Beach Zone

RIPS TOURISTS OFF!
Went to St. Pete Beach for vacation, and stopped in here to buy snorkeling gear. Paid $ 50 for two snorkeling sets. I was suspicious when I bought them because the sets looked like they could have been found in a dollar store. In the end I decided that I was probably just not familiar with the local brands and packaging, so I bought them.
Got to the beach, and BOTH goggles leaked. Mine leaked so badly I could not use them. My son’s also leaked, but he was ok with emptying them every 30 seconds. I headed back to the store to return mine. It was our last afternoon at St. Pete Beach, and I had to take 45 minutes out of my vacation — I was not happy at all.
When I got to the store and told the clerk that the goggles leaked, she first accused me of not knowing how to adjust straps, and then accused me of dropping the goggles! I was floored! Drop them where, on the sand?! She said that no refunds are given under any circumstances. As a business owner myself, I knew that something wasn’t right. I think they KNOW that their goggles leak… and I told her so.
She let me exchange them for the same kind. She opened the «new» goggles, looked at them and said «these work fine». I guess she can test for leaks in the air somehow, so that’s pretty amazing. Back at beach, guess what? Of course they leaked just like the others.
This business should be investigated. They are selling dollarstore-​quality items for a premium and refusing all refunds. I think they are targeting tourists that don’t know any better and who aren’t going to be repeat customers anyway. I hope they enjoy the $ 50 they took from us.

The store is full of options for men and women and the sales associates are very helpful and polite. When I bought a pair of men’s trunks on vacation, however, things went downhill. The trunks tore on the back left thigh after an hour of laying at the pool with no horsing around or athletic activity. The manager was rude and supremely unhelpful when I went to return them, repeatedly telling me I didn’t buy them torn and that I must have done something to tear them. I concurred I did not buy them torn but expected more than an hours use from them. She offered neither exchange nor refund and kept repeating herself. It was honestly the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced.

Right across the street from Tradewinds which made this very convenient. They have a range of products from nicer sandals to generic cover ups. There are beach toys and souvenirs as well as Ray Ban glasses. Everyone was helpful and attentive in the store. Wish there was better signage for the beaded clothes — store is pretty huge and there was a lot of cheesy tourist stuff sprinkled throughout.

Both times I’ve come here to buy a swimsuit, the sales associates have been very on-​task. They are a little concerned with making the sale more than helping, though, which is reasonable but sometimes frustrating. It’s very expensive, too.
Upsides are the close location to pretty much every resort and hotel in the area and the pure variety of stuff they have. The swimsuits are really good quality, too! The expense is very much worth it.

Good t-​shirt prices (some as low as a $ 1.99) and adult bathing suit prices too. Kids bathing suit prices seem a bit high, and you’d be better looking off the beach for those. But for inexpensive gift options, this is a very good choice.