People working on laptops in cafes 😡

I met a friend in a franchise cafe, we don’t see each other much. There was a chap behind us, on a zoom call, wearing headphones and gesticulating as he talked, his one-sided conversation echoed around the place. Sometimes, I think situations like this and like FallingStar’s are about a lack of awareness of others’ needs and a self-absorption, which computer usage encourages. Sometimes, it’s wonderful when someone looks up and notices and says ‘oh, would you like to sit here?’ And everyone smiles and moves around comfortably. That is a lovely scenario surely ? It leaves a nice feeling around the place, it’s good for everyone. 🙂

That sounds like a lovely journey, Deedaa.

I agree that using a cafe as a meeting room (even worse if someone is talking loudly to others 'offstage') is inconsiderate, and yes, I'd expect anyone in a cafe (or pub, for that matter) to buy drinks whilst they were there, but sitting with a laptop, book, newspaper, map or last will and testament need not be.

I often sit with mine whilst Mr Dog is reading, or watching TV. We are sharing the space but doing different things - I don't see the difference, other than that a cafe owner has a right to expect to sell food and drink to people in the cafe.

We were in a cafe recently when a young girl came in, sat down and read a book for while. Then she put the book away, put her head on down on her folded arms and went to sleep. Didnt even have a glass of water - unbelievable

Some of them can be very annoying, especially if they have a meeting with a client and end up with paperwork all over the table. However on a trip to London recently I found myself sitting opposite a long haired student with a lap top. After a few minutes I asked him what he was working on. He looked up (and turned out to be the most beautiful looking young man I have seen for a very long time) and we ended up having a lovely conversation about philosophy, the hard work involved in doing a PhD, and modern life in general. Twenty minutes well spent.

Ladyleftfieldlover

I’m assuming those people with laptops are ordering coffee and tea every now and again !

Sorry you have been ill . I’m
In organ failure and limited mobility .
People work in coffee shops . They encourage it , they spend a fortune over the day . I used to do it myself . I do hope you recover soon.

There's a gentleman old enough to be a genuine Gransnetter who sits with his laptop at a table for two at my local pub, earphones on, for hours. BUT it's usually at a quiet time of the day, and he buys two pints of bitter at a time. I have never seen him drink fewer than four, so it works well for him and the pub.

I used to have almost unusable internet at home. I used a hotspot via my phone to connect to the laptop.
The phone signal wasn't great there either, tho, so I sometimes went somewhere with a better signal and still used my hotspot.
I don't really trust public internet, or that of businesses. It may not be secure so not a bright idea for work things.

Some people do not have internet at home, because they cannot afford it.
🤔 Either their firm should pay if they are WFH or it would be a deductible expense if they are running their own business.

It is a trend.

You could have asked the barista nicely whether she could accommodate you. Maybe they would have made a public announcement - embarrassing, but useful, about whether anyone wanted to vacate their seats for you. Some people do not have internet at home, because they cannot afford it.

Dreadwitch

They're paying customers so have as much right to be there as you or anyone else. And you think they should be punished for it? Libraries don't allow people to sit and drink coffee, they expect silence and aren't really the best place for working... Plus if you visited the library and they had taken the comfy seats you'd have the exact same issues about it.

Unfortunately you nor anyone else can dictate who sits where in a cafe and for how long, nor do you know the reason why they're there.

I used to sit in my local cafe with my laptop for hours, I bought coffee frequently but I wasn't working... I was avoiding my abusive partner who was at home.
I had as much right as any other person to be there, regardless of the reasons.

Now that - ie avoiding abusive partner - is a valid reason imo for staying put there.

Wondering how that would have mixed with the fact I'm a bit of a people-watcher - and I've long since lost count of how many people I land up chatting with (at least in this part of the country - where they are often chattier than I'm used to). If anyone in the place was going to realise = there's a good chance it would have been me...

I tend to feel edgy if I've sat for a while in a café if it's busy.
I mentioned this when I was in one with my son, once, not on laptops just talking, but he thought there was nothing to worry about.

seasider

I am surprised so many people are able to work in coffee shops . We are not allowed due to security of the information we use. I do agree “home “ workers should be considerate and not take up a big table . A lady in Nero’s flounced off when I sat down in an empty seat at the table ( she had one of four seats and I did ask) as she wanted to spread the free paper on the table !

Oh dear, how terrible for you.

As an owner of a cafe it is really annoying as they are taking up space and can make one coffee last an hour so loss of revenue. But what can you do.

Most people hit spot off of their work phones, no need to use anyone else’s WiFi.

This is what we do with GC.

What a great story Robin202 !
Interesting to hear the views on this from someone who actually loses out financially from those selfish people we have been discussing.

Turning off the wifi was an inspired idea!

They're paying customers so have as much right to be there as you or anyone else. And you think they should be punished for it? Libraries don't allow people to sit and drink coffee, they expect silence and aren't really the best place for working... Plus if you visited the library and they had taken the comfy seats you'd have the exact same issues about it.

Unfortunately you nor anyone else can dictate who sits where in a cafe and for how long, nor do you know the reason why they're there.

I used to sit in my local cafe with my laptop for hours, I bought coffee frequently but I wasn't working... I was avoiding my abusive partner who was at home.
I had as much right as any other person to be there, regardless of the reasons.

