TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Annoying Street Hawkers

Looks like these P.I.T.A. have now decided to increase their staff and begin harassing the tourists on the French Side. They may just try to stop the wrong car one day and not like the outcome of their sales tactics. Seems like better enforcement needs to be looked at but I doubt it since the 2 wheel terrors that create havoc aren't stopped either, even though there have been way too many crashes and deaths from their behavior.

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islan...ntinue-to-harass-tourists-in-oyster-pond

Well, as the story indicates, it's not new that they are moving to the French side in Oyster Pond in particular. Wasn't aware that there were any at Orient though.

Before Irma they were in parking lot beside bikini beach every day. One guy yelled that we had a flat tire. I said thanks & we kept driving knowing Gus would've noticed the tire before leaving our rental unit. It does take away from vacation though.

OK, thanks. We have not normally gone to Bikini, but it makes sense that they would be there, as that's right by the Village, more traffic..

We had someone try to approach us on Orient in the parking lot also and we just waved our hands, no, no and kept driving.

We've been flagged down both at Oyster Pond and at Orient. Just smile, wave, and keep driving. It's a little harder when you're on foot in Philipsburg.

Yes, pre Irma my wife and I had them try to stop us as we were coming and going from Club O.

We have had them drive along side us while going down the road at 30 mph trying to get us to stop. Rental cars that are less conspicuous would help. The R on the plate is a problem.

Even without that R they can recognize a rental car or tourist.

There has always been a few of these guys at Orient Beach in the parking lots. If you just say no...they won't hassle you. Come on people....these people are trying to feed their families...and they get paid every time someone shows up at one of the properties. Yes...it's a PITA as the poster put it....and if there was other work available to these people..they probably would take it. These hawkers are working....and if someone on vacation thinks that they ''take away from their vacation''....well....i don't know what to say. Locals LIVE there....SUPPORT their families there...and the locals are NOT on vacation. I must say in due respect...if these hawkers are ruining their vacation...then their vacation can't be too good!!!! RELAX folks....Life is way to short to sweat the small stuff, and being approached on the beach is way to small to give it a second thought!! My two cents worth.

Well, Ed, I think the point is that what they are doing is ILLEGAL, and with many of them, they DON'T take no for an answer, if you give them even an inch, they take a mile.

Correct

Correct, just like the illegal beach shacks that are no more also.

As I stated last week or so, the "Miracle Salve" people on Front St. are a major annoyance also. When a polite "No" or "No thank you" only produces more annoying tactics, it is time something be done.

Agree....maybe they should find employment that 1) isn't illegal and 2) isn't aggressively annoying people

I agree.

I remember the ones that used to stand in the middle of the road on the hill going toward the former Mama Pizza. It was always 2 scantily-clad French girls waving their arms and trying to give us the infamous scratch-off coupons.

Right on

The miracle beauty people, and those I've encountered in the Orient parking lot are NOT locals. They are young imports brought into the country to do this.

None of the Miracle Salve pushers I encountered were local from what I could tell.

The timeshare people at orient were always the same people so one day we bought a bag of pastries for them. After that they waved as we drove through.😁

Correct. They are brought in as part of the sales force.

We encountered them while driving on the road into Mont Vernon several times. They scatch off a coupon and act giddy saying that they can't believe what we have won a big prize ! We just make something up like we live on the island and smile and drive off giggling.

I tell them I own a villa.

I always say that I live here. That's not going to deter the face cream people though.

Your points are well taken....