BW (before wallmart)

[whiteworks]

I remeber Havasu BW, it was great now not so much. I am wondering how the big box store will effect Parker. I think its safe to bet that some of the small town charm will be lost forever.

 

[OCMerrill]

I 100% agree although Safeway is going to get a spanking which they need IMO.

 

[BadBlown572]

I agree that the mom & pop stores will definitely be hit HARD once Wal-Mart comes in.



Any news on the new FedEx (?) distribution warehouse going in Parker?



You add up both of those, and the small town feel will be GONE for ever!

 

[RiverDave]

Burn baby burn.. LOL I hope someone lights that fucker on fire.

RD

 

[Guest]

Burn baby burn.. LOL I hope someone lights that fucker on fire.

RD

Dave ...you might want to re think your position advocating arson on the boards....after all ...we have celebrities lurking........and shit..

 

[RiverDave]

Dave ...you might want to re think your position advocating arson on the boards....after all ...we have celebrities lurking........and shit..

Hopefully a celeb will burn it then. LOL

RD

 

[boatnam2]

I really dont see how it will change much, 250 people got jobs so 125 will have more beer money. Last thing i hate to do is shop when i get to the river so i will continue to shop before i go so dont see it changing anything for me.Place will always be parker and not the big piss pond.

 

[milkmoney]

fock wm in parker and the rest of the wm in the world, i agree with rd..will always shop the small town stores to help keep them going hopefully..

 

[Outnumbered]

Interesting concept. I'm a free market capitalist. But then things like this become a bit of a dilemma. In a free market both should survive in theory. Wal-Mart caters to the cheap folks who don't mind buying Chinese crap to save a buck while the "mom and pops" cater to the people willing to spend a few extra bucks to get a better product or service, or both.

The problem lies, I think, in part with the internet, media, and the lack of responsibility spewn by pop culture in general. Everything has become so globalized that you can price shop internationally with just a few minutes on your computer. People get into that mentality that we see when gas shopping or rate shopping a mortgage. It is like their eyes glaze over and they loose all rational thought--driving an extra 2-3 miles out of their way to save a few cents per gallon.

They then see the easy-money millionaire celebs living large on all the reality TV shows and want to live just like them...but they don't want to work for it. After all, the baller on TV with his 15,000 sqft "crib" and all the best toys is rarely shown working for his stuff on these shows.

I'm not sure if there is a way to fix it. It has become a part of our culture. People want everything given to them and they don't want to pay for it--at least not pay too much for it anyway. People seem to forget that for the small business to survive, they have to make money. The business owner has become so vilified to many. "How dare he make a profit"? "How dare he make more than I make"? "The evil business owner is just greedy and rich." True, some are greedy, rich, and crooked, but most are not. It is funny how people just assume that you are rich if you work for yourself. But these same people don't seem to mind the true greedy/rich--the politicians. Many seems to think that what Obama and congress are doing (wasting our hard-earned money) is OK but they won't pay mom and pop $2 for a gallon of milk if Wal-Mart has it for $1.89.

A similar trend has been wrecking my profession. Nearly 20 years as a real estate appraiser and the Wal-Marts of the industry like First American Title and Countrywide/BofA have put many mom and pop appraisers out of business. They have, in fact, effectively forced mom and pop to work for the real estate equivalent of Wal-Mart for about 40% of what mom and pop made when they used to work for themselves.

It is tough to oppose the thought of the free market but it is obviously making the big companies bigger and mom and pop more like low-level employees. So what do you do? Impose more anti-trust laws? I think they may work if enacted correctly but with government so corrupted at this point I don't have much if any faith in anti-trust laws helping anyone other than the politicians that write them.

 

[boatnam2]

I remember when the bluewater casino was going to open and life at the river would change forrrrrrrrrrever.

 

[reb939]

Spankey's is gonna put that Wal-Mart out of BIZ

 

[Outnumbered]

I remember when the bluewater casino was going to open and life at the river would change forrrrrrrrrrever.

