WALMART RV Parking

[skipll]

Today I went to my local Walmart to shop. While walking my dog I saw a sign stateing no overnight RV parking.

So was wondering does Walmart still allow RV's to park overnight in some of thier lots ?

[LLeopold]

Time to close this thread (Was actually overdue).

[Shunpikers]

None - not expecting them to keep longer hours for us.

[Shunpikers]

nitrohorse wrote:

Shunpikers wrote:
To mlts22
That's the kind of input I was hoping for.
I can see your reasoning but I'm not suggesting this should have any cash outlay at all. Only campgrounds who have a bit of extra space might be willing to try it (enough for 2 or 3 spots - in a field or existing parking lot for instance). I know some campgrounds already have areas they use for overflow or as a waiting area when the campground's full. That's the type of spot that can be utilized. Three spots filled every night at $10.00 comes to $900.00 per month.

And how much of the 3 spots at $10.00= $30.00 are you going to pay the overnight front desk person?

[nitrohorse]

Shunpikers wrote:
To mlts22
That's the kind of input I was hoping for.
I can see your reasoning but I'm not suggesting this should have any cash outlay at all. Only campgrounds who have a bit of extra space might be willing to try it (enough for 2 or 3 spots - in a field or existing parking lot for instance). I know some campgrounds already have areas they use for overflow or as a waiting area when the campground's full. That's the type of spot that can be utilized. Three spots filled every night at $10.00 comes to $900.00 per month.

And how much of the 3 spots at $10.00= $30.00 are you going to pay the overnight front desk person?

[nitrohorse]

Shunpikers wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
Why are you hanging around a beginning RV forum? You live on the road for extended periods, operate your own websites, you have a blog, you sell books on how to avoid camping fees, and you advocate camping for free. You brag that you traveled for an entire 12 months but only spent $115.50 in camping fees. You certainly are NOT a beginning RVer.
In my honest opinion you are only on here to take advantage of this free forum to do research for some idea you have.

I think I was pretty honest about why I'm here in my initial post. I'm looking for input from RVers about "my idea" for a new project: Starting an advocacy group for RVers who'd like to see options besides all or nothing ($40 per night or Walmart). Someone as "experienced as I am in my niche" might be able to get something like this going - IF enough RVers want it. If they're all like you, beemerphile1, then there's no need for me to think about it. I'm simply here to find out.

I have to say that I'm really not used to a community that converses with so much sarcasm.... Maybe it was a mistake to come here hoping for true feedback or constructive ideas.

I'll tell you that as a camper/traveler, your idea of $10.00 overnight spots is a pipe dream. Spending the night at a Walmart is a secondary usage. Walmart makes their money at the register, not the parking lot. Whole different business model for the park owner.
What strikes me funny is that once overnight parking is banned at most Walmarts,which will happen, the folks who travel exclusively during the night and arrive late/leave early will learn to adjust their schedules. The camp ground owner does not have to change a thing.

[beemerphile1]

mowermech wrote:
...IMO, westernrv doesn't show his locations out of pure (and probably justified) paranoia...

I disagree. If western does own an RV park, and gave its name/location, he would be immediately kicked off the forum.

As a private individual he can post here the same as you or I. As a business he would be in violation of forum rules. I'm sure he would love free advertisement, but it wouldn't last long.

I would also consider someone that operates a boondocker couch surfing type organization to be teetering on the edge of violating forum rules. I don't know if shunpiker really makes much money. She does sell RV travel guide ebooks and operate a couch surfing type organization (with a membership fee) but it seems to be more an extension of a hobby rather than full fledged business. Nevertheless it is a business.

Forum Rules wrote:
You may not use the Open Roads Forum to either advertise or promote commercial endeavors. This includes direct posts, member name, URLS in your profile or signature, as well as, active links to other sites on the Internet.

[westernrvparkow]

JaxDad wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
I was just saying you cannot convert a Walmart overnighter to an RV park guest. They may very well stay at an RV park or a full blown resort when they get to their destination, but that doesn't mean anything to the parks in the vacinity of the Walmart.

$10.00 sites would almost certainly reduce the revenue for most parks. Some of those full paying guests would opt for the $10 spots.

It just isn't a feasible business plan. If it was, surely someone would have a chain up and running.

So if I understand you correctly, you are saying;

- People who stay in Walmart parking don't stay in campgrounds.

- Campgrounds rarely have vacant sites.

- People who would normally arrive earlier in the day would delay their arrival by 6 to 8 (maybe more) hours to get a cheaper site.

- It's better to have vacant sites generating zero than getting 25 or more percent.



Apparently you need to study the logic of an old fella by the name of John Paul Getty. He was of the opinion that it was better to make $0.05 off the labours of few people than to make a $1.00 himself.

Why?

Because when he got to 21 people he was making more money and doing nothing himself.

Using your fine dining restaurant analogy, name a national 'fine dining' chain that can claim "over 1 billion served"...........

On the other hand is McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, Little Ceasar's, Dominos, Pizza Hut, etc., etc, etc.

I guess maybe ole' J. P. was onto something ..............