Robin202

As a coffee shop owner and one which served food, I can speak from experience.
When you’re running a very busy establishment and a laptop user comes in and takes over a table for 4 and proceeds to stay there for 2-4hrs, with maybe a couple of purchases during that time, it is extremely frustrating for the owner as they are potentially losing business and customers walk out as they cannot find a table.
When you think how many times that table could be used during a 2-4hr period and the likely spend from breakfasts through to lunch and afternoon teas, the losses can be quite high.
On a couple of occasions we had someone use our coffee shop to hold interviews! The ‘applicants’ didn't purchase anything and the interviewer, a couple of coffees. A blatant disregard for what a coffee shop should be used for.
Another couple came in, both on their laptops, which were plugged in to charge and alongside their phones and a satnav (Im going back a few years now). They stayed around 4 hrs, had breakfast, a couple of coffees and took up a large table.
Staff enquired if they’d like anything else, whilst they sat there with empty cups. No, they were quite happy, using our space, heating, facilities, oblivious to us needing the table as people wanted to eat.
So, I took great delight in switching off the wi-fi. The lady came shrieking round the corner that the wifi had gone off and she was charging her satnav!!
I just smiled and said. “Yes, that does happen sometimes”.

They packed up and left.

So my thoughts are, an hour is OK with coffee/food. Anything over with no purchase is taking a liberty.

Thanks for sharing your real life lived experience. Does put a different slant on things.

Would you ask your laptop users to leave? Or someone reading a book for ages?

I think ALL of us need to be a little more tolerant and I’d had no issues sharing my table if I’d sat there alone on a four person table and people had no where else to seat, whether I was using an electronic device, reading a book or stating aimlessly into space (I do this a lot, I call it thinking!)

Nannan2

Book groups,knitting groups,mum& baby groups etc can all be organised with church halls or librarys etc so no need to sit in cafés.

It’s all about choice! None of us really should prevent choice from ALL customers, those just wanting a cuppa, cake and a chat right across the spectrum of being doing other things on cafes.

It’s always going to annoy someone somewhere whatever happens, I get quite annoyed (unreasonably) when I cannot get a seat in my fav places straight away or cannot park at my fav garden centres etc.

It’s all just part of life.

It’s good to be able to comment, rant, moan and debate in here, it should be a “safe” place.

When it comes to “real life”, imo, it would be awful to start asking people to leave cafes, using a laptop, being on their tablet or phone, even reading a book or magazine, might prompt this and I just think these little frustrations are just part of life, be annoyed and give a big sigh and then find another option for that day.

I agree with CariadAgain, I think most cafes are not big enough to incorporate disabled seating and as said seats would be empty or occupied by people who look able bodied but could have invisible disabilities who would then suffer confrontation from angry customers. I do, however, need to insist upon a priority seat on public transport and a disabled loo is essential.
Don’t think the majority of cafes will reserve seats due to the high turnover of customers, most don’t stay too long so is not an issue, except with the old lap top workers.
The first come first served rule is fine, but I imagine those working on their laptops will arrive early in order to work, so unless we set our alarm clocks that won’t work, and it takes my DH a long time to get up and washed and dressed with help from myself.
Am more than happy to share a table with those working, but not sure the feeling would be mutual, but from now on will do exactly this.

Gfplux

Speak to the manager. You might be lucky to phone and get a reserved seat.

Perhaps there needs to be some seating designated for the disabled,

Not sure if designated disabled seating would help or no.

Some people needing it would take it....others who need it would sit there and think "I'm not doing anything publicly that marks me out as disabled" (try having the mother I had and you know that fact and I gave up using one or two things that made my own life easier because I didn't want to use them). Each to their own on that - but I know some of us are certainly very self-conscious about that. I knew when I was onto an impossible task offering to buy my mother the "poshest/nicest walking stick I can find" - and she still wouldnt use one.

Add the fact that maybe there'd be empty "disabled" seats with no-one requiring them - but no-one else daring to use them whilst they were empty.

Speak to the manager. You might be lucky to phone and get a reserved seat.

Perhaps there needs to be some seating designated for the disabled,

Is good to know is not just me. Thought that I must be being a bit unreasonable/mean.
Obviously everyone’s experience of this is different so others may not have come across it in the same way, or simply don’t mind. But seeing as at least one person who owns a cafe on here has spoken out about it, I think it probs is not just annoying to some customers.

CanadianGran

One of our local cafes has a counter along one side, where there are charging outlets. They encourage laptop workers to sit there and allow the tables for groups that are interacting.

This seems sensible. Rather than have the needs of one group dictate to the other, they can help both to get the best out of their visit.

One of our local cafes has a counter along one side, where there are charging outlets. They encourage laptop workers to sit there and allow the tables for groups that are interacting.

Tuliptree

This thread has madd me realise how lucky we are in our town. I think the laptop people go to Costa and Starbucks and leave the lovely independents to the rest of us. The one I use has sofas, armchairs, normal tables and chairs and lots of space for NCT groups, wheelchairs, Rollators.

Nearly all of those around me have multiple undisciplined dogs cluttering the floor or wandering around. Just as bad