Coffee House Wi-Fi: How Much Should You Spend?
Travel Tips — By Chris on March 11, 2010 at 9:41 am
It’s an ethical dilemma that often occurs when travelers find themselves on the road for an extended period of time: When you camp out at a coffee house all day to use their free Wi-Fi, how much should you spend on drinks and food?
I’ve been facing this problem the entire week, as I bounce between Washington DC and Philadelphia. We turned off the Internet in one location, and haven’t had it installed yet in the other, yet I’m still facing a tight deadline for my Essential Philly travel app. Which means I’ve spent entire days holed up in coffee shops, nursing endless cups of coffee as I mooch off the free Wi-Fi.
But what’s the etiquette? At Chapterhouse Cafe in Philly yesterday, I started the morning at 9:30 with a large cup of coffee ($1.75), which I later replenished with a refill ($.50). At lunch, I ordered a euro grilled cheese panini ($6.95). And finally, around 3 p.m. I ordered an Italian soda ($2). I left at 5 p.m.
So basically, I spent $11.20 for nearly 8 hours of Wi-Fi. That’s akin to some of the fees that hotels and hotspots charge. No shame there; I paid my way.
I wasn’t quite as generous at Alexandria’s Buzz Bakery. Despite the delicious-looking red velvet cupcakes in the case, I stuck to two cups of coffee (about $2.05 each) during a 6-hour camp out. Honestly, I’m a little surprised no one told me to leave, though I did keep my mug where it could be seen by the staff. Definitely a chinzy move. I slunk out a little ashamed.
A lot of you digital nomads out there face this problem more often than I do. So what’s your take? How much should people pony up in order to use “free” Wi-Fi?
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5 Comments
I need to get online to work from the road. I’m always on the road so sometimes I end up hanging out in coffee shops. A cup of coffee, and a snack should be ok I think. If there are no signs posted otherwise, I don’t see the dilemma. The free wi-fi got you in the door and likely made you spend money you wouldn’t have otherwise. Besides, I think people hanging around for hours to do work is probably not the norm or big enough of a problem for a change in policy.
Anil – I did notice that I was one of the few who stayed ALL day. Coffee shops do have lots of turnover, so it probably doesn’t hurt too much if I mooch once in a while. Still, I felt bad at Buzz (but not bad enough to pony up more cash). I guess that’s the tipping point!
I think that as long as there is another table free you are not causing any incremental cost to them, so no need to feel guilty. If there are no open tables then the equivalent of a coffee every 1.5 hours is more than fair.
While we are on the road this year as flash packers, my wife and I have developed an ability to sniff free wifi out and will almost always choose a place for a meal that has it.
“So basically, I spent $11.20 for nearly 8 hours of Wi-Fi. That’s akin to some of the fees that hotels and hotspots charge. No shame there; I paid my way.”
No you didn’t. Probably less 10% of that was profit as the store has to pay for supplies, employees, taxes, power, rent etc etc. of course you have to calculate that maybe 5-10 people would used your table to drink eat and leave while you occupied it all day.
You do not stay all day in one place doing nothing for $10 and not feel guilty. People like you are leeches and do no favor to the store, you must be thrown out. Come on in, have a coffee, check your email, update your blog, read CNN but leave in 20-30 minutes.
And a view from the other side! Thanks for sharing, James. I’ll keep the leech comment in mind!