The World of RV Wal-Mart Freeloading in B.C.

[Spiderman of Calgary]

RV PARK OWNERS, READ THIS!
This topic has cropped up so many times and dragged on for so long that it becomes a tiresome pain in the fundament. Having said that, I would say that the RV campground/park/resort industry has got to wake up and read the writing on the Wal-Mart. (Oops! Bad pun.)

RV PARK OWNERS, READ THIS! There is a huge segment of RV owners who don't want to or can't pay $45 to $100 a night for the privilege of not using pools, spas, putting greens, brick barbeque grills, little Japanese lantern site lamps, immaculately groomed lawns, wishing wells and goldfish ponds, and all the other expensive stuff that parks and campgrounds invest money in and then jack up the rent to pay for. All that money you spent on cutesy-pie garden gnomes and golf cart "bus systems" to and from the recreation center was a foolish waste of your money!

RV PARK OWNERS! READ THIS! Don't you realize that charging even $10 a night for a boondocking site amounts to $300 a month? About half my Social Security check? $45 a night adds up to $1350 a month! $100 a night (in the high end resort parks near Miami, for instance) rings in at $3000 a month! I can stay in an airconditioned hotel in Vegas for that! Now do you understand why we stay at Wal-Mart?

RV PARK OWNERS! READ THIS! If you don't want me to park free at a Wal-Mart you have to offer me some reason to park in your park. Charging outrageous fees for a simple overnight stay, or even for several nights is NOT the answer.

RV PARK OWNERS, READ THIS! We buy our rigs because we want a simpler life. We want independence. We want to be able to pick up and go if and when we please. If this weren't the case we'd buy a condo in Cancun or Port of Prince and get it over with. (We will ignore the question of how well we actually use all that freedom and independence once we get it.)

I, for one (and I think I speak for a really large number of others), am just as happy in a mowed field. off a dirt road. I can walk my dogs in peace and smell the fresh air. Many of us have lived in crowded suburbs for the last 30 years and we want out! Now! We don't want to move into another crowded housing development (even if it is populated solely by RVs.)

I, for one, couldn't care less about garden gnomes and brick barbeques. If there aren't any manicured sites I can park away from everybody else and don't have to listen to THEIR TV or love quarrels! Helluva deal!

RV PARK OWNERS ARE YOU GETTING THE MESSAGE? If not you'd better wake up fast. The bankruptcy lawyers are setting up an office right across the street from you! And I can see it all from my spot at Wal-Mart!

[FatDog]

A number of people here have sounded indignant at the thought of not being able to stay at a wal-Mart. And even stay there for free
"..or I will return anything I've purchased from them..."

Real Nice.!

I think that Wal-Mart has encouraged this over the years, by either outright allowing it, or at least not enforcing some store's policy against it.

But for pete's sake!!!, .... some stores are posting signs asking people to not camp there, and STILL people get indignant at not being able to ?? And then they do it anyway ?!

Is it just the $200,000 MH's, or do the 20' superlite tag-a-long people get upset at not being able to tresspass?
And if a No-Camping sign is posted, and Wal-Mart continually looks the other way and does not enforce their removal, has Wal-Mart actually implied its acceptance of people camping there? (oops,.... California Labor Law creeping into my head there, sorry)

Here is how i consider the thought of tresspassing as versus some good natured, tolerable 'visiting':

- if they say NO, that means NO (and you can still give them your retail business too)

- if they like you there, then the choice is yours

But get perturbed because you perceive that the RV parks aren't running themselves efficiently or becasue it is more convenient for you to camp where the property owner and the Police wish that you didn't.!??
i don't know, I'll just have to think that one thru some more I guess .....


<span class="ev_code_RED">ON EDIT</span>:
I see that this was originally posted in the Canada Area. I found it cross-linked in the general area of the forum. My idle musing definitly apply "generally" not "Canadianly",
and i intend on sking Whistler in a few months and intend no . Thanks , Mike

[Frankie]

I want youse guy's to know it is killing me trying to stay out of this

[Captain Bud]

I'm trying to do the same thing and try to bite my tongue and not get involved.
I don't think this isssue will ever be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
I think we should all let our concience be our guide, and enjoy ourselves.

[FatDog]

Wal-Mart sells guns.
i don't think marrying THOSE two threads would help ? (Kidding)

and like he said.. "...lets just enjoy ourselves.."
Good idea.

[2Roadrunners]

A lot of positive thoughts on this thread. I like it. Sharing our opinions on a group like this is good because do not forget, other people read this, such as Wal-Mart marketing folks and campground owners probably.

From Point "A" to^Point "B" I use Wal-Mart. I am not a Wal-Mart customer, but if I am there and I need a quart of milk, I appreciate the opportunity t ostroll across the lot and buy one.

If I am hanging out for more than one night, I will use a campground as a base of operations.

As for the no parking signs, I look up the security people. These signs give W/M the right to accept or not any overnighters. I was told in New Mexico that I could stay over regardless of the signs and that the security fellow would drive by often and check on us. I always ask. Due to my angelic baby face of 67 years and possibly my retractable wings, I do pretty good. (That and an offer of a coffee).

As for whether they are 24/24 or not, it does not bother me.......I have spent the night in much worse places than a closed W/M lot!

Jim and his .02¢ worth.

