∞ A new sign of the times: "No computer" policies in cafes

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Consumers now expect complementary Wi-Fi access as part of the basic experience at cafes and restaurants around the country. But as evidenced in a recent editorial in The New York Times, some shop owners are beginning to push back, establishing “no computer” hours or limiting access to a short duration.

It’s no wonder. Some customers of these establishments rightly or wrongly assume if they get a cup of coffee or a sandwich, they can occupy a table for hours on end – and they’re wrong to assume so.

I’ve been a full-time telecommuter now for 11 years. In that time I’ve seen my preferred mode of work go from a curiosity to an increasingly mainstream lifestyle. There are a lot of reasons for it that pop to mind, such as ubiquitous and cheap Internet access; the proliferation of reasonably high-powered mobile computers with wireless networking access built in; and a changing economy that demands a lot more freelance labor than ever before.

It’s one of those situations that’s erupted because of the confluence of several conflicting issues: technology, the economy, and a general lack of social etiquette to help guide people’s behavior.

The Times’ Nick Bilton acts incensed that Kindles and iPads fall into the same broad “no computer” category as a MacBook or a ThinkPad. Perhaps he’s being sarcastic, or perhaps he really doesn’t get it – that especially in densely populated urban areas, telecommuters who camp out at tables or bars for hours on end waste space that could be occupied by a larger volume of paying customers. He likens a Kindle or an iPad to a paperback book or newspaper, but as any user of that device knows, including Bilton himself, they’re considerably more than that – and thus can be considerably more distracting.

Some companies like McDonald’s have honed their entire business around volume, encouraging customers to eat and leave quickly – make furniture just uncomfortable enough, use just unsettlingly brash enough colors, offer customers large-bore straws to make drinks go down faster. Sure, McDonald’s offers free Wi-Fi now, but do you actually see anyone spending the afternoon there? Not unless they’re taking regular trips to the chiropractor (and on a battery of statin drugs, to boot).

There could be some navigable solutions here – a reserved seating area in some particularly high-traffic establishments specifically for telecommuters, for example. People willing to pay a premium to stay for longer periods – either by buying more food and drink or by paying a nominal space rental fee. Some more technically savvy places can lock out IP addresses after a specific duration, I suppose, but that won’t fix things for computers, netbooks, iPads and other devices that can use 3G. Quite frankly, just hanging a sign saying “no computer use between these hours” seems like a simple, low-tech reasonable solution.

One way or the other, I don’t think that Bilton’s coffee shop is being unreasonable asking people not to use computers, or the sandwich shop restricting their use during their peak traffic hours. It’s their place, after all, and they set the rules and expectations. If the customers don’t like it, they’re welcome to go somewhere else. But my suspicion is that at one or both of the locations he’s mentioned, these policies have developed as a direct result of customer complaints.

Perhaps I’m different than many, but I quite prefer to work at home as opposed to going out to a cybercafe or Wi-Fi-equipped sandwich shop. Part of that is driven by my general reluctance to put on more than a pair of boxers unless absolutely necessary, but frankly, I’ve never felt comfortable mooching Internet access in return for a $4 coffee or an $8 sandwich. I admit that I do hop on the local deli’s Wi-Fi on occasion, but it certainly hasn’t replaced the home office.

Especially for as long as they keep the “No shirt, no shoes, no service” sign in the window.


  • JD

    The sense of entitlement that some feel they deserve for the price of a coffee &/or donut is quite amusing. What’s even more, I’ve seen said “patron” get all high & mighty when asked to please vacate their seat so that other paying customers can have a go at it and, you know, pay for the right to be in the shop so that they can get something to eat, which is why they’re there in the first place!

    I agree that any establishment can set the guidelines as they see fit, & it’s up to the customer to abide by those rules or, as is their right, take their business elsewhere.

    • http://www.thegraphicmac.com James

      Amen, brother! While we’re talking about this particular subject, your comment at the start applies to many tech topics. “The sense of entitlement that some feel they deserve…” I’ve seen that everywhere the last few years.

      People have gotten to the point where they believe software should be free or less than $99 at most. Computers are all too expensive. Free tech support. Addition of every little feature simply because “I want it, and I paid for your $10.00 application.” The list goes on.

      I’m not sure how it happened, but it’s getting out of control.

  • Dean Lewis

    It’s not surprising to me. I work part-time in a bookstore, and the number of people who think it is their right to sit in a chair several hours stacking up books and magazines on the tables is almost unbelievable. Then the number on those who think it’s all right to put their complimentary cup of coffee on top of those mags and books is ridiculous, too. Then you have people that open and unwrap stuff, spilling pieces of games or playing with the toys (adults as well as kids), and generally just acting as if we don’t have to try to sell the stuff they are breaking. “Can I get some money off of this? It looks a little nicked/torn.” Yeah, that’s because the guy before you didn’t care about you, and we can’t bring the price down any more and still make my minimum wage, so, no.

