Sandlappers Beach Supplies — Local services in Shallotte

WARNING: if you're considering renting from Sandlappers Beach Supplies, be aware that the items you've ordered and paid for may or may not show up when and where you've requested them. We arrived at Ocean Isle Beach on Sunday of this week - the chairs we ordered and paid for were not on the beach. We ordered bikes, but didn't receive them until we called multiple times. Tuesday, 1 of our 3 umbrellas was broken and a chair was shredded. They told us to keep the broken chair if we wanted-we didn't- so they brought us the broken chair back the following day. Then, to top it off, today, they didn't bring the umbrellas or chairs to the beach at all "due to high winds." The winds are no different than they've been the rest of the week. We weren't even given the option of having the chairs without umbrellas. Then, when we called to ask about why we didn't have umbrellas and chairs, we were "greeted" with a voicemail saying that "this serves as your callback if you're calling regarding chairs and umbrellas today. Only call back if you're placing an order." Poor customer service and lack of ability to follow through is all this company is good for. We will NEVER give you business again.

After posting this on Facebook (and after it was deleted twice...), we received this delightful response from the owner of this business:

Allow me to compliment you on a bunch of writing that is zero. First the winds today was in record as being the highest of all the days this week. Up until roughly 10:30 they stayed 20 to 22 mph. We measure it with anometers. With regards to giving you a refund. You are such A liar. I told you 'absolutely you will be refunded'. We will in no way keep a customers money for services not provided. We have policies in effect for setup and take down services which you should have read I. The terms and conditions. When wind speeds reach 15 mph we reserve the right to not set up. Anything higher and umbrellas can become a flying object down going down the beach and hurt someone. Secondly. Our insurance company makes the requirements be sure people are so sue happy nowadays. Thirdly. I am sick of customers like yourself who think it's so easy that we make the call not to set up. Here's a suggestion for you. Yell at God for letting the winds get so high. Its customers, if you can call it that, is what makes our business so difficult. You want perfection in an imperfect world. Plan for life's little aggravations. Work towards bigger things. By calling me and my company a liar on different levels in here then politely my dear. I could honestly care less. I'm not PC. I CALL UT LIKE IT IS. I'm holding back from calling it anymore. My suffering to you is please go in business for yourself. This business exactly. When you've figured it out, let me know

Be advised: they will not do right by you unless it's...

The one star is there because the linens and towels we ordered were delivered on time. I do not recommend this company and will not use them in the future. The owner is disrepectful, rude, and clearly does not deliver on his commitments. He will leave automated messages to avoid interacting with customers - and I quote - "Because I don't have time to deal with each customer." He will explain (complain) to you how it takes him a long time to set up the beach equipment...the service we as customers are paying for.

The chair, umbrella, and set up service we paid for was not realized. Under the terms and conditions on their webpage it says the customer will be contacted to discuss set-up of equipement. We were not contacted, thus we called them prior to our arrival but were rudely dismissed and asked if we had a confirmation via email (which we did). On Sunday, the first day of set up, our beach equipment was not set up. We looked from The Isles to Ocean Point and foud nothing. I called customer service who told me they would contact the distribution team. 2 hours later, after not receiving a call, I called again and was told we were not getting set up. Later that evening the owner called, claiming he set us up a good 1/2 mile up the beach, and then proceeded to hang up on me. Monday our equipment was set up at the correct location. Tuesday the equipment was not set up "due to high winds;" however, competitor equipment was set up...the weather was great through 3 PM thus no reason they could not be set up. Wednesday our equipment was set up at the wrong location. Thurs/Friday our equipment was set up, but it either was unlabelled (didn't have our name on it) or had our name and another additional name tagged on the equipment.

Note that if you pay a set up fee, on days they don't set up umbrellas for high wind, they will not bring you the chairs either - but will charge you for the chair rental that day.

Sandlapper prices may be SLIGHTLY cheaper, but they are not reliable and you don't get what you pay for. I would not add stress to vacation by purchasing services from this company.

As an update to my review, I have yet to receive a refund of two days service from my rental agreement the week of July 11th. I contacted the owners a week ago and they assured me it would go in no later than last Tuesday. Explanation from the owner - "It must have slipped my accountants mind." No apology or consideration for being past their quoted 5-10 business day refund policy - though based on every interaction I have had thus far, I am...

I wish I had found and read google reviews on this company before renting from them. The comments about being rude and unprofessional are completely true. I never leave reviews, but this place deserves it.

I rented a sun shade for the week. I was to pick it up on Saturday, but knew I couldn’t get there before they closed. I kept calling to see if my sister could grab it for me to which I received no answer. I then emailed nicely asking if she could, and the response i received was “just depends on when she can get here.” Like really? That’s how you reply to your customers?

Anyway. My husband went and picked up the shade the next morning. No one even asked for confirmation to make sure the correct person was getting it or to make sure that’s what they were actually supposed to be getting. The only thing they even said to him was; “don’t lose the white stakes or you’ll owe $175.”

We used the shade (correctly I might add) but it just wasn’t working like all the other shades on the beach. My brother ended up renting one from beachway rentals and it came with a sandbag to help support it better and clips on each side to help hold the fabric in place so it wasn’t constantly moving from side to side. It worked perfectly. Oh and they also delivered it right to our rental within twenty minutes after he placed the order.

When I reached out to Sandlappers through email (because you can’t ever get anyone to answer the phone) inquiring about the clips and sandbags, the response was so rude and condescending that I didn’t even respond. I mean, what was the point? Clearly he thought I was an idiot. He claimed I wasn’t using the white stakes and that he told the guy picking it up that it didn’t come with a sandbag. Both of which were false statements.

When my husband went to return the shade, the door was locked and didn’t look like anyone was around. After quite a few tries to see if someone answered, the response was “yeah, I see you on camera. Just leave it by the door.” 🤦🏼‍♀️

I mean it’s almost so unbelievable how unprofessional this place is that all I can do is laugh at this point. By the end of the week, I didn’t even care about the money I felt I wasted dealing with them. I was just ready to be done. Just do yourself a favor and rent from beachway...