Maybe I am missing something, but not everyone wants to be McDonalds. I am sure there are many fine dining proprietors who wouldn't trade their restaurant for a Micky Ds. I have no interest in filling my parks if what it takes to fill them is cut-rate prices. If you offer up really low priced sites to some people, the people you charge the normal price to are going to be upset and you will either lose them as customers or have to give them the low price also. I make a whole lot more money being 60% full at $50.00 a site than I would being completely full at $25.00 and there is absolutely no proof that lowering the prices would actually fill the park. My goal is not to sell all the sites, but to maximize my profitability. Sounds like you need to be PMing the other great business minds who have posted on this thread and pool your monies and put people like me out of business. Like I have already said, start your $10.00 parks and get rich just like the Gettys, you apparently have the magic formula, just a whole lot cheaper than everyone else.

[Shunpikers]

To mlts22
That's the kind of input I was hoping for.
I can see your reasoning but I'm not suggesting this should have any cash outlay at all. Only campgrounds who have a bit of extra space might be willing to try it (enough for 2 or 3 spots - in a field or existing parking lot for instance). I know some campgrounds already have areas they use for overflow or as a waiting area when the campground's full. That's the type of spot that can be utilized. Three spots filled every night at $10.00 comes to $900.00 per month.

[JaxDad]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
I was just saying you cannot convert a Walmart overnighter to an RV park guest. They may very well stay at an RV park or a full blown resort when they get to their destination, but that doesn't mean anything to the parks in the vacinity of the Walmart.

$10.00 sites would almost certainly reduce the revenue for most parks. Some of those full paying guests would opt for the $10 spots.

It just isn't a feasible business plan. If it was, surely someone would have a chain up and running.

So if I understand you correctly, you are saying;

- People who stay in Walmart parking don't stay in campgrounds.

- Campgrounds rarely have vacant sites.

- People who would normally arrive earlier in the day would delay their arrival by 6 to 8 (maybe more) hours to get a cheaper site.

- It's better to have vacant sites generating zero than getting 25 or more percent.



Apparently you need to study the logic of an old fella by the name of John Paul Getty. He was of the opinion that it was better to make $0.05 off the labours of few people than to make a $1.00 himself.

Why?

Because when he got to 21 people he was making more money and doing nothing himself.

Using your fine dining restaurant analogy, name a national 'fine dining' chain that can claim "over 1 billion served"...........

On the other hand is McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, Little Ceasar's, Dominos, Pizza Hut, etc., etc, etc.

I guess maybe ole' J. P. was onto something ..............

[Cougarnewbie]

Calling a mega corporation like Walmart "the little guy" is just.... They could buy KOA or Coast to Coast out of petty cash. Sorry, I had a weak moment.

[mlts22]

A couple years ago, I was looking at how economically feasible it would be to have a parking area just for people to get some shut-eye securely. However, there were just a ton of costs that made it not workable unless there was another income source from the property like a 24 hour store.

There are a lot of regulations, and asking $10 to park can open up a lot of can of worms, such as ADA compliance, having to have working restrooms on premises that can handle the people parking, etc.

The best way to go about having dry camping/parking would be to have three things on site: A 24 hour shop or gas station, a full service CG, then an empty parking lot. That way, the revenue from the gas station and the CG will pay for the capital needed to keep a parking lot going.

It is a good idea, but it is something very difficult to do because it takes a lot of capital outlay for the real estate. In some places, $40 a CG asks can barely cover the real estate taxes, sales tax, bed taxes, liability insurance, Wi-Fi coverage, electrical/plumbing/sewage, road upkeep, grounds upkeep, security and rules enforcement, and the cost of the employees to work this.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Na, I own enough RV parks that are doing quite well, I don't need anymore. But thanks anyway for the thought. 🙂

Now you say you own parks that are doing well, yet the link on your profile goes to a bankrupt park. And of course all your successful parks are $10.00 parks that have lots of loss leaders. . Bunch of BS, but what else should we expect from an internet business expert who probably hasn't run a business as large as a neighborhood lemonade stand.

No big deal if you don't want to say where your park is.

For all I know you might not even own one. Just wanted to see what the reviews said. Bet I already know. :B More than likely a good decision. 😉

The consumer can be harsh to a business owner with an attitude.

[Shunpikers]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Why are you hanging around a beginning RV forum? You live on the road for extended periods, operate your own websites, you have a blog, you sell books on how to avoid camping fees, and you advocate camping for free. You brag that you traveled for an entire 12 months but only spent $115.50 in camping fees. You certainly are NOT a beginning RVer.
In my honest opinion you are only on here to take advantage of this free forum to do research for some idea you have.

I think I was pretty honest about why I'm here in my initial post. I'm looking for input from RVers about "my idea" for a new project: Starting an advocacy group for RVers who'd like to see options besides all or nothing ($40 per night or Walmart). Someone as "experienced as I am in my niche" might be able to get something like this going - IF enough RVers want it. If they're all like you, beemerphile1, then there's no need for me to think about it. I'm simply here to find out.

I have to say that I'm really not used to a community that converses with so much sarcasm.... Maybe it was a mistake to come here hoping for true feedback or constructive ideas.

[mowermech]

"You wouldn't like my parks since we don't run loss-leaders and don't offer $10.00 sites, so there is really no need give out their locations."

IMO, westernrv doesn't show his locations out of pure (and probably justified) paranoia. He is quite simply afraid of the weirdos out there (yes, even on these forums) that just might make his life miserable if his locations were widely known.
I, too, would like to know what Montana RV parks are his. There are only three such parks in this state that I have patronized over the last 10 or 15 years. One is a KOA, the other two are not isn't. One is in Deer Lodge, one is in Great Falls, and the other is West of East Glacier. Are any of them his? I really don't care!