WAL-MART DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RVers in HOMESTEAD FLORIDA

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Super Walmart is basically a huge grocery store on one side, and a general merchandise store on the other.  Super Target, Super K (a version of Kmart), and Meijer are three other companies that are similar and you might also find in various states.  Most have pharmacies and sometimes a fast food restaurant (Subway, McDonald's, etc.), a small bank counter, print/photo shop, or other businesses integrated.  But they are not as huge as you were thinking, with multiple clothing retailers, a food court, or movie theaters.  That would be considered a shopping mall in the U.S. 
 
Thanks Scottydl
I have got the right idea now. I must say that it is really nice for Walmart to let RV there over night. This would be not allowed here or in Europe.
For travellers like me who spent more time on the road than in camping ground this is just super. And yes if they are so supportive they will be my choice for shopping. (but I need more than 3 hours LOL)
 
Sevierville County, Tn has an ordinance that forbids parking at their Walmart stores. Once in Texas I went into a Walmart and ask to park over night. The manager was very nice, but the parking lot was leased and the owner of the lot would not allow for over night RV parking. I thanked him and drove on down the road.

Once I pulled the MH way over out of the way next to an old truck where pine straw was stored. I went into the Walmart store to make sure that it was alright to park for the night. The lady said that it was alright to spend the night but would I pull the MH over towards the middle of the parking lot. When I showed supprise she said that she was having problems with people slipping into the pine straw truck and having sex and she needed me to move so she could keep an eye on the truck. I was happy to move away from that truck.
 
I done all my shopping to equipped my new RV in wallmart. Took me 2 days of shopping and setting up and I spent about $2000 there. Thanks good that They did not have 3 hours limit.  I was running in and out for this 2 days with tape measure and new ideas how to improve my set up. One lady at check up started to call me by first name.
Now I am on the way and enjoying my RV experience in the states.

 
Visit http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/.  They maintain a reasonably updated Walmart "overnight"/"no overnight" parking list.  They also have the Industry-sanctioned Code of Conduct
(RVers? Good Neighbor Policy) listed on their files section.  A copy follows:

"Some of the most respected RV consumer clubs have joined together to support your right to park on private businesses? parking lots overnight under the following code of conduct. The code pertains to establishments that permit "dry camping" on their lots. Dry camping means camping without the use of external hookups for electricity, water supply or waste disposal.

Industry-Sanctioned Code of Conduct (RVers? Good Neighbor Policy)

1. Stay one night only!
2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual.
3. Obey posted regulations.
4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills outside your RV.
5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt).
6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.
7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible.
8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe.

If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground. It?s the right thing to do!

Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of conduct. As you can see, this Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers? ?Good
Neighbor? policy.

Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property overnight.

Please do not take offense to this letter; it is only provided as a reminder that RVers must be perceived as good neighbors, or there will be more pressure to institute state, county and local ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property."
 
This particular Wal-Mart is where our saga began trying to diagnose our fuel/engine issues (Dec 2011).  MH died on the highway offramp and we managed to get into the Wal-Mart parking lot - in the back, away from most cars.  We were not approached by security although they drove by us repeatedly.  It was obvious we were having trouble from the hood up and DH covered in grime laying under the MH so I am assuming they realized they would be wasting their breath to let us know there was a time restriction :)

I know its off topic but my post is in regard to the quality of this Wal-Mart, not their policies about time limits...
I don't usually shop in Wal-Mart, but have been in a few during our travels - enough to know that the others I have been in are much nicer than this one. I have never seen anything like this place.  This particular Wal-Mart is perhaps the dirtiest store I have EVER been in.  Even worse was the feeling that I wanted to grab my teenage son's hand just to keep him close to me while inside - I had that bad vibe the whole time we were inside.
It was not terribly busy at the time, we were there during a weekday prior to lunchtime.  The staff was rude and not helpful when I asked where items I could not find were located.  We enjoy the Everglades and the Keys so we will be going through this area in the future but I will go out of my way to find an alternative stop further north for any items we need.  I was so creeped out, I would not have overnighted here even if they allowed it. 
 
Good help in this area is hard to find. This particular Walmart as I understand it is the busiest Walmart in the USA. I live here and avoid it at all cost. I have been in numerous Walmart's in our travels and have to agree with you on this particular Walmart. Walmart is supposed to build another store about 4 miles north on US-1. Have to wait and see if this martilizes.
 
Over the years the Florida City Walmart has been a source of amazement as to how many RV's we would see in the parking lot as we drove by.  You would hear stories about some poor soul, late in the day, kids crying, not being able to find a campsite and being told that the nearest place was the Florida city Walmart way back at the beginnings or the Keys. 
This year we were again amazed to see no RV's as we drove by.  Sadly, the word is that the abuse of the courtesy extended by Walmart finally caused them to take action.  I am not surprised.  I often wondered how long it would last. 
As for camping, the city park has over 300 sites a few blocks away and there are 2 or 3 RV parks within a mile. The only real change is loss of free overnight parking for some... for others, a free campsite.
 
