Dumping and general venting

[T. K. Hays]

Yesterday had a nice motorhome pull in and tell me they had stayed here once last spring and liked it and for the last few days had been drycamping at truck stops and walmarts and all he wanted to do was dump his tanks. I told him $10.00 if he was off the road. He looked at me like I had something hanging out of my nose, said he wouldn't pay that much just to dump, procedded to get back in a roar out of here.

I hated to see him go and will not probably see him again so probably lost on future business too. I have already spent $3500 on my sewer system this year, not including electricity to run the lift pumps, and need to spend another $3000 when we can spare it.

I can't make money on store sales because everybody that comes in here thinks they have to go spend their money at at the new walmart. Its bad enough that I have to compete with wally for campers. Now I'm supposed to take the crap off of their campers for free.

We came in here thinking that if we ran a quality, clean, safe, friendly and quiet RV park that was resonably priced that people would do business with us. Then Wally puts a supercenter with a plain old parking lot, none of the RV amenities that people say they want and many nites they get more campers than I do. (We are 3/4 mile apart). Many are there set up long before we close.

What is wrong with this picture????

Terry
Sallisaw OK KOA

[T. K. Hays]

Yesterday had a nice motorhome pull in and tell me they had stayed here once last spring and liked it and for the last few days had been drycamping at truck stops and walmarts and all he wanted to do was dump his tanks. I told him $10.00 if he was off the road. He looked at me like I had something hanging out of my nose, said he wouldn't pay that much just to dump, procedded to get back in a roar out of here.

I hated to see him go and will not probably see him again so probably lost on future business too. I have already spent $3500 on my sewer system this year, not including electricity to run the lift pumps, and need to spend another $3000 when we can spare it.

I can't make money on store sales because everybody that comes in here thinks they have to go spend their money at at the new walmart. Its bad enough that I have to compete with wally for campers. Now I'm supposed to take the crap off of their campers for free.

We came in here thinking that if we ran a quality, clean, safe, friendly and quiet RV park that was resonably priced that people would do business with us. Then Wally puts a supercenter with a plain old parking lot, none of the RV amenities that people say they want and many nites they get more campers than I do. (We are 3/4 mile apart). Many are there set up long before we close.

What is wrong with this picture????

Terry
Sallisaw OK KOA

[brad50]

you probably did not run off any future business i think you ran off a dead beat. i workamp and here that story all the time. i bet the guy goes into a restaurant looks at the menu and says the prices are to high.as far as the people that stay at wally world put up a sine .if you camp at wally world then dump there.

Howard Sue and Sausage dog FULLTIMING
2002 Ford SD F350 DRW PSD 410 Gears Walker BTM pulling 36ft. 3500FSS Jayco Designer two Slides
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[Jim Gehlen]

Terry; The guy probably has more money then he knows what to do with considering all he has saved by using truck stops and Wal-marts. Human nature has never ceased to amaze me.

Glad to see your posts and may be back in your neighborhood as we are looking at a workamping position in Louisana for the winter/spring. We wont use Wallyworld. I didn't buy this trailer with all the connections to park in a parking lot.

[C Driver]

I would certainly expect to pay a small fee for just dumping and $10 does not seem unreasonable. Wonder where he ended up dumping? Probably the next campground that charged him $20 or, heaven forbid, on the roadside somewhere.

I have gone to look for myself ... If I should return before I get back, please keep me here

Ed
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[mjstef]

Terry,
Don't let it get you down!!! You have a great thing going there!!!That guy was just a cheap SOB! We get them here too! How is your fenceline coming along??

