Community Forums

HarveyP · 04-21-2010, 08:29 PM

We just left the flying J in Joplin, MO. The dump site now has a locking cover linked to a charge-card reader. The price to use the dump is $5.00. We asked if our RV card would lower the price or make it free, (as it used to be) and were told, sorry, no break for RV'ers.

A call to the company told us that some management had been to a conference in AZ and gotten the impression that everyone was charging to dump. We told them them that that may be the case there, but for a 1cent discount and now this insult to all RV drivers, that we will be spending our fuel dollars elsewhere.

Please give them a call, be very polite, and let them know how many miles a year you travel, how much fuel you buy, and that this reduction in services may affect which fuel stop you will choose when you travel.

We can try to get this reversed. We all need to call. Be polite, but get the message across, we will vote with our dollars. Good luck, HarveyP

George Schweikle · 04-22-2010, 06:38 AM

What a disappointment. Thanks for the information. I guess this is the result of the merger (or whatever) between Flying J and Pilot.

I suspect when the word gets out that many RV'ers will find alternate fuel sources. I now have a gasser, so can find Walmart, Kroger, and many other discount fuel sources. And, I will contact Flying J as you suggested.

mythplaced · 04-22-2010, 06:51 AM

Now I would say that if the FJ has to pay to have a holding tank pumped, then they are justified for charging....

However, if they are hooked to the utility sewer system, and there is no "per gallon" additional charge, then this is just a way to add a little extra profit and is quite blatant .

Brigadoon · 04-22-2010, 07:12 AM

Seems like a reasonable fee to me. During the last 10 years I paid once to dump somewhere other than the campground where I was staying. That cost me $10. So I just make sure I dump at the campground and I'm good to go.

Hikerdogs · 04-22-2010, 07:41 AM

I have to agree with Brigadoon, $5.00 is not an unreasonable charge. We've put over 80,000 miles on our coach all across this country and Canada. Flying J is the ONLY commercial fueling place in all those miles that even offered a dump station let alone a free dump station. All the dump stations that used to be in rest areas along the interstates closed long ago. TA used to offer the service but they too discontinued it many years ago.

I've never heard of any municipality NOT charging for sewage run through their filtration system and settling ponds. At the very least Flying J would be charged a monthly or quarterly fee dependant on the size of the sewer line running from their dump station to the treatment plant.

While you might be able to find fuel elsewhere at the same or possibly lower prices that still doesn't solve the problem of dumping the tanks. I don't know of any Walmarts, Krogers (or any other non-campground businesses), other than Flying J or an occasional RV dealer that even offer the service. Now it sounds like no one is offering it for free.

Olive · 04-22-2010, 07:45 AM

I dumped at a Flying J last week in VA and did not have to pay. I fueled at another J in Georgia and did not notice a lock on the dump site. It may be something that changed this week but as of last week there was no fee on those east coast sites. I will contact them about it.

I just called Flying J corporate office and was told it is now $5 to dump.

GOLDWINGER2 · 04-22-2010, 07:46 AM

I'm just happy to dump.

A lot of places have shut the dumps.

J

HD4Mark · 04-22-2010, 08:00 AM

I haven't seen a locked dump station a FJ yet but $5 is a bargain. We have paid $13.

How many RVers do you suppose go to FJs and use the RV station then stay overnight and don't buy a thing from them? We find their fuel price is usually reasonable but even if it is a few cents more fill up there to thank them for a place to catch some sleep where there are other RVers.

read & learn · 04-22-2010, 08:30 AM

How many of us dry camp at Walmart-Sam's-Flying j and many other places to save big bucks [what is the aveage cost for a RV park $25.00] and than are upset because Fly j who has always been RV friendly for years and is still RV friendly and is not removing the dump station, but is charging a small fee.
Yes, I still will call and let them know I am not happy with the FEE.
I have never needed to dump at any other place than a RV park, but like the idea of having a place like Flying j and will still use them for fuel and overnight there 1-2 times a year.

BounderFreddy · 04-22-2010, 08:50 AM

$5.00 to dump my tanks, while fueling seems like a bargain. Flying J has to pay to install these utilities and to keep them up and I appreciate the conveniences. Still cheaper than going to a campground.

Thanks for not shutting them down!

Dmiles · 04-22-2010, 09:08 AM

This is just my personal opinion, so take it FWIW.

There is a social under-toe in America these days where the folks who expect something for nothing are becoming more vocal. I don't believe the numbers of folks are rising, it's just that the recent climate has given their voice more weight. It would be more of a problem were it not for the fact that the pendulum has begun to swing back toward center, as it always does.

Personally, I try to manage my tanks in such a way that I make use of the facilities at campgrounds, where the cost of providing such services is figured into the cost of the campsite. But there are probably always going to be times when I have a need for these services elsewhere. When given the option of paying a reasonable fee or seeing the services go away, I will gladly choose the fee.

WilleyB · 04-22-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikerdogs

I have to agree with Brigadoon, $5.00 is not an unreasonable charge.
~ ~ ~ ~ Snip ~ ~ ~ ~

I've never heard of any municipality NOT charging for sewage run through their filtration system and settling ponds. At the very least Flying J would be charged a monthly or quarterly fee dependant on the size of the sewer line running from their dump station to the treatment plant.

While you might be able to find fuel elsewhere at the same or possibly lower prices that still doesn't solve the problem of dumping the tanks. I don't know of any Walmarts, Krogers (or any other non-campground businesses), other than Flying J or an occasional RV dealer that even offer the service. Now it sounds like no one is offering it for free.

I sure can't argue with those statements

. Last summer every Flying J I was at was still free to dump, but there was no rinse or potable water. I did find several municipal dump sites that were free and also had rinse & potable water. I also used a couple places that charged $5 to dump and had both rinse and potable water.
I feel that $5 is more than reasonable especially if there is a hose and water for flushing.
I just got my water/sewer bill, $52 sewer charge for 10,000 gallons of water used so it's not hard to visualize the sewage bill a commercial dump site would pay. In any case, free or not the tank has to be emptied.
Cheers
Willey

Ed-Sommers · 04-22-2010, 09:15 AM

The problem with things being free is that people come to think it is their RIGHT to have it kept free when they should probably just be thankful it was EVER free.

In reality, the dumping was never FREE, it was just not charged for.

Ed

BZam · 04-22-2010, 09:23 AM

I don't have a problem with this charge. Our water and sewage charges keep increasing at home and for commercial businesses, so why wouldn't FJ pass along costs. They are not a not for profit business.

Have a son in water treatment business, the enviormental constraints alone make sewage treatment an expensive business.

When I hear RVers complain about these types of costs and campground rates rising just look at what is happening to our utillities at our stick houses. I am not a campground owner but I don't believe campground ownership is a big profit maker.