Overnighting is just one of them.

And I ask you, if Walmart bans RVs from parking in its lot overnight, where else are you going to buy those things? Especially some place you can easily swing in with a RV?

The amount of revenue Walmart will lose in sales (if any) is a drop in the bucket compared to the money is may lose in increased insurance premiums or the money it may lose in a lawsuit if Walmart is ever found negligent in the killing of an employee or customer by its policy allowing vagrants to use their parking lots as a hostel. Like everything else, people take advantage of a good thing. And like every else, all good things must come to an end.

[slabat]

I personally can see using one for a quick nap but have never done that. I have stopped at a rest area and grabbed a couple of hours from time to time. The thing I cant understand is who would want to camp in a Walmart parking lot! That is crazy, if you cant afford to pay 30 bucks a night to camp DONT go. I personally would rather stop at a KOA or another campground and set up for the night then stay in a parking lot. But I can see it as a convenience if you are just shutting down for a few hours and not trying to get some relaxation and a few beverages in. As the others have said there are a few that will wreck that for everyone.

[Todd Klassy]

Originally Posted by slabat

The thing I cant understand is who would want to camp in a Walmart parking lot!

You must be unaware of the whole subculture of those who are now roaming the U.S. and dry camping in the parking lots of Walmarts, Lowe's, Cabela's, and other free camping sites. They have featured this part of society in many a newspaper and magazine and many of them are making some money by chronicling their day-to-day routine on YouTube.

[bumbles75]

Go read the threads on this site VanDweller Community Forums . There are some good people on here and some that are the problem we are talking about. There's a thread where they talk about how to pretend to be family of people in hospitals to take a free shower and take food of of trays. They talk about sneaking into hotels in the mornings to eat the free breakfast.

How much money do you think they spend at Walmart while sleeping on the parking lot?

[skidoorider]

I think a few of you misunderstood me. I am NOT looking to camp in a Wal Mart lot. I am looking for a place to park and sleep for a few hours as we are leaving on a trip that will have me driving overnight.

RB

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by skidoorider

I think a few of you misunderstood me. I am NOT looking to camp in a Wal Mart lot. I am looking for a place to park and sleep for a few hours as we are leaving on a trip that will have me driving over night. RB

Fair enough. With the title WAL MART ... it provided an opportunity to also share insight to Wal-Mart's (current) policies for RV'ers. So ... we killed two birds with one stone!

[Todd Klassy]

Originally Posted by skidoorider

I think a few of you misunderstood me. I am NOT looking to camp in a Wal Mart lot. I am looking for a place to park and sleep for a few hours as we are leaving on a trip that will have me driving overnight.

RB

I'm not saying I'm against people staying overnight in the Walmart parking lot. In fact, I'm very much in favor of it...when users are respectful, do not take advantage of it, and do not ruin it for everyone else. As for the vagrants, well, I don't know what to say about them except that they are likely the ones that will ruin it for the rest of us.

[SmokerBill]

I've stopped at many Walmarts on cross country drives. Got permission to overnight, bought some food and beer, and had nice, relaxing evenings.

Next day, I'd hit the road to my next stop.

And I see nothing wrong with that.

[Tunce the traveler]

Casino's are a good place to pull in for a few hours or the night. Rest rooms are half way decent and the foods not bad and it's available early and late.

[Ustabslim]

I'v found that small strip centers in small towns, church parking lots, bank parking lots, auto parts stores, livestock auction parking,etc works well. To me the secret is Pick a small town. Just leave before they open in the am and don't put all the slides etc out. We normally stop around 9-10ish after traffic dies and there closed. Never had a problem.

[norty1]

However don't be surprised to hear a officer knocking on your door telling you to move on in the middle of the night.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by skidoorider

I think a few of you misunderstood me. I am NOT looking to camp in a Wal Mart lot. I am looking for a place to park and sleep for a few hours as we are leaving on a trip that will have me driving overnight.

RB

I don't think they misunderstood your intent or mine which I have described. The intent is to simply to overnite on a trip to a destination and not wanting to waste the time to register and set up on a site. WW lots are well lit, easy to find a level spot, and most have 24 hr security. We are not "camping" at WW and would expect WW to run off those who do. This is not about vagrants or whatever some infer either. My overnite neighbors at WW almost always include at least one Class A and other late model RV rigs. This is not about the $$ but rather convienence and access to a place to eat dinner and get a nites sleep.

For those who must have a Jelly Stone or KOA CG, I invite you to enjoy your evening but quit trying to rain on our parade. If WW decides to end this opportunity for RV roadwarriers, then we will have to go another direction, but some on here seem to forget that this is not a WW thing as many big box stores offer the same convience. It is also not a localized thing, as we have stayed in the WW lot in states from Virginia to Cal and from Tex to ND as well as Alaska.

And for the $$$ I spend while overniting, I frequent merchants who seek out my business and businesses that so they appreciate Rv'ers. WW gets 5 stars on both counts.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by Todd Klassy

The amount of revenue Walmart will lose in sales (if any) is a drop in the bucket compared to the money is may lose in increased insurance premiums or the money it may lose in a lawsuit if Walmart is ever found negligent in the killing of an employee or customer by its policy allowing vagrants to use their parking lots as a hostel. .

What ++ in insurance premiums are you talking about. WW's are almost all 24/7 and I can attest that there are customers and activity in the lot all night. The liability is there for someone who drives into the lot at 1am to shop or me who stops around 7pm, shops, and leaves around dawn the next am. Someone getting killed because of this policy?? What are you smoking. Would they not be liable for an employee who was killed rounding up carts in the lot by a late nite shopper.

This thread seems to have morphed to something other than the overnight thing.

[us71na]

As others have stated some allow it and some don't. We stayed once and it may well be our last time. They told us where they wanted us and all night long trucks delivering stuff rolled by, then the trash truck, then the parking lot sweeper service kept making noise. It was not a very restful night.

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

This thread seems to have morphed to something other than the overnight thing.

Hmmm, IMHO this thread is a combination of "the overnight thing", etiquette (abiding by the rules of Wal-Mart and other stop-n-snore parking lots), personal safety and comfort, and giving our business without abusing the courtesy offered. However, it is a personal call as to those who do/don't elect to use this as an opportunity to rest their eyes/minds before hitting the road again.

[wags999]

Problem is, with the economy as it is, more and more people are living in their vehicles. I feel bad for them, but, with them bring crime, even petty crime, stealing from cars etc. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose, very sad. Cities are discussing how to handle these situations, and while Wal Mart self insures I could see, especially in cities away from interstates, them moving to eliminate over night stays. I see others doing the same thing. Just a sign of the times, people feel entitled and with that entitlement people stop being thankful and start demanding.

What was once a nice jester is now an entitlement. Rude behavior also often follows. One WalMart near where we were working last summer, had to eliminate overnight parking after scores of RV's would be parked there. Leaving trash etc. People were spending days actually vacationing in the parking lot. This was near a national park and there were few state or federal campgrounds, and the few private campgrounds were typically booked weeks in advance.

This is a lose lose for those companies that have and want to continue to allow overnight camping.