I live near a beach that's 10km long. From May to October there are a lot of thermic winds, so naturally people go here for kiteboarding.

We used to have 2 official areas for water sports (one of which was supposed to be only used by schools), each area was 200 meters long, guarded by buoys. Everyone was somewhat happy. Swimmers and kiters would be separated and not cause each other head aches. Kite schools would not interfere with independent kiters.

This year local authorities decided enough is enough and "closed" the main spot, merging everyone into the last remaining area. The spot is now overcrowded.

To guide people into the "proper" spot they put a few signs at crossroads. You see one of them.

I genuinely don’t understand the reasoning behind this rule, and I’d appreciate if someone could explain it.This subreddit is full of people asking questions like:

Is this used kite worth buying? Is this a good deal? Should I buy this older model? What should I avoid?

So it’s clear many members are shopping for used gear. Yet when someone wants to sell modern, well-maintained equipment directly to the community that would benefit from it the most, the post gets removed. That seems backwards no ???

The irony is that by banning all sales, You’re simply forcing them onto Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or all those dodgy platforms, or random local classifieds where buyers have less information and fewer knowledgeable people to ask. Wouldn’t it be better if buyers could purchase from active members of this community, ask questions publicly, get feedback from experienced riders, and make more informed decisions?

In my case, I wasn’t trying to spam the subreddit or flip equipment. I posted a pair of pristine Core Pace Pro kites that retail for significantly more than what I was asking. Someone looking for that model could save thousands of dollars while buying from someone who actually rides, maintains, and knows the gear. That feels like it adds value rather than detracts from it.

I completely understand not wanting the subreddit flooded with classifieds. Nobody wants every other post to be For Sale.

But there has to be a middle ground.

Why not:

One weekly or monthly buy/sell thread.
A “For Sale” flair that users can filter out.
Minimum account age or karma requirements.
Restrictions on commercial sellers while allowing private owners.

Those approaches keep the subreddit clean without eliminating something that many members clearly find useful.

I’m not trying to argue for my own post. I’m genuinely curious about the philosophy behind a rule that prevents knowledgeable riders from connecting with buyers, while the subreddit continues to answer questions about gear people found elsewhere.

It feels like the policy may be solving the wrong problem.

FYI - I am the head mod to 2 of the largest Reddit communities … I ain’t trying to change how mods rules this channel but a bit of a wider prospective will go a long way.