Things always change...some changes are just bigger than others. I'd say Bluewater and Walmart would both be milestones.

 

[boatnam2]

It may change it some, who knows i myself will still go to the idian home depot or spankys for the shorter walk if nothing else when i need something.

 

[TPC]

Maynard needs a tire on his bike.
Now I have someplace to buy one.

The biggest bastards in Parker are Spankys and Interstate batteries.
I hope they both take a broadside hit that sinks them.

Safeway finally offers water and Gatoraid by the case, and two dozen other items are now available at a reasonable price that they would not offer had Wall Mart not been on the horizon.

Hopefully Wal Mart has an auto center.
Have never been able to get any service what-so-ever at any of the businesses in Parker.

In some respect, a small town attitude is a "You should be glad we're here to business with you" attitude.

The Beach store next to Safeway is the biggest tourtist town rip-off business on the river

I have very little feeling for half the business in Parker.

 

[Faceaz]

Interesting concept. I'm a free market capitalist. But then things like this become a bit of a dilemma. In a free market both should survive in theory. Wal-Mart caters to the cheap folks who don't mind buying Chinese crap to save a buck while the "mom and pops" cater to the people willing to spend a few extra bucks to get a better product or service, or both.

The problem lies, I think, in part with the internet, media, and the lack of responsibility spewn by pop culture in general. Everything has become so globalized that you can price shop internationally with just a few minutes on your computer. People get into that mentality that we see when gas shopping or rate shopping a mortgage. It is like their eyes glaze over and they loose all rational thought--driving an extra 2-3 miles out of their way to save a few cents per gallon.

They then see the easy-money millionaire celebs living large on all the reality TV shows and want to live just like them...but they don't want to work for it. After all, the baller on TV with his 15,000 sqft "crib" and all the best toys is rarely shown working for his stuff on these shows.

I'm not sure if there is a way to fix it. It has become a part of our culture. People want everything given to them and they don't want to pay for it--at least not pay too much for it anyway. People seem to forget that for the small business to survive, they have to make money. The business owner has become so vilified to many. "How dare he make a profit"? "How dare he make more than I make"? "The evil business owner is just greedy and rich." True, some are greedy, rich, and crooked, but most are not. It is funny how people just assume that you are rich if you work for yourself. But these same people don't seem to mind the true greedy/rich--the politicians. Many seems to think that what Obama and congress are doing (wasting our hard-earned money) is OK but they won't pay mom and pop $2 for a gallon of milk if Wal-Mart has it for $1.89.

A similar trend has been wrecking my profession. Nearly 20 years as a real estate appraiser and the Wal-Marts of the industry like First American Title and Countrywide/BofA have put many mom and pop appraisers out of business. They have, in fact, effectively forced mom and pop to work for the real estate equivalent of Wal-Mart for about 40% of what mom and pop made when they used to work for themselves.

It is tough to oppose the thought of the free market but it is obviously making the big companies bigger and mom and pop more like low-level employees. So what do you do? Impose more anti-trust laws? I think they may work if enacted correctly but with government so corrupted at this point I don't have much if any faith in anti-trust laws helping anyone other than the politicians that write them.

I think the main problem is the buying power of Walmart. Sure, they sell cheap Chinese stuff, but they have the higher quality stuff too.

If you're a supplier, you'll bend over to have Walmart market your product. Sell to them for less because of the huge amount of sales you'll have. Meanwhile the mom & pop places are paying more for the same product & simply can't compete.

Either way, like you said, the result is the big getting bigger & the small going under.

People need to take pride in their communities & not be such sell-outs.

Didn't hear anything about a new Fed Ex facility in Parker, bid one in Yuma not too long ago though.

 

[Outnumbered]

Maynard needs a tire on his bike.
Now I have someplace to buy one.

The biggest bastards in Parker are Spankys and Interstate batteries.
I hope they both take a broadside hit that sinks them.

Safeway finally offers water and Gatoraid by the case, and two dozen other items are now available at a reasonable price that they would not offer had Wall Mart not been on the horizon.

