Laptop Squatters (especially Cafe Nero in Lordship Lane)

[Chief]

Do other people share my frustration with 'laptop squatters' who colonise coffee shops, especially Cafe Nero in Lordship Lane. They buy a single cup of coffee and then spread themselves out, over 2 or 3 chairs, for several hours while using their laptops.

They are selfish - taking space that could be used by many others who actually want to buy drinks and food - and then find somewhere to sit down to consume them, without having all day to do so!

These squatters cannot be great for business - spending practically nothing themselves - and would-be customers turn away when they see that there is no space! In Cafe Nero there will often be around 10-12 laptop squatters in occupation at any time. Please can they go somewhere else to freeload or perhaps should be charged a commercial rental for their use of space?

[DulwichFox]

Bit like Quiz night in Pubs..

Sit there for 2 hours sipping half of lager or a Lime & Soda (free)

then sod of home after the Quiz ends..

DulwichFox

[Otta]

If they are taking up 2 or 3 seats why not just ask them to move their stuff?

[Lowlander]

is this unique to Nero? Just ask them to move. Happens on trains/buses/pubs. They're just chancing it.

[keano77]

Yes drives me mad too. The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and reading newspapers in libraries.

[The Minkey]

Yep, I'd just ask them to move their kit. Strange anyone should think it OK to take up so much space with their stuff at busy times when a business could be making a living.

[Otta]

keano77 Wrote:

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> The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and reading newspapers in libraries.

Er, not really.

[uncleglen]

I posted this once

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1251531,1251706#msg-1251706

[JohnL]

They have extended this and now conduct interviews in the well known ones in the City.

One of the pubs around here once tweeted that the WiFi was going off if some proper customers didn't arrive

or the laptop guys didn't buy a drink IIRC.

[Beej]

First of all, how the hell do you know how many cups of coffee they've purchased? Are you some sort of weird stalker coffee cup watcher? Stop watching them - eeeeuwww.

Secondly, I know when I was self-employed and when I was looking for a job, I often took myself out to work in places like this with good wifi, because it was entirely demotivating sat in your gaff all day all night on your own. Give them a break.

Thirdly, I now work for one of the largest suppliers and retail trainers of specialist food & drink retailers, and I promise you, having decent working wifi and attracting people to use it does NOT have an adverse effect on their business, it's almost entirely the opposite. For one thing, they are probably more likely to drink more cups of that coffee you talk about, than you.

And fourthly, I agree with the others, just ask if you can sit next to them, afterall, you might be even able to help them with their work :)

[JohnL]

Hey Beej - It's people watching and loads of London people do it :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_watching

I still have some secret places that only I (and a few others) know however for when I really want peace and quiet.

[Siduhe]

This made me smile last week....

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/25/internet-cafe-squatter-modern-tribe

[NewWave]

they are welcome to do it in a big chain like cafe Nero...BUT... it REALLY annoys me when they do it in small independent coffee shops that rely on a turnover of food and coffee for their survival.

[Beej]

NewWave Wrote:

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> they are welcome to do it in a big chain like cafe

> Nero...BUT... it REALLY annoys me when they do it

> in small independent coffee shops that rely on a

> turnover of food and coffee for their survival.

Yeah, put a sign up banning them or a notice saying "NO wifi, go to Cafe Nero", see how long that pays off for them.

[yeknomyeknom]

Starbucks, McDonalds, Nero, all the big chains have free wifi. That's because their analysts have advised them it's good for business. Ie good for making money. Independents usually, wisely, follow the learnings of these big chains. Free wifi is to encourage people to linger. Lingerers are more likely to repeat purchase coffee and food. Nero wants their business and encourages it. Having said that, it's always rude to take up more space than you need, especially when demand is high. Just ask them to budge over.

[Beej]

Totally, I work in the trade and it's proven to increase sales - and not just for chains. Just as having sofas and chairs along with free wifi in a women's clothes shop is proven to increase sales; men sit and browse while women stay put in the shop up to 5 times longer. no brainer really.

