These days it is difficult to walk into a local coffee shop in downtown Toronto or outside of the main core and find an empty seat for two. My partner and I love to take walks, you know to get out of the home and sometimes grab a coffee to enjoy the different setting and atmosphere. It's very difficult to do that as most coffee shops are filled with laptop users at every table, seat and including the bar window seating.

We try at least 3 to 5 places before we give up and end up having coffee at home. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, weekends seem to be worse then other days for the coffee shops to be booked up with laptop users. Basically each time we walk into a coffee shop, if we can't sit down, that coffee shop loses our business and we go onto the next place. We've witnessed other customers doing the same and we know we're not the only ones who are frustrated customers. We also had family come down once, and when that happens we tend to spend quite a bit on coffee, snacks etc amongst everyone. We ended up having to look at 3 places before someone wanted our money and service.

I guess my question is, what's the total amount of spending per laptop user who is there for hours on end taking up a lot space versus those who walk in and walk out empty handed?

And why can't my partner and I have a seat in the coffee shop to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee or snack and then move on?

Free wireless is great, no argument there, but now it's to the point where you can't even find a seat, never mind two and sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee without surfing the internet or using the coffee shop for your office all day. It's a growing problem and not just in Toronto as I'm seeing it all over. The only coffee shop I see that doesn't have this problem is Tim Horton's :lmao:

Opinion and comments welcome :) What do you think?

If cafés had limited WiFi time, I would never have finished my MA beejacon

A problem that one coffee shop has here in St.John's is that Memorial University students come down, get a cup of coffee and stay all day, spreading out books and their laptop all over a table, thus denying anyone else the opportunity to sit down. The manager was blasted by the company for coming out and saying this on CBC radio, but he said that if something does not change, he is going to lose his franchise and go bankrupt.

If they're not selling enough coffee, they need to reserve the right to limit customers to a certain length of time. However, I haven't had a problem finding a seat in a coffee shop in several areas of Toronto. Worst problem I have is with babies being brought in with huge carriages and paraphernalia. Those mothers never leave either. There's usually an available seat, but I don't want it.

Worst problem I have is with babies being brought in with huge carriages and paraphernalia. Those mothers never leave either. There's usually an available seat, but I don't want it.

CryFi

CryFi

:lmao::clap::lmao:

I like to work at Tim Horton's, since they don't have distracting Wifi there. :)

I'm two ways about this. On the one hand, I enjoy working in coffee shops. On the other hand, I like sitting in them to just have a coffee.

Of course, if it's very full, I either walk with my coffee or find a park or a bench somewhere outside and sit there.

cryfi

+1

The earlier incarnation of Chapters bookstores had lots of seating and tables. I remember these being removed after kids began to do their homework there, using the books for sale as reference material--and sneaking in coffee from the nearby Starbucks to sully them.

What if they just remove all electrical outlets? Or remove all outlets except those at the large communal tables? That would at least limit most people with a computer to 3 hours and/or keep people with computers to the larger tables.

What if they just remove all electrical outlets? Or remove all outlets except those at the large communal tables? That would at least limit most people with a computer to 3 hours and/or keep people with computers to the larger tables.

They just need to tell people that they have 20 minutes to drink up during busy periods--computer or no.

They just need to tell people that they have 20 minutes to drink up during busy periods--computer or no.

Plus 1 Macfury,

It really is that easy, just put a 20 or 30 minute limit (Tim Hortons has signs indicating this).

At the coffee shops near the Universities the students literally use the coffee shop for most of the day to do their home. They do it in study groups and just take over all of the tables.

It is not fair the Coffee Franchisee Owners.

DavidH

Coffee shops (starbucks specifically) have spent a lot of time and money creating a comforting experience for their customers. Having a time limit for their customers would be completely counter to the atmosphere they have created. Personally, I don't like working in coffee shops, I find it too difficult not to sit there and silently watch and judge the other patrons. I also don't drink coffee. I do think that these places likely get continued business from the people who stay a while and that is there goal. The longer they spend their, the more that will be spent. If you can't find an open table at a local coffee shop, maybe it's an opportunity for someone to open another shop to pick up the slack.

On the other side.... my writing group meets every two weeks at a very busy cafe/restaurant for Sunday brunch. We're there for at least 2, and often 3 hours, and while most of us generally order food, not everyone does, and by the time we leave the place is usually packed.