Hopefully Wal Mart has an auto center.
Have never been able to get any service what-so-ever at any of the businesses in Parker.

In some respect, a small town attitude is a "You should be glad we're here to business with you" attitude.

The Beach store next to Safeway is the biggest tourtist town rip-off business on the river

I have very little feeling for half the business in Parker.

Good points. I'm not familiar with Parker businesses, but it sounds like Wal-Mart will help in one respect--by making the crappy ones get their act together or fold. Like I said in my long post--I'm torn on this issue. Some good and some bad will become of the change. It is repeating in small towns across the country as they grow to the size where the Wal-Mart marketing plan/formula shows they can make money in said town. Tough issue for me because I know some good hard working people in these towns will be facing some very hard times no matter how much harder they work.

 

[Outnumbered]

I think the main problem is the buying power of Walmart. Sure, they sell cheap Chinese stuff, but they have the higher quality stuff too.

If you're a supplier, you'll bend over to have Walmart market your product. Sell to them for less because of the huge amount of sales you'll have. Meanwhile the mom & pop places are paying more for the same product & simply can't compete.

Either way, like you said, the result is the big getting bigger & the small going under.

People need to take pride in their communities & not be such sell-outs.

Didn't hear anything about a new Fed Ex facility in Parker, bid one in Yuma not too long ago though.

No question that comes into play. I guess I was just ranting/venting a little based on my own personal experiences in the real estate business.

 

[mbrown2]

The Beach store next to Safeway is the biggest tourtist town rip-off business on the river

I never felt it was a rip off...in fact they would have some killer sales there....there prices were on par with IG in Simi Valley and they had some of the newer stuff just like IG which I thought was a stretch for a small town surf shop...they were affiliated with the Beach at Buckskin but had more selection...when they would have sales, I was getting DC shoes for the price you could them off of 6pm.com on the internet...amazing prices...

Oh well...not to worry they went under, but you can probably still get some Coors light or Corona boardshorts at wal mart for half price if you are into that...

Walmart is one of the ills of freemarket....I try to support the local business as much as a can until they don't have what I need or they are trying to rape me for the same product as the big box store.

 

[whiteworks]

I like all those funky little stores in Parker and the debacle of trying to find a particular item. It always adds a little to the Parker experiance when I run into town for an Item. The time RD and I went into town to get haircuts a Chuy's was very memorable, Good thing RD went first. While Chuy was working over RD's melon (and trying to sell him some rims) myself and the girls went and browsed the local shops. We had a good time and a very authentic experiance. I dont expect good service, I like getting harrased a bit and exploring the town. I guess the thing I like about Parker is it can be down right difficult at times and IMO that keeps the douschebags from coming back. They come once, fuck up there boats, get the ass kicked at the bars, get no service from the local establishments and never return.

 

[Tom Brown]

Burn baby burn.. LOL I hope someone lights that fucker on fire.

I used to spend quite a bit of time on RDP. The people were great, the site was well run, and life was good. It was a more innocent time and I enjoyed it very much.

Then I moved on to PerformanceBoats.com. With a much larger budget, they created a bigger site with more forums, fancier cover page graphics, and even hosted a video that featured Keith Sayre. Naturally, many more people came.

PB.com proved to be a great experience... for a while.

Eventually, realizing Facebook is a billion dollar organization with hundreds of millions of users, I went there. The Mercury Racing group had 3600 members the first week it was created. They do volumes and have a breadth of interest groups that RDP will never be able to compete with.

Sorry, Dave. I don't want to burn you. I'll certainly miss this site when it's gone but RDP just can't compete with the larger sites.

 

[whiteworks]

I used to spend quite a bit of time on RDP. The people were great, the site was well run, and life was good. It was a more innocent time and I enjoyed it very much.

Then I moved on to PerformanceBoats.com. With a much larger budget, they created a bigger site with more forums, fancier cover page graphics, and even hosted a video that featured Keith Sayre. Naturally, many more people came.

PB.com proved to be a great experience... for a while.