I don't know if you noticed but, they chained off the property just north of the walmart in FL City and put up the same signs. Florida City does have a campground about 3 blocks west and a 1/2 mile north. Not the best kept campground and tight spots but doable. I have heard rumors that Southern Komfort campground has been sold to the Miccosuccee (sp) Indians along with the property on the corner of US1 and Palm drive to build a Casino. 
 
Is that the same Southern Comfort RV Park that was there in the 80s ? If so, we lived there while working at Biscayne and the Everglades back in 1985-6. I figured one of the hurricanes took it out.

Wendy
 
Wendy, it is the same, it has been through several different owners since then. It is still situated on Pal;m Drive just east of US1. If you worked Biscayne and Everglades Park then I should have met you then. I always had the Boy Scouts in the parks at least twice a month.
 
What a hoot that it's still there. I used to ride my bike to Biscayne to work and stop along the way to pick up lovely little red potatoes in the fields. Mike worked at Shark Valley, did tram and bike tours. Best birding I've ever had in my life.

Wendy
 
Back then it was a wonderful area. It is now crowded, the potato fields are pretty much gone with houses being planted in the place of potatoes. I think there may be one or two potato farmers left but they are farther north. Williams was the big potato farmer in this arfea. I don't think I would ride a bicycle down Palm Drive now even though I see a few do it. You would be amazed at how many homes have been built on both sides of Palm Drive. The weather is still ideal here which is why I stay. Birding is really good in the Glades and in Biscayne. Had Lobster this evening that my son caught last night.
 
Your fond memories are making me want to pack up and head out right now!!!  This was a crazy trip for us and our first long road trip in our MH.  We had so many unpredictable things happen.  I loved both Everglades and Biscayne.  It took my guys a few months to get over the craziness (WOW, I wish I had asked about the tourists in ENP the week after Christmas, the locals putting in a the the boat ramp were laughing at our shock all week) but now DH can't wait to go back.  Next time it won't be during what we told is the only crowded time of year in this park!  Biscayne was a happy accident (our MH was in the shop and we stumbled across a road sign while trying to find things to keep DS happy during our motel stay).  I was floored by the beauty of this park.  DH and I hope to join the ranks of workcampers when we are empty nesters and this one is on my list!  We were here in December/Jan and the two couples working at Biscayne were set up in the parking lot.
 
As I said, I stay for the weather...In 1961, the Air Force put me on the UP of Michigan where I learned "When the leaves fall off the trees and the birds head south, you follow" or maybe even beat them to it. When the first cold front comes through I start playing golf and really enjoying the outdoors here.

After the first cold front you know it won't be long for the birds to show up.
 
gwcowgill said:
In 1961, the Air Force put me on the UP of Michigan where I learned "When the leaves fall off the trees and the birds head south, you follow"
Don - I hope you did not hurt yourself falling out of the tree... ;D
 
Important to note, KMarts have a similar policy. 

When we travel long days and get off the highway after midnight, I love to stay at WM, when permissible.  I've only run across 1 WM that didn't allow overnight RVers, and there was another WM 25min down the road, which I called and double checked before heading after.  For us, it's a perfect stop for those long days of driving.  Grab a couple items from the store after midnight, gas up, sleep, start the motor and roll out by 8AM!  Now, if you're travelling a "trucking corridor", it's very likely the WM will not allow TRUCKS to sleep overnight, but we always find the little "wagon train" cluster of RVs far away from the entrance, in a mostly level area, and park beside 'em.  I often wonder what the stories are of our anonymous (and quiet) neighbors :)

The only inconvenience we've run into so far, is the streetsweepers that end up cleaning the parking lot the night we park there.  I can't blame them for being clean!


BTW, there's a Walmart app for iphones/ ipads and Androids that is constantly updated, and will tell you where the closest Walmart is, and their phone #.  It's MUCH faster than using MS Trips and Streets.
 
debamoore said:
April 8, 2011 - Found out that the WAL-MART in HOMESTEAD. FLORIDA is NOT the area for RVs!!!  Drove into a Wal-Mart parking lot at 10:30am (the last one one the way to The Keys)  The security guard drove up and said,  (I QUOTE)....................."THESE TYPE vehicles have a 3hr parking limit, it's 10,,:30am now you have til 1:30pm then you have to leave!

Sadly if the security guard would have demonstrated an ounce of people skills you probably wouldn't have bothered to post this and got all upset.
Edit: Fixed quote and removed excessive white space.
 
dominique21,

You're replying to old topics. Some of the original posters are no longer here  ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
131,670
Posts
1,382,734
Members
137,455
Latest member
MtnRV
Back
Top Bottom