How many hours is taking the piss when using a cafe for work/study?

JackieChang · 07-10-2018 07:08PM #1

Recently started using cafes for study on a Sunday. Been spending a few hours there, maybe 3 maximum.

Would like to push my luck and get to 5 hours while also spending the minimum amount of money. Maybe a coffee and a sandwich for the 5 hours.

Would I be taking the absolute pish doing that?

Any cafe workers here who could tell me the best way to go about it?

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-10-2018 07:08PM

I'd give you half an hour after giving you the sandwich and coffee and tell you to order again or get out.

mr_edge_to_you · 07-10-2018 07:10PM

1 hr is enough - be it meetings or study etc

Anyway, how in the name of jaysis can ya study in a cafe?

dartboardio · 07-10-2018 07:11PM

2 hours would be the limit imo.

After that I’d expect you to buy something. A bottle of water even. If not I would think you were stingy tbh. I worked in cafes for years

Me myself if I was using a cafe just for study or chill out purposes would buy something even if I didn’t want to because it’s not a drop in centre

But absolutely fine if you wanna sit there and renew your welcome every 2 hours or so by buying a bottle of water/coffee etc

5 hours and I’d think you were taking the piss and would have probably kicked you out by hour 3... just ignorant to take up space after that long and not buy anything

07-10-2018 07:12PM

One hour, and not a minute latte.

Pints? · 07-10-2018 07:13PM

When your coffee is cold reorder or pack up.

Noveight · 07-10-2018 07:13PM

Are you using their leccy to charge a phone or laptop?

You'd surely have to leave them €3-4 per hour.

Riddle101 · 07-10-2018 07:35PM

Not sure I agree with the idea of using a Cafe for studying. Don't get me wrong, if you have an hour to spare and want a coffee or something to eat then by all means study away while you're there, but I believe there should be a time limit.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 07-10-2018 07:41PM

Use a library if you want Internet and to study.

corner of hells · 07-10-2018 07:46PM

Allie Calm Schoolboy wrote: »

Use a library if you want Internet and to study.

Get out you , with your common sense.

NightStone · 07-10-2018 07:49PM

Wow society really is failing .
You have to ask if 3 or more hrs is taking the pish.
Hahaa. Ffs

Philosophy Zombie · 07-10-2018 08:01PM

Use a variety of disguises. It could make the study more fun and interesting.

Subcomandante Marcos · 07-10-2018 08:02PM

Patww79 wrote: »

I'd give you half an hour after giving you the sandwich and coffee and tell you to order again or get out.

You'd be out there for business in a month.

Pints? · 07-10-2018 08:03PM

Philosophy Zombie wrote: »

Use a variety of disguises. It could make the study more fun and interesting.

You could see which disguise gets you the longest time in the cafe...could do a study on it if you will!

Subcomandante Marcos · 07-10-2018 08:05PM

There are cafés that do free refills in filter coffee and supply comfy couches and armchairs, have small book collections and boardgames, all to encourage people to stay longer periods. They know someone who stays for a longer period will buy more stuff, even it's just a few pastries or a sandwich. Having people in makes the place look like it's popular too which is a weirdly important thing for attracting custom.

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-10-2018 08:06PM

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

You'd be out there for business in a month.

By getting rid of freeloaders costing more than they're spending?

Don't be one of those people and start paying for stuff.

freshpopcorn · 07-10-2018 08:09PM

It would really depend on the size of the cafe. If it was a busy place and you were taking up space I wouldn't spend long.
If there wasn't many people around you'd get away with a while once you were buying stuff.
J.K Rowling wrote a lot of Harry Potter in café's!

Philosophy Zombie · 07-10-2018 08:11PM

Pints? wrote: »

You could see which disguise gets you the longest time in the cafe...could do a study on it if you will!

A fancy dress Taliban disguise combined with a ticking alarm clock in the bag would clear out the place soon enough anyway. That's really a non-runner. Mark that off the list.

Neames · 07-10-2018 08:26PM

It really depends on the cafe, if it's a big place with few customers then having someone sitting there for hours might not be a problem.

But I really think you should go to a library...free and no hassle.

DareGod · 07-10-2018 08:34PM

It's in the café's interests to have people in it to make it look busier so that it looks popular. So, by staying in it, you're helping the business. But have some manners and order something new once per hour or so. And if it gets busy and you haven't ordered in over an hour, then get out.

wakka12 · 07-10-2018 08:41PM

Patww79 wrote: »

I'd give you half an hour after giving you the sandwich and coffee and tell you to order again or get out.

You wont have may customers doing that, an hour is perfectly fine for a sandwich and coffee if the place isnt busy

Ficheall · 07-10-2018 09:50PM

I always feel guilty hanging about in a cafe or pub and not buying stuff. I regularly meet friends for a couple of hours' chess/cards/****etalk/etc., in a pub/cafe/McDonald's, etc., and I generally spend about a tenner an hour on dinner, cakes, drinks, etc. that I don't often want. Some people who join me don't buy anything, and I always think it's fierce stingy..
Anyway, that is why I was delighted when someone brought me to the Clockwork Door the last time I was in Dublin - they charge you for your time spent there - about a fiver an hour, iirc, and they have various rooms with couches and boardgames and coffee and biscuits that you can help yourself to. Great spot. A wonderful initiative, and I hope it flourishes and doesn't have too many people taking the piss. I'll definitely be back in the next time I'm in Dublin. Not a shill, but I highly recommend giving it a look https://www.clockworkdoor.ie/the-clockwork-door/

boundlessSea · 07-10-2018 09:57PM

The idea of being able to pay directly for the right to be in a room seems like a good idea, instead of having to buy coffee/water every hour or so that you may not want.

Cyrus · 07-10-2018 10:00PM

Don’t people do this in Starbucks all the time set up at a desk plug in a laptop and sit there for hours

Hector Bellend · 07-10-2018 10:15PM

why dont you study at home and spend nothng

Wildly Boaring · 07-10-2018 10:17PM

Use the local cafe for work some days.
Young kids rule out home.

Buy a coffee or water or whatever per hour.

V small place.

Owner is often in. Have chatted a few times to her. Delighted to have me in. (She would say that) but she reckons same as above far better have the place busy and looking busy.

I always leave by 12.30 and wouldn't go in till after 2. She's busy for lunch and I'd hate to take up a table.

Robsweezie · 07-10-2018 10:55PM

depends on a few things - if the place is dead and not short of seats, and you have a good history of loyalty to their business where they know your face, you could get away with staying a couple hours if its important.

bloodless_coup · 07-10-2018 11:20PM

Do you have a MacBook to complete the look?

FTA69 · 08-10-2018 12:31AM

Cyrus wrote: »

Don’t people do this in Starbucks all the time set up at a desk plug in a laptop and sit there for hours

Shower of millionaire tax dodgers, f*ck them. I often use Costa and Starbucks and McDonalds for meetings or places to work and barely spend nothing in there, no guilt. I wouldn't do it an independent business though or small cafe or a pub, pure sauciness.

JackieChang · 08-10-2018 12:43AM

Allie Calm Schoolboy wrote: »

Use a library if you want Internet and to study.

Which library is open on a Sunday?

Anyway, it seems like buying one item per hour would be acceptable.

Mellor · 08-10-2018 12:57AM

Patww79 wrote: »

By getting rid of freeloaders costing more than they're spending?

How is somebody staying in a cafe for a few hours costing more than they're spending? What resources do you think that are using?

How many hours is taking the piss when using a cafe for work/study?

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