Sorry this is LONG!
My family - grown children, grandchildren, pets - came down for a week to visit with us. This morning my sons went down and set up six chairs on the beach close together. We didn't take up more than 15-18 feet. They said there was nothing else (chairs, etc) anywhere near ours. When we went down two hours later, a beach chair rental vendor had moved three of our chairs back in order up set up four of their own, with umbrellas.
We asked the people sitting there if they had moved our chairs and they said no, the chair vendor did. I got the number displayed on the umbrella, called the vendor, left a message and the guy called back and apologized. He said his worker who put them out should not have done that - they are not supposed to touch other peoples property.
We ended up squeezed into a smaller area and all is fine. I do feel SO BAD though, because I was so rude to the people who had rented the chairs and through no fault of their own, ours had been moved. I apologized to them, but it was on the middle of my rant, so I'm sure it did not sound sincere!
Personal note: no need to read this if you are just interested in beach chair rental policies and violations. I found out last week that I have a serious health issue that will require surgery when I get back home next week and more than likely follow up treatment. I have been snapping at everyone this week, even though I am trying so hard not to. I'm thinking that might be why I was rude to the people sitting in their rented chairs, just trying to enjoy their vacation. I feel so bad. Maybe I should go to the doctor to get some "don't give a flip" drugs....
Replies
53
Beach Fanatic
I too am a lifelong resident of Walton County. In 48 years of sitting on the beach, I have personally never rented a beach chair. I carry my chair and beach bag to the beach, read my book, enjoy the sun and surf and bother no one. My particular beach access has very very few beach company setups so I haven't had any bad experiences personally, but I do sympathize with those of you who have. However, I would like to speak for the other side. My son is one of those "beach chair guys". He is 16, an honor student, an athlete, and a local kid who is glad to have a summer job. He works 7 days a week, from 6:00 until 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. He leaves home at 5:30 in the morning. Despite what some people think, the reason they start so early in the morning is because of the extreme heat. By the time he is done setting up about 40 sets at 9 am, he is drenched with sweat and exhausted. It's hard work but it pays decent and allows him to participate in summer sports with his school in the middle of the day. I assure you he would not purposely set up chairs that weren't going to be rented, just for the fun of it. He sets up the number his boss tells him to, based on experience of how many they will need that day of the week. In Two summers, he has only had a 2 problems, but they were pretty ugly as adult women and men cussed at him, threw his chairs, and accused him of ruining their beach day. In both cases, other adults on the beach came to his defense. In one case, it turned out that a husband had told his wife he had set up their personal chairs and the wife was accusing my son of moving them, when in fact the husband came down and told his wife he had not gotten around to setting them up. I would encourage you to call the owners if you are unhappy, not attack the young kids working. These are our local kids. As a true walton county resident, I am thankful that my son can work on the same beaches he grew up on. I too complain about tourists, but the hospitality industry is what makes it possible for our local kids to stay local.
Some of the guys are local. Many are college students looking to spend time on the beach. Many have the attitude that they own the beach. A big problem is competition - we used to have a reasonable number of companies that cooperated and shared. Now like many other services - the field has gotten too crowded.
I'm glad to hear your son is benefiting from tourism. It starts from the top - the owners of the companies have to train and treat people the right way.
Beach Fanatic
I too am a lifelong resident of Walton County. In 48 years of sitting on the beach, I have personally never rented a beach chair. I carry my chair and beach bag to the beach, read my book, enjoy the sun and surf and bother no one. My particular beach access has very very few beach company setups so I haven't had any bad experiences personally, but I do sympathize with those of you who have. However, I would like to speak for the other side. My son is one of those "beach chair guys". He is 16, an honor student, an athlete, and a local kid who is glad to have a summer job. He works 7 days a week, from 6:00 until 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. He leaves home at 5:30 in the morning. Despite what some people think, the reason they start so early in the morning is because of the extreme heat. By the time he is done setting up about 40 sets at 9 am, he is drenched with sweat and exhausted. It's hard work but it pays decent and allows him to participate in summer sports with his school in the middle of the day. I assure you he would not purposely set up chairs that weren't going to be rented, just for the fun of it. He sets up the number his boss tells him to, based on experience of how many they will need that day of the week. In Two summers, he has only had a 2 problems, but they were pretty ugly as adult women and men cussed at him, threw his chairs, and accused him of ruining their beach day. In both cases, other adults on the beach came to his defense. In one case, it turned out that a husband had told his wife he had set up their personal chairs and the wife was accusing my son of moving them, when in fact the husband came down and told his wife he had not gotten around to setting them up. I would encourage you to call the owners if you are unhappy, not attack the young kids working. These are our local kids. As a true walton county resident, I am thankful that my son can work on the same beaches he grew up on. I too complain about tourists, but the hospitality industry is what makes it possible for our local kids to stay local.Of course he does what his boss says....but a lot of these guys ( I have seen with my eyes daily)
Tell employees to setup X number of chairs...reason your son works early or not at all, is he MUST get as many front row setups as possible as he moves from beach to beach. Then guess what?, after your son goes to workout ( applause for that, this is not his problem) his boss hovers over his setups all day checking to see who takes his bait and sits down on the front row, even if these setups sit empty from 6:00AM til say 12:30pm when his hook is set.....just sayin
Beach Lover
I would say most, if not all, of those college kids who come back, are home from college for the summer, living with their parents. They are graduates of Walton County schools, and their parents live here. The money is good, but not nearly good enough for a college student from somewhere else to rent a place in sowal for 2 months, just so they can "spend time on the beach". All of my son's friends come home from college for the summer to do beach chairs, and I expect he will too. The point I was trying to make in my original comment was these are just local kids, working hard, who sometimes get treated pretty bad by fellow local.
