www.CostaRicaTicas.com

One of the more distasteful aspects of the Gultch is the number of pedlers selling the same shit with annoying persistance. It just dawned on me that getting rid of them shouldn't be so tough for the local gendarmes. They ALL sell the same cigars,Rolex (or as I call them "Polex"),whistles, and other assorted fake shit. Obviously these guys don't have the money to supply themselves. So therefore they all work for the same person or persons. If the Policia find him (assuming he doesn't have them on the payroll) and you put them all out of business. Of course this assumes that it is illegal to peddle on the streets.

i always wonder why that just wont sell some items we would buy!! like condoms (good ones) or little pocket rockets for the ladies ...or even discount tickets to mp"s....has anyone ever seen anyone buy a watch or sunglasses from these guys. Why would the people who owen the b.m. even want or let these people hawk the customers coming to spend money in the b.m. Cant see any upside for them....

The same guys who bitch about the street peddlers will espouse the benefits of a free market economy over cocktails.


I've been happy that some (not all) of the street vendors sell their wares in places where mongers congregate. I've bought an umbrella once, and a pair of really crappy sunglasses...but they did the trick until I was able to get back to my room and grab my good ones.

V.B. has much more experience with this than I, but I've always found that a polite but firm "no" will usually be enough. If they persist, my phrase of choice is "Dejeme en paz, por favor." They're surprised at both the Spanish and the politeness.

What they could sell to service mongers:

1. Breath mints and gum
2. Mace or pepper spray
3. Condoms
4. Maps to tico bars with chicas
5. Spanish/English phrase books

Well, it's just an idea.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I really don't have a problem with the guys who are trying to make a living by selling their wares to the Gringos. In fact I have become pretty friendly with a few of them. They now jokingly ask me to buy from them. EC my original post was just what you mentioned.How come they NEVER sell things that Gringos would like to buy. The answer must be that they sell what the supplier allots them which is the potentially high profit items. (assuming the low intelligence of the Gringos) After all,how much can you mark up breath mints or condoms? These suppliers must be making big bucks.

It seems it's not only NOT illegal, it's almost a RIGHT. I was walking from the Key Largo towards the Horseshoe to get a taxi, and some bozo had all these... earrings or something strewn on the sidewalk, making it impossible to walk by. It was dark and I was busy avoiding beggars and accidentally stepped on some, and the peddlar went ballistic. There was a cop there and he insisted I pay for the earrings. The sidewalks apparently belong to the peddlars. And beggars, for that matter. There are several locations that beggars have staked out on sidewalks where getting around them is quite difficult. And the derelicts who sleep right on a busy sidewalk... I have never seen a cop rouse one. So if there's a law against any of these things, it's not being enforced. MY guess is it's because the vendors and beggars and vagrants can't afford to bribe the cops, therefore are not worth busting.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

I love the fake sunglasses. I get several pairs from "Ray Ban Man" each trip. For 1500c, they really are a good value, much better than the $10 ones you find at a gas station in the US. Actually the fake Cuban's aren't bad either.

While sitting at the rail (News Cafe) last trip we noticed all the street vendors suddenly scoop up all their wares and disappear, some of them had dozens of items spread out on blankets and it was amazing how quickly they all packed up and looked like normal pedestrians with a backpack walking off. Sure enough 2 minutes later here came the policia cruising through.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

bilko,
that was pretty funny story

usually chinese people import that type of stuff from china and sell it cheap to the street vendors who work for themselves

After dark, I would gladly pay an extra buck for a 3-pack of condoms at the front door of DelRey. Would love to see one of these guys open up a briefcase full of massage oils, candles, condoms and vibrators!

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

I bought a fake Rolex from one of the street vendors.....it lasted a year .