Author Topic: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart  (Read 17264 times)

Offline Mike in GA

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Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« on: May 15, 2013, 06:24:39 PM »
Upon settling in at another Supercenter I found the battery in our tow car had died. Was on its last legs. Just disconnected that baby and wheeled it in a sbopping cart into the auto center dept.  $87 and 10 minutes later I was out the doorwith a direct replacement. Try that at a campground.  And the net on the battery was closer to $50 if you consider the $30 or more I saved by not going to a campground.
Just FWIT.
Mike in GA
Past President, Southeast Bus Nuts. Busin' for almost 20 years in a 1985 MC 96a3 with DD 8v92 and a 5 speed Allison c/r.

Offline Dave5Cs

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2013, 07:51:48 PM »
Good for you mike and true.

Dave5Cs
"Perfect Frequency"1979 MCI MC5Cs 6V-71,644MT Allison.
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 60th Anniversary edition.
1998 Jeep TJ ,(Gone)
 Somewhere in the USA fulltiming.

Offline Emcemv

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2013, 08:08:09 PM »
We love staying at Walmart......but it is never free, we always find a reason to go shopping!
Bruce & Nancy Fagley
1973 MCI MC-7 Combo Freighter
450HP DD 8V-92T 2000 Reman
HT 740 Allison
Woodbury CT.

Offline gus

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2013, 09:35:21 PM »
The main reason I buy WM batts and tires when possible.

They have the very best batt adj policy and are never far away when we travel.
PD4107-152
PD4104-1274
Ash Flat, AR

Offline TomC

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2013, 08:44:07 AM »
One of the main reasons I like to buy all my parts from Home Depot, Camping World, Wal Mart, etc so that you can easily find parts on the road. And along those lines using standardized parts-not something created that won't be able to be duplicated until you get back home.  Good Luck, TomC
Tom & Donna Christman. 1985 Kenworth 40ft Super C with garage. '77 AMGeneral 10240B; 8V-71TATAIC V730.

Offline Linda-XL40-FL

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2013, 07:55:21 PM »
We like Wal-Mart a lot!  Where are you traveling, Mike?

Offline Mike in GA

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2013, 05:58:31 AM »
In MA now visiting family. Then on to NH for the summer!
Mike in GA
Past President, Southeast Bus Nuts. Busin' for almost 20 years in a 1985 MC 96a3 with DD 8v92 and a 5 speed Allison c/r.

Offline robertglines1

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2013, 07:31:08 AM »
Guess I'm anti-Wallmart!!! after dark for sure!  Here in quiet midwest.  Last week shooting inside of store entrance. In last 6 months,cashiers adding cash to your credit cards but keeping for them selves, theft rings steeling merchandise,drug deals in parking lots and to top it off they built them with illegal workers from other countries. Funny they didn't show up when immigration came to check. I have been forced to stay a few hrs at one several yrs ago and about 2am the whole parking lot changed.   So guess I'm the bad guy here.  Stay alive and beaware!  My opinion and experience only.   Bob
Bob@Judy  98 XLE prevost with 3 slides --Home done---last one! SW INdiana

Offline Seangie

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Re: Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2013, 08:53:02 AM »
Bob -  I think its hit and miss depending on where you are at.  When I'm in Orlando going to Walmart is like a 3rd world country.  Your lucky if the cashier speaks english.  In Wilmington NC its a date night for Wifey and I.  Small town friendly employs and very helpful.

-Sean


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1984 Eagle Model 10S
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we live in a van (Eagle 10 Suburban)
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To that old promised land'

Offline Emcemv

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2013, 09:05:14 AM »
We stayed in Walmarts going and returning from Blytheville, have not had a bad experience yet but I'm sure one is coming. I'm sure it varies depending where you are.
Bruce & Nancy Fagley
1973 MCI MC-7 Combo Freighter
450HP DD 8V-92T 2000 Reman
HT 740 Allison
Woodbury CT.

Offline rv_safetyman

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2013, 09:13:33 AM »
On our trips to the Bus Rallys in Arcadia, we traveled I-10 quite a bit.  We went in early December and that is a horrible time to try Walmarts.  The ones we used/tried in the eastern part of the country have very small parking lots and tons of Christmas traffic.

Other than that, almost all of our experiences have been good.

You have to be careful, as some Walmarts are posted with no overnight camping.  That is usually the result of pressure from local campgrounds.

We try to buy the Walmart version of the atlas every couple of years so that we stay reasonably current with Walmart locations.  Obviously, you can also do that on the Internet as you travel  down the road if you have an air card.

Jim
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
’85 Eagle 10/Series 60/Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission
Somewhere between a tin tent and a finished product
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Offline Jnbroadbent

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2013, 09:28:29 AM »
Couldn't tell you how many wal marts have kicked us out when you're in south Florida. Even when they let you stay overnight, 7am comes around and they tell you to leave.
Jon
1980 Mc9 w/ veg oil
8v71
Jacksonville Fl

Offline Jon

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2013, 10:24:03 AM »
In the area around the Smokey Mountain National Park overnighting in other than a campground is forbidden. The campground owners may have favored the local laws regarding that, but the businesses whose parking lots were used as campgrounds just got fed up with stupid people. Awnings would be out along with lawn chairs. People were spending days in Walmart and other parking lots not just overnight. But what prompted the local laws forbidding the practice was some of the people would dump their tanks in the storm sewers. A community that relies on tourism just cannot tolerate such stupid actions no matter how many dollars those folks intended to spend.

We have stayed in rest areas, Cracker Barrel lots, at various Walmarts, and truck stops. But because we do not intend to live in our coach like folks in a tent, and we want AC, TV, lights, and other battery depleting features we run our generator and because of the cost of fuel it is just as economical to be in a campground as running the generator. The only reason we do not overnight in a campground is there is none convenient to our stopping spot. But campgrounds are usually secure, relatively quiet and we have never had people banging on our door wanting money, nor are we concerned about our safety or the safety of our vehicles.
Jon

Current coach 2006 Prevost, Liberty conversion
Knoxville, TN

Offline Lin

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2013, 11:32:43 AM »
For the most part, I would guess you can predict what a Walmart will be like by the area it's in.  If the community has problems, they will be there at Walmart.
You don't have to believe everything you think.

Offline gus

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Re: Reason #26 for parking @ Walmart
« Reply #14 on: May 18, 2013, 02:52:06 PM »
The best policy is to buy a WM road atlas and use its listing to stay only at Supercenters or Sam's. The other smaller stores usually have tiny parking lots and it is understandable that they don't want us using three or four spaces.

Overall we've had good experiences at WM and buy most of our travel supplies from them. What many RVers don't seem to understand is that permission is for parking, not camping, and they will eventually ruin it for the rest of us.

I also like the WM security cameras, lighting and security patrols. Far superior to most RV parks. I find rampant crime at a WM hard to believe. Sometimes the parking lot events are more entertaining than TV!!

Parking at WM means quick in and quick out without all the connecting and dis-connecting, I hate that part. We usually stop at an RV park every 4-5th night to dump and refill. I don't like RV parks because they are so often in out-of-the-way places and state parks are even worse.

Very few WMs prohibit overnight parking. When we find that we just move on to a truck stop or a casino, my wife loves casinos and usually wins!

There is always at least one hard-nose in every crowd. I really don't care who builds the parking lot as long as they are honest and willing to put in a full days work, not easy people to find these days.
PD4107-152
PD4104-1274
Ash Flat, AR

 

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