Beach Lover
The beach vendors are taking over! Period!
SoWal Expert
Sunny 850, from your first post, it sounds like your son's employer has him set up unrented chairs, the number determined by the usual rental history. I think that is what so many have a problem with- unrented chair setups.
Beach Lover
It did sound that way, Jdarg, when I reread it, and I was basing that on how it was at his beach chair job last year because it was a privately owned beach where only people staying there could sit so they did set up based on expected numbers. This year, he sets up only for rented sets. He has a clipboard and sets up according to A chart that shows the groupings of chairs based on numbers of people in the group. I will be the first to say I would be furious if I walked across the street with my chair and had no place to sit. I just want to urge people to call the owners or code enforcement, not attack the kids working.
Beach Lover
and honestly, it's ruining the area. Breaks my heart.
Beach Lover
Tents are going up before the beach guys. Not loving the tents either, especially several together.
SoWal Guide
Tents are going up before the beach guys. Not loving the tents either, especially several together.
Remember when tents were the only real complaint because people were leaving them up overnight. Along with all the chairs and stuff.
Moderator
Tents are going up before the beach guys. Not loving the tents either, especially several together.
I think one well timed sneak pass by one of the Blue Angels could take care of most of those tents!
Beach Lover
I had someone in a tent move my chairs last week to fit between me and another tent. This tent's legs were literally touching the second tent's legs on one side and my chair on the other. It looked like we were all together. I had left 6 to 8 ft between my chairs and the vendor chairs on the other side so I had nowhere to really move and leave a walkway. The second tent picked up and moved 3 feet away from them. When I came back down after lunch they had moved my chairs over another foot and I found toys under my chair.
Seriously people, keep your hands off of other folks stuff.
Seriously people, keep your hands off of other folks stuff.
Beach Lover
I too am a lifelong resident of Walton County. In 48 years of sitting on the beach, I have personally never rented a beach chair. I carry my chair and beach bag to the beach, read my book, enjoy the sun and surf and bother no one. My particular beach access has very very few beach company setups so I haven't had any bad experiences personally, but I do sympathize with those of you who have. However, I would like to speak for the other side. My son is one of those "beach chair guys". He is 16, an honor student, an athlete, and a local kid who is glad to have a summer job. He works 7 days a week, from 6:00 until 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. He leaves home at 5:30 in the morning. Despite what some people think, the reason they start so early in the morning is because of the extreme heat. By the time he is done setting up about 40 sets at 9 am, he is drenched with sweat and exhausted. It's hard work but it pays decent and allows him to participate in summer sports with his school in the middle of the day. I assure you he would not purposely set up chairs that weren't going to be rented, just for the fun of it. He sets up the number his boss tells him to, based on experience of how many they will need that day of the week. In Two summers, he has only had a 2 problems, but they were pretty ugly as adult women and men cussed at him, threw his chairs, and accused him of ruining their beach day. In both cases, other adults on the beach came to his defense. In one case, it turned out that a husband had told his wife he had set up their personal chairs and the wife was accusing my son of moving them, when in fact the husband came down and told his wife he had not gotten around to setting them up. I would encourage you to call the owners if you are unhappy, not attack the young kids working. These are our local kids. As a true walton county resident, I am thankful that my son can work on the same beaches he grew up on. I too complain about tourists, but the hospitality industry is what makes it possible for our local kids to stay local.
Given the 6am start time you reference your son having to be at work, it seems like the owners of these chair rental companies are ignoring the 7:30 am set-up requirement. Not blaming the kids for doing what they are told...
Beach Lover
Set up time
Given the 6am start time you reference your son having to be at work, it seems like the owners of these chair rental companies are ignoring the 7:30 am set-up requirement. Not blaming the kids for doing what they are told...
- This is what the ordinance says:
- 2013-04-22-60(d)(4): Verbiage changed to allow vendors beach access between “7:30 a.m., or after the morning sea turtle nesting survey has been completed, or whichever is earlier, and one hour after sunset. “ And yes, he gets a daily call from turtle watch folks, who give him the go-ahead way, way before 7:30 Every single day.
