Why not use a library?
Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
11–20 of 83 posts
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#12Why not use a library?
Libraries in many places have been devastated by budget cuts.
My local library is open 10-2 some days!
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#13Could you solve this by having very small tables, stands, or counters that don't work as desks?
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#14This is a subset of a larger civic issue with increasing pressure on private spaces as public spaces shrink, http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/87169002-d87a-11e4-ba53-00144... "People like public space. Just as they like to work in a coffee shop on a laptop surrounded by others, they want to hang out with friends, to people-watch, flirt, take part in the rituals of public life. In the suburbs, the 20th-century answer to…
Shopping districts are common in Asia; at least I've seen them in Japan and the Middle East
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#15If someone "just" bought something in your shop (as mentioned in the article) you shouldn't bother them. If you're running a business like this, managing expectations is a large part of your job.
When discussions with customers occur frequently maybe it's time to review how your business is communicating with customers. What can be done to prevent misunderstandings regarding using laptops/hogging tables? etc.
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#16There was a coffee shop I used to frequent that used a captive portal for wifi, and the only way to get past it was to enter a 90 minute passcode from the bottom of your purchase receipt.
So if I came in there at night after work I considered it basically paying for internet, and getting a free coffee or pastry alongside it. Seemed perfectly fair.
I also find it amusing that Starbucks gives you free refills on brewed/ice coffee, provided you go enough to get their "gold" status (usually, 30 store visits a year).
They don't care if you camp there and keep getting free refills on coffee. They just care that you do it often.
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#17I feel guilt about this all the time . I work remotely, in the UK but on US Eastern time to synch with my team. Fortunately this means I can go to cafes after the lunch rush, but make sure I buy enough food and drink to not be a freeloader, tip well, and if it's busy - move on. Working from home is what I'm going back to anyway, it's just nice to get out of the house.
It's way easier if the cafe also sells food. Me and 2 others basically built a company some years back out of a cafe in Sacramento, but we always bought lots of coffee and bought our lunch there as well. We all shared 1 table too so the space was used well, and of course talked to the owner who had no problem. Here's a great way to discourage campers: no outlets, not even 1.
Yep, brand new food court here in Canberra, Australia has no outlets. The outlets in the older food court have been hidden but can be found if you know where to look.
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#18This seems like a UX/UI failure on the part of the coffee shop if he has to intervene in the customers' experience. The coffee shops I go to do a good job of making it clear what kind of customers they want by virtue of the experience you have there. This weekend I encountered the first coffee shop I can remember visiting that lacked wifi. I looked around and saw nothing but groups of people in conversation. Other sh…
Did you read the fine article? His cafe does not offer wifi but people bring a hotspot and settle down for the day. What's he to do except talk to them politely?
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#19I'd pay by the hour for fast wifi + power, but the coffee would have to be free...
Edit: this part of the article stood out -
>“A croissant and a coffee to support a local business are a lot cheaper than a co-working membership.”
Yep. I wonder if it's a lack of co-working spaces or pricing to "what the market will bear".
I need a cross between a hackerspace and a co-working space.
Re: Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop
#20If that is the typical dialog between the owner and the customer, than I have to assume that the owner is an idiot, as are patrons of his establishment.