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[Lorna]

I thought $10 was the normal price for dumping. Isn't that what the truckstops charge? I would expect to pay if I just wanted to dump. If he'd been RVing very long he would know that. It's the high priced places that get me! Find out the closest places arpund you that allow dumping (not campgrounds) and then you can tell them where to go! Nicely of course. There is a site that lists public dump stations and I believe most of them charge to dump. http://www.fulltiming-america.com/rvdump/index.html BTW under OK there are 14 listed and only 4 are free. Not many public dump areas for such a big state! While we have never stayed at the Wally World Overnight Campground, we probably would when passing thru and only stopping for a few hours overnight (late in/early out). As far as pulling in early and staying overnight, I don't think we would. Besides from what I've heard the Wally World Overnight Campground isn't as cheap as most folks think. Of course you go in to pick up a couple of items (which seems to turn into a lot of items) and before you know it you've paid the price of the campground down the road.

BTW of the 4 campgrounds closest our Kimball Wal-Mart, 1 is pathetic at best (trashy is more accurate), 1 sits right on the interstate and few are ever there, the other 2 are always full. You have to go 50+ miles to get to another campground and this means you either climb Monteagle Mtn or have already come down it (I-24...a bit on the steep side). This mtn seems to upset alot of folks. If the weather were bad and late, I would park in a parking lot in the bus. But I don't consider it camping and I would certainly expect to pay a campground to dump my tanks in a situation like that.

Lorna
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[Razorback Dave]

Hey T.K, I don't think you ran off any future paying customer, just a deadbeat. The wife and I have never stayed at a Wal-Mart parking lot, never will. We figure if we have the money to go somewhere, we can pay for a nice quiet, clean place to stay even just a overnighter. We have many times and will do again. I like having electricity for A/C and fresh clean water. I don't know how long you have been in the campground business, but I guess its like anything else dealing with the public, you meet ALL KINDS!!! Hang in there, that guy only represents about 5% of the population I would guess. Besides, the story about staying there last year and really liking the place, probably trying to butter you up for the ole "let me slide on paying for dumping" act.

[Workers On The Go]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> said he wouldn't pay that much just to dump, procedded to get back in a roar out of here. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>you probably did not run off any future business i think you ran off a dead beat. i workamp and here that story all the time. i bet the guy goes into a restaurant looks at the menu and says the prices are to high.as far as the people that stay at wally world put up a sine .if you camp at wally world then dump there. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I say the guy was looking for a "free lunch", he probably went to the next campground and gave them the same sob story....until he finally found one to dump for free. I doubt that he ever intended to stay at your campground ever...

See who I am:

http://pages.ivillage.com/workersonthego/

[This message was edited by ClassAct on Sun August 17 2003 at 05:36 AM.]

You have the right to charge for something to keep your park operating. But please don't put us all in the same pot that park somewhere else. Have had other mad at you when you come in late and the only noise you make is the old deisel running. Having pulled two trailors make it hard to stop at campground after closing. some park close long before i get tried and want to stop. Never been to wal-mart camping! Would never ask you to let me drop a load without paying or staying the night.
But thank you for providing a need service. Love your area the the state.

96 2500 Cum.Ram, 97 HR Alumalite 32ft 5ver
Mobile RV & Aircraft Service
RVIA cert.RV Tech FAA Pilot/Mechanic
KC5STI

[Fred Hammer]

T.K. the campground where we winter had a problem with its sewer system (pretreatment) and the expenses for chemicals to get the effluent into compliance with local code -- prior to the big white trucks hauling it away for municipal treatment. In addition to quite high chemical costs, there was still a hydrogen sulfide sulfur smell.
Getting rid of the blue and green "stuff' containing formaldehyde and bacterial pesticide and educating campers to use safe aerobic bacteria based products, has improved the situation greatly.
I also have a campground owner's story about a CG in WV where the owner does not allow any dumping if the blue or green stuff is what will come out of the camper's tanks.
Email me with your snail mail address and I'll send you a brochure on Snow Fresh Holding Tank Treatment (www.snowfresh.com) and a page from my seminar on "Holding Tank Care Without Caustic Chemicals."
Good Luck!
Fred Hammer
fchammer1@aol.com

[bobt35]

Hi Guys and Gals,

We aren't campground owners but we are in business for our selves. So we understand return on investment etc.