[George Miklas]

Stan & Marguerite Schultz, Very well written. Thank you for articulating the feelings and sentiments of so many of us.

Frankie, Come on and join in, afterall you are present here. You need to loosen up like Bud has.

Bud, thank you for your contribution to this thread. Your second and third sentences are proof that you have a level head.

Hi 2Roadrunners. Nice to read your post.

George

[brad03ca]

I also think this is a discussion neither the Yes side or No side will ever win, and frankly, I don't really care. If Wally allows you to stay the night, whats wrong with getting a few things from his store. If you deside not to stay with Wally, thats all good too. If Wally says you can't stay with him, no big deal. I've seen in some forums, people actually call each other all kinda nasty names...for what?? If you don't like it, don't do it. Personally, because I don't stay at Wally's, doesn't me you can't!! and I sure wouldn't tell you your wrong for doing it.

[Captain Bud]

George.I am not trying to prove to you or any one else that I have a level head. I will never agree with your philosiphy about using Wal Mart. I realize that there are people that will try to save money by doing everything possible to avoid supporting the industry.
I am leaving on a 2000 mile plus trip and will try to support the private CGs when ever possible. If I am forced into using Wally world or some other boondock site I may.
But please don't ever consider yourself capable or knowledgable enough to realize what I am saying does not condone your thoughts on camping, Rving or whatever you consider to be this lifestyle.
I pay my way and if I can't I will bail out.
I may get censored for this but that' s my feelings, If you want to discuss this further I suggest that we do it privately and at my level.... We have gone this route before, and I see that your intention is to bait individuals into a confrontation. I am a Moderator and I am trying to keep this site going along with its mission statement. I respect Frankie for keeping his cool and not losing his temper.
If you desire this type of confrontation there are other sites that might appreciate your feelings, I personally am a bit tired of the old " let me RV for free"....

[MO _ Jack]

I have tried to stay out this one. However this issue has come to bite me. We currently are in Branson. On the way here we stopped (around 4:30 PM) to purchase a few items at a Wall Mart. We pulled in and went in our fifth wheel to check on what we needed to purchase. When we came out we were met by a local police officer who let me know we can not camp there period. I told him we were shopping he replied that when he returned he did want to see us there. We loaded up and went shopping elsewhere. So does this mean we can no longer drive a RV type vehicle to go shopping in certain cities?

Jack

[George Miklas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Captain Bud:
George.I am not trying to prove to you or any one else that I have a level head. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I didn't say you were trying to, I just said that your statement was proof of it.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I will never agree with your philosiphy about using Wal Mart. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Please refer to your own third sentence above, "I think we should all let our concience be our guide, and enjoy ourselves."<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I realize that there are people that will try to save money by doing everything possible to avoid supporting the industry. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>That may be true, but is the "industry" selling us a product that we want, or are they CRAMMING a product down our throats that we don't want all of the time?[/quote]I am leaving on a 2000 mile plus trip and will try to support the private CGs when ever possible. If I am forced into using Wally world or some other boondock site I may.
But please don't ever consider yourself capable or knowledgable enough to realize what I am saying does not condone your thoughts on camping, Rving or whatever you consider to be this lifestyle.[/quote]I I, Captain.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">
I pay my way and if I can't I will bail out. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I pay my way too. And if I can't, I dont' do it.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I may get censored for this but that' s my feelings, If you want to discuss this further I suggest that we do it privately and at my level.... We have gone this route before, and I see that your intention is to bait individuals into a confrontation. I am a Moderator and I am trying to keep this site going along with its mission statement. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>You don't know my intention Bud. Please refrain from making statements that infer that you know my intention. Your statement is FALSE, and it is a LIE. I want you to retract the statement and issue a public appology for your FALSE statement against my intention.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If you desire this type of confrontation there are other sites that might appreciate your feelings, I personally am a bit tired of the old " let me RV for free".... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Bud, you don't have to agree with those of us who wish to utilize such means of RVing. But as a moderator who self-proclaims "trying to keep this site going along with its mission statement", you need to tolerate us.

George Miklas.

[Captain Bud]

Well I guess that we are on the old "apologize and that we are the down trodden of the RV industry pulpit again. I am not going to get involved in this foolishness as much as you would like me to.
I stated my feelings that if I had to I would pull into a Wal Mart, but I would still pay my way into a CG and support the industry.
I also stated if I could not do this, I would stop Rving in a minute and do something else.
This is beginning to turn into one of these old dialogues that never come to a sane conclusion.
George , you have the right to do whatever you want with your family, and enjoy the lifestyle of your choice, do you know why?
There are a coupls hundred thousand GIs defending that right as I did, and I dont think that our picayune discussion over saving a coupls bucks makes any difference.
If you want to set up in Wally World or Cracker Barrel, or K mart go right ahead, enjoy yourself and have a ball. It's your decision, so let's put this to bed and forget it.

[Frankie]

I am convinced that George is harboring some kind of grudge against anyone who will not agree with him,proof is in the pudding.
Have some respect.You have a small mind my friend,bitter,very bitter.Take it out on someone of your intelectual level,your so educated.You wouldnt last 2 minutes in my world.

[RustyJC]

Well, folks, unfortunately discussion of this subject once again seems to be generating more heat than light. Let's shut this one down and try it some other time when blood pressures are lower!

Rusty