We keep coming back because we in the 3 years or so we've been doing this, we've never once had any hint that we should hurry. We make a point of tipping generously for the service, which probably helps.

.

I can't speak to Toronto and areas near schools, of course, but I can't see where the people with laptops are any worse than the seniors with nothing better to do, the moms taking a break for hours on end and my favourite ... the "this is my office" guy. LOVE him.

We don't have this problem in Victoria, because the ratio of coffee shops to residents is approaching 1:1. :)

The Williams here in Barrie has limited outlets on the periphery and straight back chair seating to go with it. The comfortable booths are in the centre. I seems to sort itself out with dedicated net cruisers on the outside in the cheqp seats and people meeting up in the middle in the booths.

I'm of two minds about this. My experience is that I have only ever taken an extended period to work on a laptop in a coffee shop when there was no other option. Like when traveling or when there's a situation at my house the prevents me from using the internet.

It's often enough that I don't want to have to deal with being hassled by management over a time limit especially since I often spend a lot of money when I go.

In many coffee shops in London they have a £3.00 minimum which is just a bit more than a cup of coffee. Then they print a code on your receipt. The only times that ever bothered me was when I paid for a coffee and a muffin only to find the Internet was slower than dial up to the point of being unusable.

and my favourite ... the "this is my office" guy. LOVE him.

We don't have this problem in Victoria, because the ratio of coffee shops to residents is approaching 1:1. :)

A second cup I go to in Hamilton is known to have business meetings quite often for 2, 3 and 4 people in each group, not a cup in site. Real estate agents sitting with clients waiting for the phone call from the other agent, sales people trying to train new sales people, investors trying to convince new clients, I have over heard conversations from them and many more only because there is normally one or two boasters in the group who are loud. These people sit for hours, dried coffee cups. No different than the food court at the mall except quieter, maybe thats what brings them to the cafe's.

A second cup I go to in Hamilton is known to have business meetings quite often for 2, 3 and 4 people in each group, not a cup in site. Real estate agents sitting with clients waiting for the phone call from the other agent, sales people trying to train new sales people, investors trying to convince new clients, I have over heard conversations from them and many more only because there is normally one or two boasters in the group who are loud. These people sit for hours, dried coffee cups. No different than the food court at the mall except quieter, maybe thats what brings them to the cafe's.

Kelman I think I know the one you are refering to as I also go there sometimes. The owner discontinued his Wi-Fi Service for a brief period and then brought it back with a "2 Hour Timer". The problem was the customers were getting quite beligerant about it and almost challenged him on their perceived right to be there.

SInce the timer was put in place it has seemed to calm down a bit.

DavidH

Not sure why people believe they deserve anything... I live by the moto - there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Rightfully so, any cafe owner has the right to ask any one to leave or purchase more.
People who are self serving ruin it for the rest of us. When I GOTO chapters or Mcds or Tim's etc I always make sure I am 20 mins or less, plus purchase Food items of value, it's only fair.
I find students ridiculous that hoard tables etc at coffe shops, go to a library or cough up coin for the privilege, I almost always sit with my kids next to students that are spread across the communal table.
My kids are loud and almost always spill something. LOL it always makes the hoarder leave or nervous..
I had a lady scream SHH! At me once, I replied this isn't a library last I checked, it's a coffe shop and book store, told her buy something or leave.
Then I laughed at her.

.

Funny the ones that CAN afford it want the students to leave..:so their kids can make a mess....sort of wondering why you would take kids to a coffee shop when McDs has free wifi and lots of tbles... :rolleyes:

The owners will make their own decision. You might be there once in a while - for students and many like me it's an alternate workspace and we are often there 4 or 5 days a week.

Funny the ones that CAN afford it want the students to leave..:so their kids can make a mess....sort of wondering why you would take kids to a coffee shop when McDs has free wifi and lots of tbles... :rolleyes:


He never said that he wanted the students to leave. He said they were welcome to leave. Read the post.

You might be there once in a while - for students and many like me it's an alternate workspace and we are often there 4 or 5 days a week.

Don't expect other customers to care.

I don't. Merely pointing out the COTU hypocrisy.
If the owner wants a time limit he'll put it up.

If the owner wants a time limit he'll put it up.

Agreed.