Eventually, realizing Facebook is a billion dollar organization with hundreds of millions of users, I went there. The Mercury Racing group had 3600 members the first week it was created. They do volumes and have a breadth of interest groups that RDP will never be able to compete with.

Sorry, Dave. I don't want to burn you. I'll certainly miss this site when it's gone but RDP just can't compete with the larger sites.

Classic Tom Brown drive by.

 

[OCMerrill]

Maynard needs a tire on his bike.
Now I have someplace to buy one.

The biggest bastards in Parker are Spankys and Interstate batteries.
I hope they both take a broadside hit that sinks them.

Safeway finally offers water and Gatoraid by the case, and two dozen other items are now available at a reasonable price that they would not offer had Wall Mart not been on the horizon.

Hopefully Wal Mart has an auto center.
Have never been able to get any service what-so-ever at any of the businesses in Parker.

In some respect, a small town attitude is a "You should be glad we're here to business with you" attitude.

The Beach store next to Safeway is the biggest tourtist town rip-off business on the river

I have very little feeling for half the business in Parker.

Good to see Wally Hut is waking Safeway up. They dominated and in the case of water...used to have to get that at the Terribles Monopoly Corner because like you said Safeway refused to carry it.

 

[RyanPartridge]

I like all those funky little stores in Parker and the debacle of trying to find a particular item. It always adds a little to the Parker experiance when I run into town for an Item. The time RD and I went into town to get haircuts a Chuy's was very memorable, Good thing RD went first. While Chuy was working over RD's melon (and trying to sell him some rims) myself and the girls went and browsed the local shops. We had a good time and a very authentic experiance. I dont expect good service, I like getting harrased a bit and exploring the town. I guess the thing I like about Parker is it can be down right difficult at times and IMO that keeps the douschebags from coming back. They come once, fuck up there boats, get the ass kicked at the bars, get no service from the local establishments and never return.

I agree. I enjoy going into town and digging to find what I'm looking for. I appreciate the lack of service and convenience.

In the olde days, there was even less comfort and convenience and nowadays I get the feeling that more FUN was had back then. But maybe that's because I usually have some uptight assholes around me at the river.

I could live without the new Walmart, but I'd also like to trade the Carvel to bring back the old DQ.

 

[RiverDave]

Lol.. I think you just miss me brown. . What are goi g to do when facebook is called dave'sbook I wonder?


RD

I used to spend quite a bit of time on RDP. The people were great, the site was well run, and life was good. It was a more innocent time and I enjoyed it very much.

Then I moved on to PerformanceBoats.com. With a much larger budget, they created a bigger site with more forums, fancier cover page graphics, and even hosted a video that featured Keith Sayre. Naturally, many more people came.

PB.com proved to be a great experience... for a while.

Eventually, realizing Facebook is a billion dollar organization with hundreds of millions of users, I went there. The Mercury Racing group had 3600 members the first week it was created. They do volumes and have a breadth of interest groups that RDP will never be able to compete with.

Sorry, Dave. I don't want to burn you. I'll certainly miss this site when it's gone but RDP just can't compete with the larger sites.

 

[whiteworks]

In the olde days, there was even less comfort and convenience and nowadays I get the feeling that more FUN was had back then. But maybe that's because I usually have some uptight assholes around me at the river.

.

Ryan, let me tell you what I have figured out about the good old days. they are happening to you right now, enjoy every moment because before you know it these will be the good old days you speak fondly of. BTW, lose the uptight assholes.

 

[Outdrive1]

I never felt it was a rip off...in fact they would have some killer sales there....there prices were on par with IG in Simi Valley and they had some of the newer stuff just like IG which I thought was a stretch for a small town surf shop...they were affiliated with the Beach at Buckskin but had more selection...when they would have sales, I was getting DC shoes for the price you could them off of 6pm.com on the internet...amazing prices...

Oh well...not to worry they went under, but you can probably still get some Coors light or Corona boardshorts at wal mart for half price if you are into that...

