Walmart's Parking

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by Clifftall

Seems strange to me that others would make rules for Walmart. ... I didn't get any rules handed to me ...

Walmart's rule is that the local manager makes the rules, but the only point that Walmart's corporate policy addresses directly is "YES" and "NO" for Overnight RV Parking. The policy for each store is left up to the store manager, within the scope of local laws. And that's the only RULE that MANY (but not all) Walmarts have -- yes, you may park here overnight, or no, you may not.

But many store managers also have other rules, which are generally told to RVers verbally when the RVers obtain permission to park overnight:

• They may allow RVs to park overnight but not trucks.
• They may tell you which lot entrance(s) you may or may not use, and may have low-clearance bars to ensure this.
• They may specify where in the lot you may or may not park.
• They may tell you whether or not you may run your generator.
• They may allow you to park for one night only.
• They may give you permission to park for more than one night.
• They may have a set time by which you must vacate the premises the next morning.

The "Good Neighbor Policy" (Overnight parking etiquette), also available as a printable PDF at this link http://www.fmca.com/images/stories/p...ing_letter.pdf, is a guide to responsible behavior, developed by FMCA and endorsed by many other RVing organizations. Its purpose is to guide RVers in how to park overnight as unobtrusively as possible, so that the store manager and the people in that community will welcome RVers rather than passing laws banning Overnight RV Parking. Most of the points are so obvious, IMHO, that no responsible or courteous RVer would need to have them pointed out. But some of the "I saw this at a Walmart" and "I saw that at a Walmart" stories that punctuate this long discussion clearly show that some RVers are not responsible, not courteous, and think of nobody but themselves.

FMCA encourages RVers to print the PDF and to give a copy to other RVers who appear to have no knowledge of what is and what isn't considered "good blacktop boondocking etiquette." Some RVers readily hand out copies of this, while others prefer to "mind their own business." Unless individual Walmarts or other retail stores choose to adopt and enforce one or more points from the list as part of that store's policy -- or unless irresponsible RVer behavior results in another local law making Overnight RV Parking illegal -- there is no enforcement beyond one's own sense of responsibility.

[CLIFFTALL]

Walmart police are needed in Santa Fe NM. Spotted these two with slides out , jacks down and double demerits for the car off the dolly.

[Dunner]

Leave em alone. It looks like they are a zip code away from the store entrance.

[SarahW]

Originally Posted by Dunner

Sarah, you're making people turn over before they're in the grave.

Only the ones with no sense of humor.

[Dunner]

Originally Posted by SarahW

Only the ones with no sense of humor.

I've hear those kind do, indeed, exist.

[Senior Chief]

Throw bottles at me if you choose, but why does everybody assume that Walmart is not perfectly capable of policing behavior they find objectionable?

Every store has security personnel- if they don't want jacks down or cars off the dolly, I'll bet they'll tell that RVer in a hurry.

Handing out "rules" to other RVers in the parking lot strikes me as a good way to get a sock in the mouth. Considerate people will always be considerate; rude and untidy people won't likely be swayed by a busybody with a list of "do nots". Leave that to Walmart, who actual has standing in the "rules" department.

[CLIFFTALL]

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

Throw bottles at me if you choose, but why does everybody assume that Walmart is not perfectly capable of policing behavior they find objectionable?

Every store has security personnel- if they don't want jacks down or cars off the dolly, I'll bet they'll tell that RVer in a hurry.

Handing out "rules" to other RVers in the parking lot strikes me as a good way to get a sock in the mouth. Considerate people will always be considerate; rude and untidy people won't likely be swayed by a busybody with a list of "do nots". Leave that to Walmart, who actual has standing in the "rules" department.

No bottles from me. Well said.

[slickest1]

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

Throw bottles at me if you choose, but why does everybody assume that Walmart is not perfectly capable of policing behavior they find objectionable?

Every store has security personnel- if they don't want jacks down or cars off the dolly, I'll bet they'll tell that RVer in a hurry.

Handing out "rules" to other RVers in the parking lot strikes me as a good way to get a sock in the mouth. Considerate people will always be considerate; rude and untidy people won't likely be swayed by a busybody with a list of "do nots". Leave that to Walmart, who actual has standing in the "rules" department.

I won't throw bottles at you, but I might hand one to you. I agree, well said.:

[JohnRR]

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

Throw bottles at me if you choose, but why does everybody assume that Walmart is not perfectly capable of policing behavior they find objectionable?

Every store has security personnel- if they don't want jacks down or cars off the dolly, I'll bet they'll tell that RVer in a hurry.

Handing out "rules" to other RVers in the parking lot strikes me as a good way to get a sock in the mouth. Considerate people will always be considerate; rude and untidy people won't likely be swayed by a busybody with a list of "do nots". Leave that to Walmart, who actual has standing in the "rules" department.

That just about makes any further replies to this post Anticlimactic!

[RV Wizard]

Agreed.

[Sequim Guy]

Then lock it down boys...


(Half of the posts say the same thing anyway...)

.

[Glassalley52]

Trying to be a thread killer. Sorry wrong thread. ;-)

[Dunner]

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy

Then lock it down boys...


(Half of the posts say the same thing anyway...)

.

I posted the same thing months ago and my feeling are still hurting from the replies.

[mrblanche]

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

Every store has security personnel- if they don't want jacks down or cars off the dolly, I'll bet they'll tell that RVer in a hurry.

Every store has some rudimentary security inside. Not all of them have security outside. Many Walmarts in smaller towns depend on the local police for anything outside their doors. Trust me on this: No sheriff is going to be impressed with a call from the Walmart to come tell an RV'er to retract his slides or his jacks.