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Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

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Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#191

Post by kayodelycaon »

cmer wrote: post #30

I discovered a pretty neat alternative to cafes a few years back. I like to go to the food court at my local shopping mall. It's pretty much empty during the day, has plenty of seating, different table heights, outlets, wi-fi, etc. Nobody will kick you out if you're not constantly sipping coffee, and you won't feel the pressure to keep buying stuff. As a bonus, there is a McDonalds often selling coffee for just $1. A…

I like to hang out at IKEA. Coffee is free at the one here if you have their loyalty card and the staff enjoy seeing regular customers. There are a few couches and some comfortable seating areas in addition to nearly infinite supply of tables.

Outside of the predictable busy days, it’s a comfortable space to hang out in the evening.

I also figured out the fire stairs in the cafe don’t have alarms on the interior doors, so you can go directly to the ground floor lobby instead of walking through the warehouse to get to the exit. The staff encouraged me to use it as long as I exit the stairs inside the building. :)

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#192

Post by icelancer »

kayodelycaon wrote: post #191
cmer wrote: post #30

I discovered a pretty neat alternative to cafes a few years back. I like to go to the food court at my local shopping mall. It's pretty much empty during the day, has plenty of seating, different table heights, outlets, wi-fi, etc. Nobody will kick you out if you're not constantly sipping coffee, and you won't feel the pressure to keep buying stuff. As a bonus, there is a McDonalds often selling coffee for just $1. A…

I like to hang out at IKEA. Coffee is free at the one here if you have their loyalty card and the staff enjoy seeing regular customers. There are a few couches and some comfortable seating areas in addition to nearly infinite supply of tables. Outside of the predictable busy days, it’s a comfortable space to hang out in the evening. I also figured out the fire stairs in the cafe don’t have alarms on the interior door…

IKEA and food court is where I cycled between when I was unemployed and just needed to get out of the house. Both excellent options. Breakfast is very cheap at IKEA too, and can be high protein.

Also when you have kids, taking them to Smaland at IKEA nets you 1-2 hours of free childcare while you work... or just relax.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#193

Post by ghaff »

kkfx wrote: post #121

A small foreword: I'm not criticize author work but the concept of nomadic work. I have nothing against nomadic life. I have much against working in public place with the screen visible, the keyboard visible, often connected on crappy WiFi sometimes even proxyed networks, ... Working on a desktop means that screen and keyboard must be in a controlled and reasonably private environment, a personal boat is ok, a tent c…

People should absolutely be aware of what they're working on in a space where someone can see their screen. The "Hostile bid for Twitter" preso should almost certainly not be being worked on in a Starbucks. But a ton of us work on stuff day to day that is not remotely highly sensitive.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#194

Post by markus_zhang »

swalls wrote: post #98
markus_zhang wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm thinking instead of cafe maybe a place that one can rent a small, dark and quiet room at relatively flat price. Say any coffee for the first hour and then $2 per hour. Additional basic Coffee is free but food needs $$$. Does it make any financial sense? I guess no? Is there a way for the customer to claim the expense as sort of WFH expense?

It's not exactly the same, but in Japan a few capsule net cafes opened up that sound similar to what you're talking about: https://youtu.be/HkNzjvueJm8

Thanks that's almost what exactly I want. I don't need the computer though so that's a difference. I also want chairs. But that's what I have in mind.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#195

Post by muh_gradle »

I live in NYC and I probably would've enjoyed this site a lot more before I ended up just shelling for a WeWork membership. But coffee shops, libraries just aren't conducive to getting real work done. I'm more invested in co-working spaces again now that I have a fully remote job.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#196

Post by hyperpallium2 »

zmgsabst wrote: post #158
bko wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're armchairing the problem by stating coffee shops exist therefore there is no problem. Many coffee shops do impose user hostile actions like loud music, small uncomfortable seating, etc. The others are big chains that have efficiencies (e.g. lower prices, more efficient workforce, better analytics) that are not available to smaller shops. In most competitive markets you cannot compete (i.e. not lose mone…

You’re assuming that loitering people are a negative on the business — which is a mistake that Starbucks made as well, to their detriment. Starbucks did what you’re suggesting to increase turnover and profit at stores — but the opposite happened: sales dramatically dropped, even though the time to serve a single customer and the average customer stay both dropped. The issue is that Starbucks doesn’t just sell coffee…

So small cafe owners won't mind, provided they are smarter than Starbucks was.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#197

Post by chrysoprace »

Cool website, but a couple of UX issues. The location search was failing on my first fetch of the site so I was typing my city and wondering why nothing was showing up. Perhaps some kind of error or feedback would make that experience better. The bottom-right location icon also doesn't seem to like me rejecting location permission and spins indefinitely.

Keen to give it a go with some cafes in my area though as currently there are none for my location.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#198

Post by bko »

zmgsabst wrote: post #158
bko wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're armchairing the problem by stating coffee shops exist therefore there is no problem. Many coffee shops do impose user hostile actions like loud music, small uncomfortable seating, etc. The others are big chains that have efficiencies (e.g. lower prices, more efficient workforce, better analytics) that are not available to smaller shops. In most competitive markets you cannot compete (i.e. not lose mone…

You’re assuming that loitering people are a negative on the business — which is a mistake that Starbucks made as well, to their detriment. Starbucks did what you’re suggesting to increase turnover and profit at stores — but the opposite happened: sales dramatically dropped, even though the time to serve a single customer and the average customer stay both dropped. The issue is that Starbucks doesn’t just sell coffee…

> Starbucks did what you’re suggesting to increase turnover and profit at stores — but the opposite happened: sales dramatically dropped, even though the time to serve a single customer and the average customer stay both dropped.

Can you show me where starbucks revenue dropped (besides 2020 pandemic dip)?

2021 $29,061

2020 $23,518

2019 $26,509

2018 $24,720

2017 $22,387

2016 $21,316

2015 $19,163

2014 $16,448

2013 $14,867

2012 $13,277

2011 $11,700

2010 $10,707

Or maybe you mean same store sales! Oh wait, those have been up every quarter except one since Q4 2009.

I never understood why people online make shit up. People spout very easily googleable statements like "their revenue went down" so confidently, without bothering to check. They live in fantasy land where they pretend like the goal of a coffee shop is something akin to "serving the community" or "being a third place" when in actuality the point is to sell something for more than it costs to produce. You may want your coffee shop to be a third place. But it doesn't make it a viable business model.

MBA types get a lot of shit on this forum, but MBA types are good at some things. And those things include running a pretty simple business like a coffee shop. It's pretty simple math, you can set clear targets, estimate demand and balance trade offs like what to have on the menu and how much to charge. Sure there's things like investments and long term planning, but they do that as well, just without the romanitization.

https://twitter.com/jonathanmaze/status/1255246119128444930

https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/SBUX/starbucks/rev...

Re: Show HN: I built a website to find nearby cafes to work remotely from

#200

Post by andyjsong »

spiderice wrote: post #122
andyjsong wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely, why do you think churches have such high ceilings? Or just sheer volume of air means you're getting more oxygen to your brain vs. working in a 10x10x10 cube. Maybe VR can help with this? Simulate nature without the drawbacks of working outside where there is a lack of internet and the sun glare on your screen.

Like 5 citations needed

Study on the economic benefits of working in nature: https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/the-economics-of...

I haven't tried any of the VR offices spaces, but from what I've seen, it looks like a SV office. What if one could VR conference/work in Muir Woods instead?

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