So, we've had a very interesting and good discussion on seat etiquette as it pertains to public transit. Now I'd like opinions on public seating - as in at a place of business.

What are your feelings on this? Sitting down at a food business and not patronizing the establishment. Well maybe I would. But what would you do when all the seats are taken and you see a person who is a patron look for a place to sit down? Would you give up your seat? What if you were a staff member and this was your customer?

To clarify, if the staff member was themself a patron of the place, ie having a coffee, I see no problem; they are a customer after all.

Background. It seems I can never get a seat at the Starbucks cafe at my grocery store. The seats are invariably taken by people who are clearly not patronizing the establishment - like people waiting for a ride or even staff having a meeting. It is frustrating. My opinion is these seats are for patrons,

[Nammu]

I agree with you the seats are for patrons. Staff should not be holding meetings at a place of business and anyone just loitering or waiting for rides should give up their seats for those buying coffee.

I'd complain to the server and ask to speak to management about this issue since it is a re-occurring problem.

Thank you. Today I wrote because I was particularly peeved. I'd met my father for a coffee before doing our shopping. Mind you he refuses to use a cane, but he has had a knee replacement and needs to sit down.

Every day after work I sit in a coffee shop until the bus comes by. I bought a drink today but sometimes I don't. If someone asked me if they could have my seat on a day that I didn't buy anything I would definitely give up my seat - it just seems like the right thing to do.

Starbucks irritates the heck out of me...along with some other coffee places.

Many people will come with their laptop and it's obvious that they're in it for the long haul...conducting business on the phone, papers everywhere taking up a table and four seats....

And clearly they get ONE cup of coffee (some don't even bother to give the illusion of having a cup of coffee)...

I have had to eat lunch in the car because of this on more than one occasion.

GRRRR!!!!!

Originally Posted by sophiesmom

Starbucks irritates the heck out of me...along with some other coffee places.

Many people will come with their laptop and it's obvious that they're in it for the long haul...conducting business on the phone, papers everywhere taking up a table and four seats....

And clearly they get ONE cup of coffee (some don't even bother to give the illusion of having a cup of coffee)...

I have had to eat lunch in the car because of this on more than one occasion.

GRRRR!!!!!

You are absolutely a hundred percent spot on about this. We, when I was in the business, used to call them "Starbucks Squatters." I've noticed the corporate location down the street now has signs on the tables reminding guests of a maximum hour stay. Wonderful.

[Turtle_Rider]

Originally Posted by sophiesmom

Many people will come with their laptop and it's obvious that they're in it for the long haul...conducting business on the phone, papers everywhere taking up a table and four seats....

And clearly they get ONE cup of coffee (some don't even bother to give the illusion of having a cup of coffee)...

Sadly that's their marketing and strategy. They provide wifi and nice seats for their customer for stay in long time, even through they just order one cup or not ordering at all. That's why those coffees are way too overpriced!

Don't forget I'm talking about a kiosk in a grocery store where they only have 6 tables at best. Someone above mentioned asking people to give up their seat and I think this is spot on.

[Quarter life]

It is important to remember that tables and seating outside of a cafe or restaurant on the sidewalk is termed 'Alfresco dining'. The owners of said establishment must pay an 'Alfressco' fee per table/chair for the privilege. This fee is usually paid to the City Council. And depending on where & when the sidewalk is used for dining, these fees can be quite high.....Food for thought.

"Starbucks Squatters"....lol at that!

I went on a rant and didn't answer. First of all, if I'm eating and almost done and see someone holding a tray and waiting, I just finish up quickly and get up. That's common decency to me. If I had just a coffee and they had a meal, I would also get up because I can drink and walk.
Not everyone will do that, I notice...

If someone wasn't eating or drinking, hmmmm. I would LIKE to say that I would ask, but I simply don't think I would (or it depends on how gutsy I feel that day, idk). I might lurk within their field of vision and hope they learned some etiquette...

Also it depends on if they're elderly or don't look well...then I would wait for someone else to move.

Mostly though, for me I guess it's just as rude to go up to a stranger and ASK them to move, as it is for that stranger not to take the initiative to move on their own.

[Nammu]

If one person is taking up more that one space with their shyt spread all over I might ask them to sit at one of the chairs. Usually the person is just oblivious that the place is now full and quite nice about moving some stuff outa the way.

[2inchtallman]

Not sure if this completely relates to the topic, but something about this move by McDonald's, as shown in the photo, seems somewhat mean. I guess it bothers me so much, with how it affects the senior citizen patrons who routinely frequent McDonalds for breakfast, and now greeted by this rude and greedy policy. Anywho....just my thought...

[Baker#88]

If my wife runs into a store like Meijers, I will usually just sit and squirm around up in the area at the front of the store where they have tables and chairs. I always have my cane or walker and so far it has never been that busy, where I would feel compelled to move for someone.

Hi. I just returned from the same store. Were the gods with me? Had management read my mind? The only people seated at the coffee shop were those who actually were consuming coffee and food. I actually bought one and had a seat myself instead of walking right on by.

[*Laurie*]

The seating issue is a tough call. I worked in a fabulous funky independent coffeehouse for 13 years. It was very close to a college. There was a bus stop nearby and oftentimes regular customers would wait for the bus, or wait for a ride, inside the cafe. Sometimes those people had ordered something earlier in the day, or they were regular customers, and they just needed a place to feel safe and to be with other people. That was especially true if it was dark or rainy outside. Another common thing was when regular customers brought in their work and sat at a table for hours. Fortunately, we had a lot of tables at the cafe, so it was fairly unusual for a customer to not get a seat. But it would happen on crowded days or nights. The very nature of a coffeehouse is that people hang out there.

I guess if I worked in a cafe with only 6 tables I'd put a time limit on seating...but it would offend regulars, and that could be a problem.