We have a question that we haven't seen addressed anywhere, so here goes.

First, some back ground. Our rig is 63' long! [40'5th wheel and 26' semi-tractor] When we are going to move on the next day we dislike having to stop in a campground because of the hassle of parking. When we travel like that we like to stop around 6-7-8 PM. This means that usually all the pull throughs are gone by then. We confess we have stopped in the Wal-Marts of the world, not because of the $, but for ease of entering, parking and pulling out the next day.

Where space allows it, why don't you campground owners market your overflow space for people who don't want / need hook-ups and just want to stand down for a few hours? A nominal fee would be acceptable as this would give the RVr a modicome of security. If they want to dump that would entail a small additional charge.

It seems to us that you would entice a number of us Wal-mart campers. You would obtain some income from a generally unused or under used area of your campground.

You know the old adage "Find a need and fill it and you have a successful business. JOHO

Bob T

[Alan_Hepburn]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bobt35:

Where space allows it, why don't you campground owners market your overflow space for people who don't want / need hook-ups and just want to stand down for a few hours? A nominal fee would be acceptable as this would give the RVr a modicome of security. If they want to dump that would entail a small additional charge.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Good Sam Club tried that back in the 1980s - they had a program that for $5 you would get a spot in the parking lot, basically. It was meant for those who wanted a safe place to park overnight. But, like every good idea, people abused it - paying their $5 for overnight, then "forgetting" to leave early the next morning - instead making use of the pools, playgrounds, etc. Rather than trying to police the situation they found it was easier to simply eliminate the program.

Alan@Hepburn.com - San Jose, Ca - http://www.Alan.Hepburn.com
1999 F450 Crew Cab PSD pulling a 2002 Fleetwood Triumph 365L triple slide fifth wheel - Charter Member - International Brotherhood of Weight Police
*****
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve." - George Bernard Shaw

[Hitchhiker]

There's a lengthy article on this subject in the February '04 issue of RV Business, an Affinity group publication intended for distribution to dealers, OEMs, and other individuals in the RV industry.

The article discusses how Walmart and other major retailers such as Flying J and Cracker Barrel have created tension within the RV industry with their liberal parking policy.

Campground owners feel the practice creates unfair competition at the same time RV'rs indicate Walmart's liberal policy is providing a valuable service.

The article cites instances where RV'rs have abused Walmart's generosity by staying several days, leaving messes, setting up outdoor barbecue grilles, etc.

Rv'rs have indicated campground owners have collectively dropped the ball and are failing to cater to their needs of a basic, no hookup, place to park overnight when traveling the interstate highway system.

The article quotes from Walmart's website encouraging RV'rs to stay in their parking lot. Walmart's position is that it's permitted on a store to store basis contingent on available space, local regulations and ordinances.

It's also pointed out that many campgrounds that are near interstate interchanges don't do anything to facilitate RV'rs getting easily in and out of their property without having to unhook or drop a toad. RV'rs are simply searching for a place to easily pull in and get a little rest before moving on down the highway, according to the article.

Many RV'rs pull into Walmart at late hours, some leave in the early morning hours. Many are looking for a place where they won't wake up a lot of other RV'rs when they do so.

It's an interesting article that points out the perspectives of both sides of the Walmart Boondocking issue.

Perhaps there is a campground industry opportunity to cater to the segment of RV'rs who only need a safe place to park for one night and don't expect any amenities. In after 7 PM and out by 7 AM could be a rule of thumb.

No water, electric, sewer, or trash service would be provided. Only a flat place to park, doesn't even need to be paved. A locked drop box with appropriate envelopes for payment like at a Forestry Service campground might be the best way to collect the nominal fee and keep administrative costs at a minimum.

I think folks would use them once they became established. There would still be folks at the Walmart but this could give them a choice and also put a little revenue in the campground owner's pocket.

Richard

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