The Coffeehouse Known As Twitter Speaks Out About The Coffeehouse WiFi Dilemma

Coffee has been known to nurture conversation, and it comes as no surprise that many people who spend time chatting online do so with a cup by their side. Curious to know how people in the online coffee shop known as Twitter view the idea that caffeinated conversation friendly places are pulling the plug on Internet access or at least considering it, I went ahead and asked more than 250 people who tweeted the original No More Perks: Coffee Shops Pull the Plug on Laptop Users article to see how they felt. This is a sample of what they had to say:

Cafes prbly need wifi 4 themselves-Y not share w/customers? As long as ppl R buying drinks, cafes look better full than MT.

it will happen though i don’t think it’ll B good for them,WiFi is going to be like Bathrooms in the sense of a basic service

let the coffeeshop as a place to socialize, talk n interact with people. Leave laptop at home.

Depends, but I wouldn’t advice owners 2 pull the plug immediately. B creative, share yr thoughts, communicate w/ customers.

appreciate store owners concerns about generating more revenue, but laptop people are still core audience. Have 2 balance.

altho disheartening, i believe its the patron’s responsibility 2 take care of the retailer by buying if using free internet

let the coffeeshop as a place to socialize, talk n interact with people. Leave laptop at home.

From an owner’s perspective, I understand they want more turnover in their cafe. I have left coffee shops w/ no seating.

coffeeshops need to find a way to turn their problem with wifi squatters into a benefit for both sides.

No More Perks? Nixing Internet is bad for biz. Password protect & give PW w minimum $ tab. Like drink min at music clubs.

The responses varied, but a majority felt that password protected WiFi was better than no WiFi at all, and that free WiFi was preferred. Ordering a small drip, leaving no tip, and spending hour after hour squatting at a table was frowned upon, especially during peak hours. And most people felt that there are a continuum of ways to resolve the WiFi dilemma. More to come on possible solutions…

If caffeinated conversation friendly places choose to keep their WiFi intact (regulated or for a nominal fee), how do you think it can be leveraged to increase clientele and build community?