 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / July 2005I am amazed...
...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest to the RV community. For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. Is it really to our advantage to support an Arkansas conglomerate when it destroys local businesses? Perhaps we should support local businesses. Being on a fixed income, I realize that there are places I cannot afford to visit and trips that I cannot afford to make. That is the way it is. No amount of wishing it were different will change it. So perhaps I should be happy with what I have. One thing I do not have is an affinity for WalMart parking lots. WalMart and Sam's Club have driven out of business many small town employers who would otherwise have contributed to the quality of life in their towns. Is it really necessary to be so penurious (cheap) as to add to the misery of local businesses? There are many inexpensive city, state and national campground areas available to those of us who travel. What, then, can be the motivation for insisting on fee "camping" in WalMart lots? Could it be greed? Oh, certainly not! And what is there that provides anyone with the thought that he has some RIGHT to park where he chooses? Supposing WalMart changes its policy and no longer accepts the RV pariah crowd? How then would RVers feel towards that corporation. But of course, there is no self-interest evident here, is there! KH > ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest > to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > KH This post really belongs in RORT where it will generate a lot of replies Lou >> For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a >> WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. >> Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to >> drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. Is it really to >> our advantage to support an Arkansas conglomerate when it destroys local >> businesses? Perhaps we should support local businesses. I spent my first night in WalMart in Rocky Mount, NC this spring enroute to Cape Hatteras. Night found us midway between Raleigh and the Cape. There wasn't a single campground listed in any of my guides, or that any local knew about that we could find. Not a one from Raleigh to Manteo. Also not a single COE, State Park, etc. If I had known, I could have stopped at 2 in the afternoon west of Raleigh, or driven until midnight to hope to find one on the Cape that had an opening. As it is, we were told we should stop at the Walmart in Rocky Mount, by 2 locals at 2 different businesses near them, there being no other option than that or some other private parking lot in the vicinity. We stopped, walked across the road to eat supper at a local resturant, bought 2 pair of shoes at the local Payless store in the same shopping center and spent a little in WalMart, then filled the tank at the Exxon next door on our way out of town the next morning. That's what Walmart camping is for me. When needed, as needed, not a regular choice but one I am willing to use and express my appreciation for when I have to. BTW, it was noisy, with lots of local kids hanging in the parking lot until 2 am, but we got our rest.  SignatureHT . >> For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a >> WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. >> Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to >> drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. Is it really to >> our advantage to support an Arkansas conglomerate when it destroys local >> businesses? Perhaps we should support local businesses. >I spent my first night in WalMart in Rocky Mount, NC this spring >enroute to Cape Hatteras. Night found us midway between Raleigh and [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >the tank at the Exxon next door on our way out of town the next >morning. >That's what Walmart camping is for me. When needed, as needed, not a >regular choice but one I am willing to use and express my appreciation >for when I have to. BTW, it was noisy, with lots of local kids >hanging in the parking lot until 2 am, but we got our rest. Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? >>That's what Walmart camping is for me. When needed, as needed, not a >>regular choice but one I am willing to use and express my appreciation >>for when I have to. BTW, it was noisy, with lots of local kids >>hanging in the parking lot until 2 am, but we got our rest. > >Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? sure have, as a matter of fact. However, I really didn't know where I would be at that particular time on that particular day. It wasn't that big of a biggie, but I was really surprised that there were no campgrounds in that part of the state, it being the main routing for anyone coming in from almost anywhere west. With the huge flow of RV traffic that takes that road onto the Outer Banks, it is still an oddity that there were no campgrounds. First time we have come across something like that, is all. Besides, I was responding to a thread about WallyCamping. SignatureHT . >>> For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a >>> WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? Have you ever heard of "the best laid plans of mice and men" Ever just hit the road with no particular plans other than a destination? And some folks don't even plan that. And that's RVing. SignatureDale Gillespie My Homepage: www.FishWisher.com My RV Site: http://groups.msn.com/CoachpotatosRVHomepage/_whatsnew.msnw > >>>> For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >> > Have you ever heard of "the best laid plans of mice and men" >>> For instance, I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a >>> WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > >Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? have you ever heard the word "Spontaneity"? RV'ing isn't about planning, it's about seeing what is over the next hill and beyond the next curve. 