Parking at a Walmart and taking Uber to airport to save money
Dec 20, 2017, 8:51 am
#1
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Parking at a Walmart and taking Uber to airport to save money
Has anyone ever done this? I am planning on parking at a Walmart that is about 5 miles away from my airport and then taking Uber. Walmart usually has no problem with overnight parking, but since I am going to be gone for 7 days, I'm wondering if that is pushing it. Thoughts?
Dec 20, 2017, 8:52 am
#2
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You should not be surprised if your car is towed and impounded. But I'd be much more worried about someone breaking in and/or stealing it. Not sure what kind of a car we are talking about, but I would think that the potential downside is much greater than a car service to the airport.
Dec 20, 2017, 9:00 am
#3
Original Poster
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You should not be surprised if your car is towed and impounded. But I'd be much more worried about someone breaking in and/or stealing it. Not sure what kind of a car we are talking about, but I would think that the potential downside is much greater than a car service to the airport.
Dec 20, 2017, 9:08 am
#4
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In fact many, though not all, US Wal-Marts permit overnight parking - even for RV campers. I suppose in theory those which permit it might be more likely to not notice or care if your car were there for a week, but I couldn't say for sure. You can google Wal-Mart overnight parking and find quite a bit of discussion about it - probably there have been others who have actually done what you propose and you could see what their experiences were. This site is one example - it lists those Wal-Marts that don't allow overnighting:
No Overnight Parking at Walmart ? Walmart Locator
Still, even if you confirmed that the store would allow you to do it, I'd also wonder how much you're saving to make it worth taking the extra step and hassle of doing this.
No Overnight Parking at Walmart ? Walmart Locator
Still, even if you confirmed that the store would allow you to do it, I'd also wonder how much you're saving to make it worth taking the extra step and hassle of doing this.
Dec 20, 2017, 9:08 am
#5
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But are we talking about a Bentley or a 20-year-old Buick? There is one Walmart about a twenty minute drive from our place near Naples, FL where I worry about leaving it for ten minutes...loads of shady yoots who are probably crack dealers.
Dec 20, 2017, 9:54 am
#6
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That is simply not true as a blanket statement, though perhaps those in this poster's area are. The Wal-Mart closest to me (250 Hartford Ave, Bellingham, MA 02019) opens at 7 am and closes at 10 pm on weekdays. Do not assume that a given Wal-Mart is open 24/7 without checking that specific store.
Dec 20, 2017, 1:45 pm
#8
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It's all about risk tolerance.
1. The car is towed and OP pays for towing and impoundment fees.
2. The car is broken into and his insurance carrier denies coverage because the car was trespassing.
Nobody here can evaluate either of those risks for you. So, you decide whether it's worth the chance.
1. The car is towed and OP pays for towing and impoundment fees.
2. The car is broken into and his insurance carrier denies coverage because the car was trespassing.
Nobody here can evaluate either of those risks for you. So, you decide whether it's worth the chance.
Dec 20, 2017, 2:59 pm
#10
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I'm going to move this to our budget travel forum, where it's more likely to be seen by users who have actually employed this strategy.
chgoeditor
co-moderator, Info Desk
chgoeditor
co-moderator, Info Desk
Dec 20, 2017, 4:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CT USA
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That is simply not true as a blanket statement, though perhaps those in this poster's area are. The Wal-Mart closest to me (250 Hartford Ave, Bellingham, MA 02019) opens at 7 am and closes at 10 pm on weekdays. Do not assume that a given Wal-Mart is open 24/7 without checking that specific store.
Dec 20, 2017, 5:04 pm
#13
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Has anyone ever done this? I am planning on parking at a Walmart that is about 5 miles away from my airport and then taking Uber. Walmart usually has no problem with overnight parking, but since I am going to be gone for 7 days, I'm wondering if that is pushing it. Thoughts?
Personally I think its a terrible idea unless you car is such a junkpile that you don't mind it being stolen. If towed, the tow bill and storage will likely dwarf any saving you thing you are getting.
Dec 20, 2017, 5:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 182
The parking lot at our local Walmart often looks a little like an RV park during the summer with the low-cost campers circling their rigs in an unused section. We live in an absolutely gorgeous area with beautiful parks, and here they are saving money by being in the Walmart parking lot..... Price and Value are not always the same thing.
The secret is not to be asking people on this forum, but to be talking with the manager at your local Walmart. What are their policies? Is there a particular part of the lot where they would like you to park? Can you give them an emergency contact number? How badly would you feel if something happens to your car?
The secret is not to be asking people on this forum, but to be talking with the manager at your local Walmart. What are their policies? Is there a particular part of the lot where they would like you to park? Can you give them an emergency contact number? How badly would you feel if something happens to your car?