Filed under: News
Are coffee shops really cutting off laptop users?
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on an emerging trend of coffee shops covering up outlets, banning laptops, or pushing out people who sit for too long. Although the article suggests this might be a bigger phenomenon in New York than, say, San Francisco, the conclusion seems to be based entirely on anecdotal evidence. Sources include a couple of coffee shop owners in NYC and a laptop user who wrote a negative Yelp review after being asked to leave a café. Without statistics, it's hard to determine the size and scope of this trend. It makes sense to keep customers rotating and not occupying seating all day, especially during a recession, but how many shops are actually doing it? Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this with a poll, Download Squad readers. Let us know whether your local coffee shops have become more hostile toward laptop use, and leave any good stories on the subject in the comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DA623 said 4:33PM on 8-06-2009
Not at all here, there's a local Starbucks that there's a TON of people there using laptops of all kinds, and there's tons of WiFi APs everywhere. So atleast not here.
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Slappy said 4:49PM on 8-06-2009
Folks need to realize that if you are being asked to leave it is because you're clogging up the table for a period longer than the store feels your purchases entails you to. Simple way to stay as long as you like: Ask the counter staff how long you can stay between purchases and be flexible.
If you need a totally free unlimited experience, at least here in SF, go to the public library.
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fikhl said 5:52PM on 8-06-2009
Or even better, stay at home and borrow/steal your neighbor's Wi-Fi, and make your own coffee. Problem solved!
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Jenks said 9:42AM on 8-07-2009
If you are sitting around a coffee shop long enough to be asked to leave, chances are the best solution is to get a job.
Ethan said 6:45PM on 8-06-2009
Sitting down for a long time is what a coffee shop is for, IMO.
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Richard said 4:20AM on 8-07-2009
Not if you aren't actually purchasing any coffee.
Ethan said 12:06PM on 8-07-2009
Of course.
rick said 7:34PM on 8-06-2009
Starbucks all over San Francisco have been doing this for some time.
Completely understand the "why" but think that if a business markets itself on a feature "free wi-fi" or "Hotspot" type service that they should man up and manage the capacity or stop the marketing of said environment and/or features.
This approach is all-too-obvious and looks petty.
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dep said 7:56PM on 8-06-2009
There's a place here in Chicago that removed all the outlets from the customer area for this reason. It's really lame!
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Neoprimal said 8:30PM on 8-06-2009
Some people are parasites by nature. I don't see how any intelligent person can't understand that the wifi is there for paying customers, and that doesn't mean buy a small coffee and sit there for 6 hours using your laptop, 5 hrs and 50 minutes after you've sucked down your coffee.
I mean, you buy your coffee or whatever, sit there and use your machine, hang out for a bit by yourself or with friends and leave a few minutes after you're done....OR! low and behold, how about buying another coffee or, whatever when you're done with the first so that etiquette and good manners/behavior/conscience earns you the right to sit there for longer.
Some people will go in and not even BUY something, and sit there all damned day on their laptop. It's not right. And if you can't/don't have the common sense and decency to realize that then gtfo I say.
It isn't about capacity etc. at all. It's about principle and the fact that these companies/people are running businesses and you're using more than you've contributed to the place when you sit there and not buy their product.
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Saint Seminole said 9:30PM on 8-06-2009
I didn't get the part about the "film-director and free lancer." Why can't she tap on her laptop at home?
Nine times out of 10, the people in the coffee shops aren't doing anything important. I know some of you are, but most of those laptops are just viewing stuff on the webs, checking emails, etc. All of which can be done at home with an eight-cent cup of coffee and in your pajamas.
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muledoggie said 10:39PM on 8-06-2009
i live in a college town where the students pile in and study and don't buy much. i walk in and buy something and there's no where to sit. i'm unlikely to return because of non-payers. no good, see?
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flubber2kool said 4:33AM on 8-07-2009
I live in the UK and have never heard of such a thing but I think that its petty and it would put me off even though I don't use a computer because I love to sit and take time over my coffee. It would make me feel like I had to drink and get out! If I saw something like that I would go elsewhere to get my coffee.
I understand that you should buy something but that is the fault of the coffee shops. Even though its common sense f they don't make it an explicit rule and put it up that you should buy something while using your computer then people will abuse it.
Slappy its not always possible to go a library and at mine you have difficulties getting on one and you are only allowed a maximum of two hours a day and of course you are limited to library opening hours. Plus you are not allowed free access to the internet as you have to follow library rules and sometime they block certain websites.
Saint Seminole, it maybe that its not always convenient for the "film-director and free lancer." to work at home. And she should be able to work when she wants and where she wants.
I go to a bookshop where you are encouraged to stop and read books and I have seen people like myself sit there for ages over one cup of coffee and just relax and such.
muledoggie, I can appriciate where you are comming from but if you feel that way then I am sure you could find someone to get you a space.
Also I have been to places where there is no access to WiFi and I have still had to wait. I know that its annoying but it happens.
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Mark said 9:04AM on 8-07-2009
I've always found McDonalds to be great for free Wifi - although they're not as trendy as Starbucks, free is free, and that's important for a student on a tight budget, with my only access to internet at University itself.
Coffee isn't too bad there, and it's less expensive than traditional coffee shops.
Plus, I get a sense of superiority on my netbook as chavs stuff burgers into their faces!
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T at Clarkson said 9:42AM on 8-07-2009
Suppose, I visit a Starbucks, do not make a purchase, but pay T-Mobile for WiFi at that location....is that justification enough to stay without making a coffee purchase?
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DrBoris said 10:04AM on 8-07-2009
You are paying for convenience of t-Mobil not squatting rights at a store. You could sit outside on the sidewalk and not take up space.
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Julio said 1:58PM on 8-07-2009
I believe Starbucks makes you pay for wi-fi after 2 complimentary hours, and McDonald's is free. Also, Barnes and Noble now have free wi-fi.
I believe this article is referring to smaller coffee shops, not large chains. I guess it'd make sense for some of these smaller joints to start cracking down on abusers for economic reasons.
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Bobtheguy said 2:58PM on 8-07-2009
Yeah, we're a bit short on coffee shops in the midwest, but sandwich places have historically been pretty good about the free wifi. Lately they've been cracking down too though. Our local Panera has set up a system to enforce the previously "honor-code" 30 minute limit during peak hours. The new system boots you after 30 minutes no matter when you're there. We also have an Atlanta Bread Co. that will actually kick you out if you match the "student" profile (this is a college town) because they don't want people just hanging out for the wifi.
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JeffO said 10:18AM on 8-08-2009
I've seen it happen, and it's happened to me.
I think it's perfectly fair (I can see both sides of the issue). In fact, I pay much more attention than I used to. If I stay, and it's busy, I keep buying and tipping accordingly.
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theLynch said 3:32PM on 8-07-2009
I've actually done it. I owned a coffee shop and had free wifi. We had a couple that came in everyday, stayed for hours and never ever once ever bought anything. So I just blocked the MAC address one day. They were furious to realize that ever one else had no problem getting on but they couldn't. I feigned ignorance and they left never to come back.
I never did it for anyone else that bought something. Anything and I'd let them sit there all day if they wanted. But you had to at least buy something.
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