Walmart is one of the ills of freemarket....I try to support the local business as much as a can until they don't have what I need or they are trying to rape me for the same product as the big box store.

Char likes little boutiques like the one next to Safeway, or the one under the London Bridge by the Heat, or the one across in the London Bridge shops, or the Turtle's shop, or where ever. They like to look for stuff that their friends aren't wearing, and she just likes to bathing suit shop in general. It keeps her happy, it's part of the deal, part of the trade off for making her go to the river. Once in a while I have to buy her a fucking bathing suit to keep her happy.

I doubt we'll be making a stop at Walmart in Parker to shop for suits.........

 

[Outdrive1]

I used to spend quite a bit of time on RDP. The people were great, the site was well run, and life was good. It was a more innocent time and I enjoyed it very much.

Then I moved on to PerformanceBoats.com. With a much larger budget, they created a bigger site with more forums, fancier cover page graphics, and even hosted a video that featured Keith Sayre. Naturally, many more people came.

PB.com proved to be a great experience... for a while.

Eventually, realizing Facebook is a billion dollar organization with hundreds of millions of users, I went there. The Mercury Racing group had 3600 members the first week it was created. They do volumes and have a breadth of interest groups that RDP will never be able to compete with.

Sorry, Dave. I don't want to burn you. I'll certainly miss this site when it's gone but RDP just can't compete with the larger sites.

Shit sandwich anyone?:smackbum:

 

[RiverDave]

Paul in order to understand one of browns posts... 1st you must understand the humor of a canatard. Take everything you read reverse it and then sprinkle on irony of whatever the topic at hand is currently.

Browns post actually read that rdp is growing by leaps and bounds and will soon surpass performance boats, yet retain that small town mom and pop feel to it. One of the highest compliments Brown has said yet.

You have to get a new upgraded canatard translator out of a cracker jack box to completely decode the translation.

RD

 

[Outdrive1]

Paul in order to understand one of browns posts... 1st you must understand the humor of a canatard. Take everything you read reverse it and then sprinkle on irony of whatever the topic at hand is currently.

Browns post actually read that rdp is growing by leaps and boy ds and will soon surpass performance boats, yet retain that small town mom and pop feel to it. One of the highest compliments Brown has said yet.

You have to get a new upgraded canatard translator out of a cracker jack box to completely decode the translation.

RD

I love Brown's posts. In fact him and I often "gay it up" on FB together. I'm just giving that shit eating cantard some shit. Mostly just to provoke a response, yet he rarely takes the bait.

I told him to start some Obama threads on PB, I guess his vagina has been getting the better of him lately.

 

[OCMerrill]

Paul in order to understand one of browns posts... 1st you must understand the humor of a canatard. Take everything you read reverse it and then sprinkle on irony of whatever the topic at hand is currently.

Browns post actually read that rdp is growing by leaps and bounds and will soon surpass performance boats, yet retain that small town mom and pop feel to it. One of the highest compliments Brown has said yet.

You have to get a new upgraded canatard translator out of a cracker jack box to completely decode the translation.

RD

Oh sure...I'd go with that.

 

[TBI]

I used to spend quite a bit of time on RDP. The people were great, the site was well run, and life was good. It was a more innocent time and I enjoyed it very much.

Then I moved on to PerformanceBoats.com. With a much larger budget, they created a bigger site with more forums, fancier cover page graphics, and even hosted a video that featured Keith Sayre. Naturally, many more people came.

PB.com proved to be a great experience... for a while.

Eventually, realizing Facebook is a billion dollar organization with hundreds of millions of users, I went there. The Mercury Racing group had 3600 members the first week it was created. They do volumes and have a breadth of interest groups that RDP will never be able to compete with.

Sorry, Dave. I don't want to burn you. I'll certainly miss this site when it's gone but RDP just can't compete with the larger sites.

Have I told you to fuck off lately?

 

[RyanPartridge]

Ryan, let me tell you what I have figured out about the good old days. they are happening to you right now, enjoy every moment because before you know it these will be the good old days you speak fondly of. BTW, lose the uptight assholes.

