Say what you like about Wal-Mart, I’m grateful for them. Their parking lots are generally patrolled and no one hassles me when I park there for the night. They have cheap food, ice and supplies and they’re located everywhere. Would I shop at a mom and pop? I’d prefer to. But mom and pop’s won’t let me park overnight and I’d end up being towed, harassed or hassled. I’d gladly pay more if they offered overnight parking. I’d even pay $5 to park overnight. But that’s not happening anytime soon.

Last night I spent a wonderful night in the rain at a new Wal-Mart in Zion’s Crossroads outside Palmyra, VA. I’m on my way south to warmer climes. The rain, three accidents (one fatal) and the dead deer every 50 yards convinced me to get off of Route 15 and spend the night somewhere, and wow - there it was! It just opened the day before so all the specials and sales and new store stuff was going on. I bought a new sleeping bag and a heater and some groceries and other stuff. I always try to buy something I need when I park there - same as when I use the wifi at a Pannera Bread etc.

Anyway - nothing exciting happening today…except I’m having great difficulty getting online using my CISCO Linksys router. Since the warranty expired two months ago and I lost the setup CD, CISCO wants to charge me $49 to give me the information I need to reset the router. Next time I buy a router, it won’t be a CISCO/Linksys. It never ceases to amaze me how companies do all they can to alienate customers by charging them for things they can just read off a list or set up for a free download.

Wal-Mart lets me park FREE and in exchange, I spend more money there than anywhere else. Given the choice between who to support and who NOT to support? Companies who treat their customers well….