4 ms·

More like "How to put off your paying customers and then complain that business isn't going well".

foepys 9y ago
People working on their laptops are actually not a paying customer. Yes, they might come in and buy a single coffee but then they sit in a corner for 3 hours and occupy a seat that could go to other customers that are actually buying things that make a cafe money. It also has something to do with atmosphere. A cafe should have light chatter and people socializing. If the majority is sitting around in silence, it takes away from the special feeling a cafe normally has. I could get coffee at home for a fraction of the price.
- anonytrary 9y ago
  > it takes away from the special feeling a cafe normally has If people start using Cafes differently, why hold them to a forgotten standard? Cafes should see a business opportunity in that they can align themselves further with the needs of the consumer. Either that, or the consumer walks.
  - xxs 9y ago
    They have to add some tariff per hour which feels unwelcome. There are co-working areas that do that but they are not labeled cafes
  - oneeyedpigeon 9y ago
    It's up to the cafe owner, really. If they want a cafe with a certain type of atmosphere, it's reasonable for them to take measures to achieve it.
    - anonytrary 9y ago
      Yeah, but Darwin resumes. Places that don't make it convenient to pull out a laptop might not see as much traffic in 2050.
      - probably_wrong 9y ago
        It could also happen the other way around: places that don't discourage people from "abusing" their hospitality might not survive in such a competitive line of business. Open, unrestricted wifi comes to mind as an example.
  - ozim 9y ago
    There has to be business opportunity. If you those people are leeching free wifi and sitting spot then any attempt at charging them for it will make them go away. Customer that does not want to pay is not customer, so you cannot align anything.
- tonyedgecombe 9y ago
  Before laptops people would sit around reading newspapers or books, I'm not sure it's changed that much.
  - xxs 9y ago
    Trying to use the premises (incl. toilets) to do business instead of leisure is quite the change. Also it's somewhat off-putting for the people trying to have the leisure.
    - benbreen 9y ago
      Lloyd’s of London began as a 17th century coffee house where people who sold marine insurance hung out. They’ve been used for business (and studying) as well as leisure since their inception.
- Shengbo 9y ago
  Cafés have always been a place for both socializing and working. We just switched from sketchbooks and newspapers to laptops.

People working on their laptops are actually not a paying customer. Yes, they might come in and buy a single coffee but then they sit in a corner for 3 hours and occupy a seat that could go to other customers that are actually buying things that make a cafe money. It also has something to do with atmosphere. A cafe should have light chatter and people socializing. If the majority is sitting around in silence, it takes away from the special feeling a cafe normally has. I could get coffee at home for a fraction of the price.

anonytrary 9y ago
> it takes away from the special feeling a cafe normally has If people start using Cafes differently, why hold them to a forgotten standard? Cafes should see a business opportunity in that they can align themselves further with the needs of the consumer. Either that, or the consumer walks.
- xxs 9y ago
  They have to add some tariff per hour which feels unwelcome. There are co-working areas that do that but they are not labeled cafes
- oneeyedpigeon 9y ago
  It's up to the cafe owner, really. If they want a cafe with a certain type of atmosphere, it's reasonable for them to take measures to achieve it.
  - anonytrary 9y ago
    Yeah, but Darwin resumes. Places that don't make it convenient to pull out a laptop might not see as much traffic in 2050.
    - probably_wrong 9y ago
      It could also happen the other way around: places that don't discourage people from "abusing" their hospitality might not survive in such a competitive line of business. Open, unrestricted wifi comes to mind as an example.
- ozim 9y ago
  There has to be business opportunity. If you those people are leeching free wifi and sitting spot then any attempt at charging them for it will make them go away. Customer that does not want to pay is not customer, so you cannot align anything.
tonyedgecombe 9y ago
Before laptops people would sit around reading newspapers or books, I'm not sure it's changed that much.
- xxs 9y ago
  Trying to use the premises (incl. toilets) to do business instead of leisure is quite the change. Also it's somewhat off-putting for the people trying to have the leisure.
  - benbreen 9y ago
    Lloyd’s of London began as a 17th century coffee house where people who sold marine insurance hung out. They’ve been used for business (and studying) as well as leisure since their inception.
Shengbo 9y ago
Cafés have always been a place for both socializing and working. We just switched from sketchbooks and newspapers to laptops.