So true. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup

 

[Tom Brown]

So true. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup

Come on, get happy.

 

[RyanPartridge]

Come on, get happy.

[video=youtube;CKnw9TM_AAI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKnw9TM_AAI[/video]

 

[TPC]

I never felt it was a rip off...in fact they would have some killer sales there....there prices were on par with IG in Simi Valley and they had some of the newer stuff just like IG which I thought was a stretch for a small town surf shop...they were affiliated with the Beach at Buckskin but had more selection...when they would have sales, I was getting DC shoes for the price you could them off of 6pm.com on the internet...amazing prices...

Oh well...not to worry they went under, but you can probably still get some Coors light or Corona boardshorts at wal mart for half price if you are into that...

Walmart is one of the ills of freemarket....I try to support the local business as much as a can until they don't have what I need or they are trying to rape me for the same product as the big box store.

That's a stretch.

The wakeboards were twice what Blacklist and several other 909 shops sold them for.
Fly glasses too.
Catching stuff rarely on sale is one thing, regular prices are another.

Their's more in a Wall Mart clothing section than Corona Shorts, you know that.

I've bought lots of decent cloths there at reasonable prices, though I prefer Target, and liked Mervyns.

Jesse James is going to sell his line of heavy duty work cloths through them, and other quality lines are offered, just not at every location.

Like Boatcap mentioned, Wall Marts problem will be finding decent employees.

Bluewater is a very good example of the lousy employee pool in Parker.

 

[Riverbound]

I am excited to have a Wal mart in Parker. For years we have been extrememly limited on being able to buy things for around the house and it always either equated into a trip to havasu or buying it at home and trucking it in. I have also epxerienced less than stellar customer service at the majority of the mom and pop stores in town. if they wouldnt have bit the hand that fed them for all these years there would have been no need for a wal-mart in Parker and they wouldnt have built one. I also hope the fed ex hub happens at the ariport because that could potentialy open up parker to some sort of cmmercial flights (wishful thinking)

 

[BajaT]

I hope Walmart is extremely successful and PANDA EXPRESS moves in next to it. :thumbsup I am tired of Mexican food everyday!!:grumble:

 

[mbrown2]

Their's more in a Wall Mart clothing section than Corona Shorts, you know that.

Sorry....I stand corrected and admit when I am wrong...I forgot about the Faded Glory boardshorts for 8 bux...:thumbsup

I am sure Baja T will be sporting those at his next outing...

 

[BajaT]

"I am sure Baja T will be sporting those at his next outing..."

I have been told it is time for some new trunks............Actually took the boat out last Sunday!

 

[RyanPartridge]

Like Boatcap mentioned, Wall Marts problem will be finding decent employees.

I heard a rumor that something like 170 people applied for jobs at the new Walmart and less than 70 passed the drug test. So they're bringing in people from Laughlin and Phoenix. True?

 

[BajaT]

The ratio was not that high.. They also have turned down some people with certain misdemeanors....

 

[HolyMoly]

Druggies and criminals in Parker? Say it ain't so!!!! :skull

 

[mbrown2]

The ratio was not that high.. They also have turned down some people with certain misdemeanors....

LOL...I heard their Customer Service Mgr was one of my neighs....to say I was suprised is an understatement!

 

[BajaT]

I saw her Sunday! I give it 2 months and she is gone...Job interupts her drinkin time!

 

[lebel409]

I was at my father in laws house...turned on the water and the valve stem broke...

Fine, so I go to the hardware store (now a 99 cent deal) and asked for a replacement valve. OMG, I thought the guy thought I was asking for a kidney...bitched and whined and showed me the valves that I'd already looked at...So I showed him the difference..."We don't got them!" Thanks chief...I saw a valve that looked similar and thought it may have the same internals, so I asked to look. He said,"What are you, from California?"...I said yes, you want my money or what?

I finally got him to take the valve apart, the gate was close enough, bought it...he mumbled the whole time...the "Parker Experience"...should be close to the WalMart experience....