In Reply to: Beach hawker advice ? posted by shortytheyakker on Monday, 24. October 2011 at 12:42 Bali Time:
I get called "stingy steve" from the ladies on the beach now.
It doesn't really bother me or my wife now as we know that's just how it is and they are just doing their job to put food on the table.
Below are a few pointers you can try:
It seems if you walk or sit on the water line, they seem to not bother you as much (like someone said b4, invisible line?)
Always wear sunnies to avoid eye contact and politely say, no thanks, I already have 20 pairs of sunnies or 15 watches from coming 4 years in a row or whatever they are trying to sell. When they think you have been there a few times, they leave you alone.
They will quite often sit next to you or in front of you just for a rest or even for a chat. Start talking to them about their life and your life, after all, it's one of the reasons you're in Bali, to meet the locals.
Find one lady (the men aren't as good as the ladies) and maybe buy something small and have a chat for a while and tell them you would really love to just relax and not be bothered as it makes you feel sick in the belly or unhappy with too many people around you and they will help you out by letting the others know to leave you alone.
Make a promise that if they get all the other sellers to leave you alone, you will buy some goods off them (10 pairs of sunnies or 5 watches or nails done on the last day or some necklaces on the last day) but please, if you do this, keep your promise and buy it.
Good luck and try not let it bother you too much.