73, rich, n9dko >>Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >73, >rich, n9dko Spontaneity my backside. Start out your spontanious day any way you want, but by mid day you should have some sort of idea how far you will have travelled in whatever direction you are wandering in. At that point pull out your camping guide(s) and call ahead to a CG in the projected area, or at the very least locate CGs in the area. In your scenario you would drive till you found a WalMart? Until 3am if need be? That is irresponsible as you are probably too tired to drive safely. Mark >>>Have you ever heard the phrase "Plan Ahead"? >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >Mark give me a break. first of all we don't travel until 3am. i don't know how you deduced that we drive 18 hours per day from my 1-sentence initial post but you would be wrong. second, we have a map/guide that lists all of the wally worlds, flying j's, etc. sometimes we get 300 miles down the road, other times we're lucky if we make 25 miles. we have no idea how much farther we want to go at mid-day or what turns we're going to make 10 minutes after we leave our lunch stop. we'll overnight at a CG IF there's one in the area; IF the price isn't too steep; IF the description or ad in the directory seems to suit our tastes. 73, rich, n9dko (who has 15 more working days to go and who doesn't enjoy schedules while traveling) > give me a break. first of all we don't travel until 3am. i don't know > how you deduced that we drive 18 hours per day from my 1-sentence [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > IF the price isn't too steep; IF the description or ad in the > directory seems to suit our tastes. Quite a number of walmarts do not allow RV camping at all. Sometimes it's city or county codes. Also it is walmarts policy to allow parking, sleeping only. No chairs, bbq's, awnings etc. allowed outside. Doesn't sound like a nice way to travel! As a simple overnight sleep stop, where there's no reason to get out, it should be totally adequate. > Quite a number of walmarts do not allow RV camping at all. Sometimes it's > city or county codes. Also it is walmarts policy to allow parking, > sleeping only. No chairs, bbq's, awnings etc. allowed outside. Doesn't > sound like a nice way to travel! >> give me a break. first of all we don't travel until 3am. i don't know >> how you deduced that we drive 18 hours per day from my 1-sentence [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >sleeping only. No chairs, bbq's, awnings etc. allowed outside. Doesn't >sound like a nice way to travel! more do than don't and being self-contained it is a wonderful way to travel. we don't *camp* at wal-mart, flying j, etc...we park. there is a world of difference. 73, rich, n9dko (14 to go...13 actually since i'm off on friday!) >> ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest >> to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Lou HEY! Warn a guy willya? Now I have coffee spew on the Saran Wrap cover of my monitor! STeve >Lou@GoForIt.net wrote: >> ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest >> to the RV community. <snip> >> And what is there that provides anyone with the thought that he has some >> RIGHT to park where he chooses? Supposing WalMart changes its policy [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Lou Better yet, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WalMartRVParking so the rest of us don't have to see the same old arguments again. SignatureDD > ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest > to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > KH This is MY take on this situation: I have stayed at 2 different Wal-marts overnight. Once when I was going from Columbus, Ohio to Sturgis, S. Dakota. The other on my way back. I believe I used them properly and for what they were intended for. I pulled in after 11 pm and was out by 7am the next morning. They were at the exit, they were open, and I asked for permission. I went inside and bought some windshield washer fluid to clean some of the bugs off my windshield. I didn't use their electricity, dump station, because they didn't have them available (none do that I know of). It was VERY convenient. Now, if there were campgrounds that wouldn't charge me an arm and a leg for just parking for 8 hours, were open to sell me what I needed and were located close to the exit, I would use them. Maybe some campground owner will see this and assess a small charge for just us "overnighters". People who park at Wal-Marts for extended periods of time are abusing the privilege. But it seems most people are selfish and screw it up for the rest of us. Hank <~~~~Wal-Mart shopper >> ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest >> to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > Hank <~~~~Wal-Mart shopper Hi Hank; My sentiments exactly! Ken! You again!? I think your post does belong here. It's every bit about RVing. But your thinking continues to be a bit foggy, I think. Your presupposition is that we owe local businesses something and that Wal-Mart somehow violates our loyalty to them. Huh? When Wal-Mart built in our town, they became a local business. And those that couldn't compete had to change or go bust. That's called a free economy. I like it. Based on your premise, we should be subsidizing buggy whip manufacturers. My gosh! Times have passed them by and surely we owe them something, don't we? No. Sam Walton has invited folks to drop in to his parking lots to spend the night. Many of us have accepted his generous invitation. That's it! That's the whole story. It's an offer