Beach Fanatic
Before I question Jeff @ beach enforcement can anyone enlighten me as to how much beach an owner has control over? This AM a new vendor set up
Saying the home owner was tired of tents in his backyard so he gave permission for vendor to setup and rent umbrellas(6)
So can he( owner) claim all the way to the water?
I don't think he can. Only to some imaginary line in the sand..........
Saying the home owner was tired of tents in his backyard so he gave permission for vendor to setup and rent umbrellas(6)
So can he( owner) claim all the way to the water?
I don't think he can. Only to some imaginary line in the sand..........
Beach Fanatic
I believe it is called the Mean High Water Line.
Many times, folks will talk about wet sand. If it gets wet, it's public. However, I see the vendors set up chairs early in the morning that will be in water at high tide.
Many times, folks will talk about wet sand. If it gets wet, it's public. However, I see the vendors set up chairs early in the morning that will be in water at high tide.
SoWal Guide
Keep getting reports of dozens of chairs set up at Grayton Beach, taking away much space from people who show up with their own chairs (which is most people). This is getting out of hand, imo. NO vendors should have the right to take up space with empty chairs - at all.
Beach Fanatic
Keep getting reports of dozens of chairs set up at Grayton Beach, taking away much space from people who show up with their own chairs (which is most people). This is getting out of hand, imo. NO vendors should have the right to take up space with empty chairs - at all.witnessed at BMB this AM.......
A vendor had green umbrella sitting on front row since 5:45-6:00A'M..all setups had names mostly condo/house names ..around 10:00 A'M a group walks up gets green umbrella phone and calls....instantly he appears ( he is usually lurking on public beach deck) cuts his deal with the group telling them they could have this umbrella since
Named group just called and said they didn't need theirs today.....this trick happens everyday on ALL beaches.....
SoWal Guide
witnessed at BMB this AM.......
A vendor had green umbrella sitting on front row since 5:45-6:00A'M..all setups had names mostly condo/house names ..around 10:00 A'M a group walks up gets green umbrella phone and calls....instantly he appears ( he is usually lurking on public beach deck) cuts his deal with the group telling them they could have this umbrella since
Named group just called and said they didn't need theirs today.....this trick happens everyday on ALL beaches.....
makes me cringe. Our beaches should be treated as beautiful parks and preserves and not be a place of business.
Beach Fanatic
At Grayton on Sunday morning at 7:30AM there was barely any room that was not taken up by vendors around the Red Bar access. Nothing has changed with the enactment of the new vendor ordinances. It's as if they aren't being enforced at all. Maybe we should start one of those online petitions about this.
And then there's the "Beach Boys" vendor garbage on Defuniak. Is this against zoning? It sure is ugly. Plus there are posts in the ROW with yellow rope and chain. What's up with that? Both are tacky, totally out of character, and probably not legal.
And then there's the "Beach Boys" vendor garbage on Defuniak. Is this against zoning? It sure is ugly. Plus there are posts in the ROW with yellow rope and chain. What's up with that? Both are tacky, totally out of character, and probably not legal.
Beach Lover
So sad. You go to the beach to relax and chill out, not to jockey for beach chair position. I'd gladly sign any petition prohibiting, or limiting, beach vendor activity.
Beach Lover
How in the world can the vendor afford all the cairs and umbrellas when they mostly go un-rented? Maybe that's why they're all so hot to make a deal. They need any money to mak up for the initial outlay.
With mostly skinny beaches in s.walton, there so little room to relax....
Bring the chainsaw !
With mostly skinny beaches in s.walton, there so little room to relax....
Bring the chainsaw !
Beach Fanatic
if you post vendor problems here???? please then copy ur response and paste to an email to our commissioner Cindy Meadows doubt she trolls this site. She needs to see OUR PLIGHT. meacindy@co.walton.fl.us....this is our best HOPE. SHE DOES ANSWER MY EMAILS.
SoWal Guide
if you post vendor problems here???? please then copy ur response and paste to an email to our commissioner Cindy Meadows doubt she trolls this site. She needs to see OUR PLIGHT. meacindy@co.walton.fl.us....this is our best HOPE. SHE DOES ANSWER MY EMAILS.
I'll bet she's a forum lurker.
Beach Fanatic
I'll bet she's a forum lurker.[/. Guesses on her screen name from our on liners !
Beach Lover
I'll bet she's a forum lurker.
I don't believe Commissioner Meadows needs to "lurk" anywhere. I have found C. Meadows to be forthright, objective, helpful and caring about the MANY issues facing our 30-A. She is truly one of the least politicized public officials with which I have dealt. Bring your issue to her and she will study, investigate and act on the issue. South Walton should be proud to have such a dedicated public servant.
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