[JohnL]

Beej Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> NewWave Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > they are welcome to do it in a big chain like

> cafe

> > Nero...BUT... it REALLY annoys me when they do

> it

> > in small independent coffee shops that rely on

> a

> > turnover of food and coffee for their survival.

>

> Yeah, put a sign up banning them or a notice

> saying "NO wifi, go to Cafe Nero", see how long

> that pays off for them.

Pubs will kick you out if you don't keep drinking.

But I seem to fit the criteria for free drinks so can't complain :)

I still can't believe the guy having a disciplinary in Costa.

[Beej]

I have never seen anyone kicked out of pub for not keeping drinking, is this an old wives tail you're spinning us ;-)

[JohnL]

By the way - Cafe Vergnano in Holborn never has WiFi workers and is a top coffee house.

Not sure why that is - as Costa and Starbucks in Holborn are packed with Sales people working.

[JohnL]

Beej Wrote:

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> I have never seen anyone kicked out of pub for not

> keeping drinking, is this an old wives tail you're

> spinning us ;-)

Maybe they don't now - as I haven't tried it - can make a pint last almost 1 hour.

In my youth happened all the time - maybe just me and my group :).

[titch juicy]

Chief Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Do other people share my frustration with 'laptop

> squatters' who colonise coffee shops, especially

> Cafe Nero in Lordship Lane. They buy a single cup

> of coffee and then spread themselves out, over 2

> or 3 chairs, for several hours while using their

> laptops.

>

> They are selfish - taking space that could be used

> by many others who actually want to buy drinks and

> food - and then find somewhere to sit down to

> consume them, without having all day to do so!

>

> These squatters cannot be great for business -

> spending practically nothing themselves - and

> would-be customers turn away when they see that

> there is no space! In Cafe Nero there will often

> be around 10-12 laptop squatters in occupation at

> any time. Please can they go somewhere else to

> freeload or perhaps should be charged a commercial

> rental for their use of space?

go round the corner to the Brick House Bakery- the coffee's MUCH better

[East of Dulwich]

keano77 Wrote:

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> The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and reading newspapers in libraries.

As a former librarian, I see absolutely nothing wrong with homeless people coming into public libraries to read a newspaper in a warm place, any more than with senior citizens who can't afford to heat their homes. Incidentally, libraries in Southwark now all provide free wifi, though no sign of a caramel latte...

[sunbob]

East of Dulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> keano77 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and

> reading newspapers in libraries.

>

> As a former librarian, I see absolutely nothing

> wrong with homeless people coming into public

> libraries to read a newspaper in a warm place, any

> more than with senior citizens who can't afford to

> heat their homes. Incidentally, libraries in

> Southwark now all provide free wifi, though no

> sign of a caramel latte...

Mr. East O'Dulwich esq.

Thank you for adding a touch of humanity to our day. We are all human beings, let's show love to one another where we can :)

(Sorry, very soppy and nothing to do with the thread).

[siousxiesue]

East of Dulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> keano77 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and

> reading newspapers in libraries.

>

> As a former librarian, I see absolutely nothing

> wrong with homeless people coming into public

> libraries to read a newspaper in a warm place, any

> more than with senior citizens who can't afford to

> heat their homes. Incidentally, libraries in

> Southwark now all provide free wifi, though no

> sign of a caramel latte...

Here here! Although some Southwark libraries now have cafes attached. The Canada Water one I can particularly recommend!

[JohnL]

East of Dulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> keano77 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The modern equivalent of tramps keeping warm and

> reading newspapers in libraries.

>

> As a former librarian, I see absolutely nothing

> wrong with homeless people coming into public

> libraries to read a newspaper in a warm place, any

> more than with senior citizens who can't afford to

> heat their homes. Incidentally, libraries in

> Southwark now all provide free wifi, though no

> sign of a caramel latte...

In the 80s the train stations were heated - so the homeless people went there.

That's when all train stations stopped being heated.