and the acceptance of the offer between free people. That should be the end of the story. But those of you who don't like Wally-Docking just can't let it go and keep stirring the pot. Why is that? RV park owners that try to outlaw free choice deserve to be out of business! If they cannot compete in a free environment, just like buggy whip makers, then the time has come for them to find something else to do for a living. We do not owe businesses anything. They have the freedom to offer their products or services and we have the choice to accept or decline. Period. And being a proud and frequent and grateful Wally-Docker does not make me a pariah! It is simply my free choice. Maybe that's not your choice, but it's a free choice. Sheesh, Kenneth, why do you try so hard to force your choices on others!? SignatureDale Gillespie My Homepage: www.FishWisher.com My RV Site: http://groups.msn.com/CoachpotatosRVHomepage/_whatsnew.msnw > ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest > to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > KH > Ken! You again!? > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > it's a free choice. Sheesh, Kenneth, why do you try so hard to force your > choices on others!? Very good points. BTW, it's free enterprise. "those of you who don't like Wally-Docking just can't let it go and keep stirring the pot. Why is that?" > ...at how vitriolic people can become when addressing issues of interest > to the RV community. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > KH >Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to >drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. Oh vey....... Gentlemen, start your filters. Hunter Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" >>Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to >>drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Hunter Yes, please, lest we degrade into a bickering mess of a political newsgroup, as has happened with so many others. Steve 'I happen to think that those who would park overnight at a WalMart on a regular basis do a great dis-service to local businesses. Corporations such as WalMart succeed to the extent that they are able to drive out of business small, locally owned, businesses. Is it really to our advantage to support an Arkansas conglomerate when it destroys local businesses? Perhaps we should support local businesses.' Reply: I congragulate WalMart on being a success in the Free Enterprise Market ; I dont know the history behind Walmart, but, didnt they start out as a 'small business' at one time and grew to the level they are today ? I think its wonderful speaking from a Consumer standpoint, that, there are Walmarts everywhere that offer a huge selection, lowest prices, and come complete with a cafeteria for something to eat and drink. Its a one-stop shopping center for me and i like the convenience and saving money. And as an RVer, im pleased that i can easily locate a Walmart while on the road to buy something and/or to catch a few hours sleep at no charge . What could be better for the RV/Consumer ??? ..and the endless WallyDocking discussion continues: > And as an RVer, im pleased that i can easily locate > a Walmart while on the road to buy something and/or to catch a few hours > sleep at no charge . What could be better for the RV/Consumer ??? Right on, Dave. It's a great option to stay at a Wal-Mart if one chooses to do so. It never fails to amaze me that some of those who choose not to WallyDock seem to insinuate that nobody else really should, either. But it's a simple thing: Mr. Sam has invited us and some of us accept his invitation. End of controversy, or so one would think. And it's darn few Wally's that don't permit RVers to overnight. In May and June of this year I WallyDocked from California to Florida to Maine and back to Washington state and home to California. I did not encounter a single Wal-Mart on that entire trip that didn't welcome me to spend the night -- and I WallyDocked on average every other night. (The other nights were spent at Flying Js.) Last week in Gilroy, California where we visited the beautiful Bonfante Gardens, we WallyDocked at the Gilroy Wal-Mart. It was clearly posted "No Overnight Parking" all over the lot. I checked in the store to see what the issue really was, and was welcomed to spend a night or two so long as I was in a certain part of the lot. I was informed by Wal-Mart that the purpose of the signs was to give the local PD the authority to boot out folks who try to live on the lot. And also to boot those that try to turn it into an RV park with partying, bar-b-qing and all. That's not what WallyDocking is; it's a rest stop, not an RV park. I personally cannot justify paying $30 to $40 a night for an RV campground while enroute after paying big bucks for a fully self contained RV. Having fresh water, holding tanks, 12v, 120v, TV, AC and all the conveniences of home on board, it just makes no sense to spend extra money every night for a sewer, 120v and water that I don't need. And I've never seen an RV park with the convenient and low cost shopping that Wal-Mart offers! If other RVers wish to stay at RV parks every night, that's all well and good. Enjoy! No doubt some of us RVers find the camaraderie of other RVers makes the expense worthwhile. Or maybe the green lawns or bigger showers and laundry facilities makes it worthwhile. But, hey, that's not for all of us. Ok, enough is enough... Dale Gillespie -a proud and grateful WallyDocker My Homepage: www.FishWisher.com My RV Site: http://groups.msn.com/CoachpotatosRVHomepage/_whatsnew.msnw Don't try stopping at either the San Leando or Union City Wal-Marts..neither allows over-night parking Probably too many freeloading religious a.sholes like dave in lake villa
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.