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Mike Smith

Beach Lover
Feb 19, 2014
62
45
In terms of chairs and umbrellas... The fix is likely as simple as not setting up until the consumer is physically there to take possession and removing them when the consumer leaves. The ghost set-ups, early morning set-ups, taking 50% of the beach, problems would likely take care of themselves.
 

Mike Jones

Beach Fanatic
Dec 24, 2008
349
195
In terms of chairs and umbrellas... The fix is likely as simple as not setting up until the consumer is physically there to take possession and removing them when the consumer leaves. The ghost set-ups, early morning set-ups, taking 50% of the beach, problems would likely take care of themselves.
Of course this is the last thing vendors want. They won't, or can't, leave someone on the beach to do setups all day. Or not feasible to be everywhere at once to deliver. That is why they should probably be banned.

If a tourist needs to rent, then let them go to a resort that has it's own beach service. I think the rental contractors there pay the resort about 40% of profits for the privilege of serving their beaches. Sandestin not sure they may own all the gear and use employees?

The alternative, if we're not banning vendors, is to regulate them. Just giving them beach space is ludicrous. We've seen poor results from vendors competing for space with each other and with beach goers using their own setups. Disaster.

So the county can "lease" space each season thorough bids and fees. Regulating would be a headache. How do you divide up the beach? How much do you charge (hint: enough to pay for beach maintenance and lifeguards, turtle watch, etc.)? How do you enforce and monitor? It's not an easy problem. But as the resorts' model shows, it is feasible and profitable. But do we really want half or more of our beaches taken up by chairs and umbrellas?

NO!

Let's stay out of the business and keep our beaches beautiful and peaceful. Apparently the BCC is corrupted by families that are in the rental business. Or influenced by the business.
 

LarsAtTheBeach

Beach Fanatic
Jul 19, 2008
704
326
I suppose...
That since we have corruption in county leadership the only way to resolve the issue is to BLOW IT UP!!!!

A group should form. An association if you will. And we pool our time and resources and begin an ALL OUT ASSULT on thd beach.

An assault of commerce.

Hot dog stands. Taco stands. Tee shirt stands. Jewelry. Soft drinks. Can koozies. Beach toys. Surf boards. Skim boards. SUP boards. And yes...sell & rent beach chairs, umbrellas and any other merchandise we can think of.

We set up on EVERY public beach in SoWal. And we do it BIG. Like a flash mob big.

One day peaceful beach. Next day the place looks like a county fair.

Invite the media. Roll the cameras. BLOW IT UP. :lol:
 
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