Beach Bargains: Relaxed Shopping
Tara A. Spears
Picture a perfect sunny day on the beach: you’re relaxed, enjoying the ocean breeze but feel like a snack. No need to dust the sand off your feet or leave your beach chair because a roving beach vender will bring a treat to you. Besides the many types of delectable edibles like shrimp, donuts, candy, and even ice cream, there are lots of different types of shopping available on the Jaltemba Bay beach. Strolling vendors offer souvenirs such as silver jewelry, sun dresses, T-shirts, hats or sunglasses. You can peruse collectable and unique artesian items like colorful Mexican blankets, polished wood carvings, braided name bracelets, rattan baskets and more. If you’re feeling adventurous, treat yourself to a massage, temporary tattoo or hair braiding services- all from the comfort of your beach chair.
Originally due to my NOTB perspective, I was leery of the roving sales people. After living here a few years, I learned that not only are the vendors decent people, but they need to comply with specific regulations and are licensed by the local government in order to be able to sell. In some communities-Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan-the legit venders must wear a specific outfit when selling. In JB, the vendors should display their permit. Every couple of years PROFEPA, (Federal Attorney Generalship of Environmental Protection / Procuraduría Federal de Protección de Ambiente), does a beach sweep and removes unlicensed sellers. Over time I recognize numerous vendors and consider them friends.
It’s interesting to learn that many of the beach vendors have a shop in town. One family member runs the store while another one brings the wares to potential customers who are vacationing at the beach. That’s why if the vendor says, “Yes, I can bring you another color/size etc.,”
It’s not a line, he will run back to the family store. Be sure to give him adequate time to return because may be he has to take a taxi there and back. In fact, many of the families create the product that is sold! Several that I have met carry on a family trade that they learned from grandparents. As the children get older, they are put to work, either making the product, clerking in the family store, or walking the beach to sell.
Many of the older vendors are illiterate or did not attend school, so they are limited as to what type of work they can do. Another interesting characteristic it that many of the First Nation sellers do not even speak Spanish- it is their second language and English would be the third language. One vendor’s daughter told me, “I had to walk the beach since I was 2 years old. I decided by age 7 that I was going to study hard and get an indoor job.” Not only did she work her way through high school with top grades, she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting- and now she loves her business career with her own desk! Her proud parents still sell on the beach in Guayabitos. Rather than be rude to the vendors, take a little time to talk to them- you’d be surprised at some of the family history.
Tips for negotiating beach sales: Culturally, for centuries Mexican venders used the barter system, in which they bandied price back and forth with the potential customer. Presently, with the existence of big box stores and online sales, face-to-face buying is almost a thing of the past. In Mexico street sales, It’s expected that you will counter the price- just try not to be insulting about it. Offering a third less is ok and the seller will counter. It helps if you know what an item sells for in a store. On average the beach price is lower than the store.
What’s the final strategy for buying on the beach? If you’re happy with the price, it’s a good deal. Know that the men, women and kids trudging for hours in the tropical sun are the blue collar workers that barely earn enough to eat. Your purchase supports the community and you’ll take home a nice memory of your Mexico vacation.