    • Cristian Rodriguez

      I have seen parents in B & N allow there toddlers to literally trash the place. As a matter of fact, you would walk in to the kids section, and you would find books and items all over the floor. Books would get mistreated with torn pages or damaged covers and the like. I have kids, kids like to play and explore, but it is up to me, the adult, to supervise there actions and to make sure they don’t damage anything.

      I don’t know what it is, but some folks simply should not have kids. Once in a laundromat, a woman came in with four kids, the kids started to run on top of the machines like baboons, the woman did nothing. I had to intervene by addressing the kids directly and the mother afterwards. Like I said, some people should not have kids, much less four of them if they can’t enact any type of control or rules on them.

      It’s tough being a parent, and kids will always be kids, but some folks simply lack any kind of consideration for others, and this is the same attitude that drives folks to park there butt in an establishment for hours, only to use there WiFi.

  • Artie

    In general I agree that customers at food/beverage establishments should be asked to leave if there are others waiting for a table. The bookstore situation, however, is a little different, in my view. Borders pioneered the big box bookstore concept–you were actively encouraged to sit in an easy chair and read as much as you like. The idea was that more sales would result. This is still the attitude at Barnes & Noble, at least where I live. But certainly each store is entitled to have a clearcut policy.

    • SC

      And ironically Barnes & Noble puts itself up for sale today.

    • Dean Lewis

      I would agree with you, Artie, except that it doesn’t result in more sales. Those who do this generally do not buy anything. If we had a cafe, maybe they’d buy coffee, but I doubt it. We’ve had people come in and actually treat us like a library: sitting and taking notes out of the books on a daily basis. Did I mention they love to open the magazine bags and read the magazines? That’s wonderful, because once the magazine is open, no one else wants to buy it for fear something out of the package is missing, so we just have to write them off.

      Is it the same as the wifi situation? Of course not exactly, but it is similar when it comes to common courtesy to and responsible behavior within a retail establishment. As mentioned upthread, the sense of entitlement in people (enough people to make it worse for most who don’t) these days is pretty high.

  • SC

    It would require one of those technically savvy places but how about printing a wifi access code on a receipt that’s good for one hour from purchase. That would keep those wanting to hang around coming back to buy more.

    • Thomas

      If you have the infrastructure to support free wifi, adding a system like that is easy …

      • Peter Cohen

        Wi-Fi “tokens” are a good idea, but again, won’t do anything to dissuade people with 3G connectivity from hanging around for hours on end.

  • IcyFog

    If the place isn’t busy, I stay and surf. If it is, I leave after a relative short time. I try to be reasonable.

  • Garrick

    “It would require one of those technically savvy places but how about printing a wifi access code on a receipt that’s good for one hour from purchase. That would keep those wanting to hang around coming back to buy more.”

    -Precisely what I was thinking.

  • Eric

    Now what would be your reaction if they had a “no beard” policy, huh?

    • WooDz

      We’ll assume you’re just making light of the subject right?

      I actually used the WiFi available in a coffee shop for the 1st time yesterday. (bar stucks) i think it was. They have a 2 hour login policy. TBH the place was packed and I didn’t want to spend anymore time occupying a seat than was necessary. However on observation I noticed a large number of teenagers chatting over an empty table free of the drinks they’d bought previously.

      I’ll agree that the issue of lacking social etiquette is above all else the root of the problem.

  • Don

    “Some customers rightly or wrongly assume if they get a cup of coffee, they can occupy a table for hours on end – and they’re wrong to assume so.”

    Rightly or wrongly, but they are wrong.

  • Lucas

    Many states and/or cities have no loitering laws, which can be used by all kinds of shops to boot out those not actually doing business. I used to work in a Borders and we often used to kick out the kids that were hanging around, lounging in the aisles etc. As well as the cybersquatters filling up the cafe tables which were there for those buying food and drinks in the cafe.

    As for the rowdy kids. I had no problem telling folks that they needed to pay for stuff their kids destroyed/used or even to get out. Yes I had folks threaten to call the CEO (I offered to let one guy use my cell which has the number on it), I had folks scream they would never shop there again (great, please don’t since you never actually ‘shop’ but just hang out). etc.

    But for the most part, people were very good about responding to an actual reason. Such as the power cords you have stretched out over the aisle are a safety hazard plus that’s more potentially more load than the outlet is wired for which could cause damage to the outlet and perhaps even your computer, printer etc. The cafe tables are for use by those eating and so on.