Walmarts changing overnight policy? Widespread?

[Pigman1]

As you can see, this topic raises blood pressures to an extreme degree. Regardless of the signs you see, if you'd like to stop at a Walmart, just stop and ask. We've been in a number of them that will call the law enforcement folks UNLESS you've checked with them first. They may ask for your coach description, a phone number, a tag number or other ways to ID your coach. Primarily they do this so they can get rid of long time stayers, the idiots, the slobs, and the people who are looking for a place to park a piece of junk for weeks or months at a time. We have even been allowed to stay at a WM that had a STRICT policy against overnights when we found a serious LP leak and couldn't get parts until the next day. A polite discussion with the store manager and my request was granted along with an offer to us of any help we might need finding the parts we needed. We've found asking in person rather than a phone call got much better results. Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised regardless of the signs.

[JohnRR]

The first request was made as a polite request now not so much. If you can not find a post you have made it’s because it’s no longer here.

As has been mentioned in so many past Walmart threads a few spoil it for the many

Originally Posted by JohnRR

Why do some topics always seem to get to this point that requires a let’s get back on topic and in this case quit picking each other apart before the thread is closed.

I hope you all find this a helpful suggestion and comply with its intent, wether you do or not is up to each of you.

[weredoingit]

Originally Posted by les.warden

Please post your full info so many of us can stop by your place and pick up YOUR payment for OUR stay somewhere other than WM.
Thank you very much for this offering. Pay no attention to these others meanies, I knew you really were good at heart.

I'm sure you know, I was referring to paying for myself to spend the night at a paid campground? That's how this problem got started, too many people don't want to pay their own way in life.
It amazes me when people read things and twist them around.

[Whirrlly]

just a super judgemental and sad thread.

the OP was just asking about policy at a big chain parking lot. OMG!

locations/zoning/management of stores/their parking rules etc. will dictate.
Just stop in and ask about availability to stop and sleep a few.

such a simple starting thread and the venom comes out

[RobRV]

All of the reasons are legitimate. In some locations campers have left a mess and or are living or attempting to survive in a free rent zone!
It is so sad to see so many homeless people in our Countries these days!

On the other hand there are Help Wanted Signs posted in nearly every shop and restaurant! Surely some of these unemployed folks should be applying!

It is a fact that some levels of government have invoked bylaws to reduce transient parking in some locations, this is partly due to pressures put on them by RV Park Owners who are feeling the pinch from lack of customers,and partly caused by violations of nuisance bylaws which have probably been ignored .

Whatever the case may be if it is a legitimate emergency ,no one is going to TowYou unless you can pay the Towing Bill!

The operators of Tow Truck Companies don’t work or operate their equipment as a charity!

[weredoingit]

Originally Posted by RDSDP

All of the reasons are legitimate. In some locations campers have left a mess and or are living or attempting to survive in a free rent zone!
It is so sad to see so many homeless people in our Countries these days!

On the other hand there are Help Wanted Signs posted in nearly every shop and restaurant! Surely some of these unemployed folks should be applying!

It is a fact that some levels of government have invoked bylaws to reduce transient parking in some locations, this is partly due to pressures put on them by RV Park Owners who are feeling the pinch from lack of customers,and partly caused by violations of nuisance bylaws which have probably been ignored .

Whatever the case may be if it is a legitimate emergency ,no one is going to TowYou unless you can pay the Towing Bill!

The operators of Tow Truck Companies don’t work or operate their equipment as a charity!

It is sad, especially when children are involved.

As far as campgrounds feeling the pinch from lack of customers? I don't know where your camping. But we just returned from a 2300 mile 4 state trip. None of the campgrounds were suffering from lack of customers. Actually just the opposite .

[evofxdwg]

Just let me say I have sympathy for those less fortunate than me.

If Walmart had trouble with some campers making a mess, or camping obtrusively (slides out, jacks down, grilling, furniture unloaded, etc.), then I dont blame them. As for cities passing laws against it, I have disdain for many government regulations. Alas, all I can do is vote against those in my district that pass them. However, it probably makes sense in resort areas. (I dont consider Dalton GA and Kimball TN resort areas!)

But, as a camper who sometimes just wants a place to grab a nights sleep and move on, with no hookups needed, I do not want to pay upwards of $40 for that. Heck I could get a budget motel for that price. The pricing has the effect of reducing my total trip time and activities and my $$ resources are not unlimited. The campground that gets that from me during transit prevents the campground from getting it at my longer stay destinations.

Maybe we should all start asking for transistory/boondock/pass-through rates at campgrounds, stating we will use no services except a parking space and maybe trash disposal, and maybe paid services such as laundry. Though I doubt we will get much success. What about offering a 50% discount for this level of service?

Maybe we should all join a co-op that buys lots or uses member-owned land all over the US and allow members to camp at low or no (except membership fees) cost. However, I can see several problems here, from attracting crime, to liability, to upkeep/cleanup labor, and preventing long term squatters.

I think my next long trip I will try to experience some of the free places and try out the interstate rest stops, Pilot/Flying J, and Cracker Barrel for sleep.

[ScoobyDoo]

Originally Posted by RDSDP

On the other hand there are Help Wanted Signs posted in nearly every shop and restaurant! Surely some of these unemployed folks should be applying!

Yes, lots of help wanted signs. But have you ever looked at one of the applications? On every one I have seen the line below NAME is ADDRESS, what happens when that line is blank? File it under Thank You. Have you been arrested? (As more things have become crimes, a much higher percentage of people must mark yes) File it under Thank You. Get past that, and now go for drug test. If you used the wrong drug to escape your dreary life for a while 3 weeks ago, you are not qualified to flip burgers. (The right drug last night is acceptable) File it under Thank You.
Then there is the fact that having a job is no certainty that you can find housing you can afford. Do they pay enough for you to get child care? (Last numbers I seen the average age of homeless in KC metro area was 11) It's a shame that one of the few benefits of a job is it is safe to sleep in the parking lot if you have a car.

It is a fact that some levels of government have invoked bylaws to reduce transient parking in some locations, this is partly due to pressures put on them by RV Park Owners who are feeling the pinch from lack of customers,(Myth) and partly caused by violations of nuisance bylaws which have probably been ignored .

Whatever the case may be if it is a legitimate emergency ,no one is going to TowYou unless you can pay the Towing Bill!

The operators of Tow Truck Companies don’t work or operate their equipment as a charity!

A word of caution there; In many places, the owner/manager of property can sign that the want a vehicle removed from their property. A tow company will tow the vehicle to their lot, and hold it until a much higher than normal tow plus storage fee is paid. And I have never been involved in it but I have heard of property owners putting a lock on a vehicle to be sure they get paid a fee for parking...

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Whirrlly

just a super judgemental and sad thread.

mmmm...aren't you being judgmental by saying this is a judgmental and sad thread?