Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Spence on October 20, 2009 at 3:17pm

Hi Judith, there are a number of discussions on this already on bX! If you search for Wi-fi or wireless in the "talk coffee" area you will see more people with the same problems.
Another suggestion would be to contact WEBbeams - They have the ability to help you lock out the internet so customers only get this available with purchase / by time frame etc.
(Chris from WEBbeams is on here as well or you can call them at: 1-888-932-2326)

Hope this helps
Mike.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christophor Rodriquez on October 20, 2009 at 10:47pm

Unfortunately things like this are happening all over. I have even heard about customers taking off covers that owners have put on to stop the use of the outlets. It is shameful what people do sometimes with no regard for other people's needs.

We are defiantly able to help with the Wi-Fi, but I am not sure how you would address the electricity issue. please read my recent comment to http://www.baristaexchange.com/forum/topics/1688216:Topic:112186. I thought you and Steve's questions were on the same page.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I wish you good luck!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on October 21, 2009 at 5:19am

It's a tough call because you currently provide free wireless Internet. Eliminating it will anger some customers - are you willing to deal with the fallout?

I prefer not to offer internet. Let them camp out elsewhere. Chances are that they're not spending anywhere near the cost of the rent they're occupying. I would shut down the wireless network and cut the power to the outlets - if they're unplugging the lamps, you're not using them anyway.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brewed Expressions Coffee House on October 21, 2009 at 5:38am

We offer free WI-FI & yes have a few squatters. I was in Berlin,Oh in a shop & they use webeans. You buy a coffee & you get a free 30min (or what ever you dictate the time to be). After that they have to purchase something to get "re-upped". The problem is you pay a monthly fee to Webeams & to your local Internet provider.
One way is to get someone to help sponsor your Wi-Fi. Some use a real estate office. They get free advertising & you get a reduced cost.
We bite the bullet right now because it's not to bad of a problem. As long as there not taking a seat away from a lunch patron were ok.I don't hesitate to ask people to move to another table if there hogging. I also have put out the " 7 commandment's of Internet use" on each table. I have been know to sneak up & nuke the service long enough to get them to leave if they get to crappy about it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Spence on October 21, 2009 at 6:41am

Great idea on the sponsorship of the wifi!

Brewed Expressions Coffee House said:

We offer free WI-FI & yes have a few squatters. I was in Berlin,Oh in a shop & they use webeans. You buy a coffee & you get a free 30min (or what ever you dictate the time to be). After that they have to purchase something to get "re-upped". The problem is you pay a monthly fee to Webeams & to your local Internet provider.
One way is to get someone to help sponsor your Wi-Fi. Some use a real estate office. They get free advertising & you get a reduced cost.
We bite the bullet right now because it's not to bad of a problem. As long as there not taking a seat away from a lunch patron were ok.I don't hesitate to ask people to move to another table if there hogging. I also have put out the " 7 commandment's of Internet use" on each table. I have been know to sneak up & nuke the service long enough to get them to leave if they get to crappy about it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christophor Rodriquez on October 21, 2009 at 1:35pm

Hi this is Chris from WEBbeams, I wanted to take a second to address the monthly fee you mentioned. It covers an unlimited amount of unique access codes and also covers the 24/7 tech support for your customers as well. Not to mention all the other intangibles like not having to change your WEP/WEPA encryption once a day/week/month and print/write it out for distribution, Having a high quality connection customers will return for, and . WEBbeams also makes sure your back office equipment is getting the bandwidth it needs for day-to-day operations.

We take a very integrated look at what Wi-Fi means to a cafe and have built a turnkey management solution that gives shop owners a way to make money even after paying the monthly fee.

If you can't tell, we look at the quality of Wi-Fi like the most of you look at the quality of the bean! I could go on and on, but no one wants to read my selfless promotion. let me know if you would like to talk offline...Thanks

Brewed Expressions Coffee House said:

We offer free WI-FI & yes have a few squatters. I was in Berlin,Oh in a shop & they use webeans. You buy a coffee & you get a free 30min (or what ever you dictate the time to be). After that they have to purchase something to get "re-upped". The problem is you pay a monthly fee to Webeams & to your local Internet provider.
One way is to get someone to help sponsor your Wi-Fi. Some use a real estate office. They get free advertising & you get a reduced cost.
We bite the bullet right now because it's not to bad of a problem. As long as there not taking a seat away from a lunch patron were ok.I don't hesitate to ask people to move to another table if there hogging. I also have put out the " 7 commandment's of Internet use" on each table. I have been know to sneak up & nuke the service long enough to get them to leave if they get to crappy about it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Birkett on October 21, 2009 at 7:11pm

If you don't tell them to stop, how are they supposed to know it's a problem? I think it's extremely rude to unplug lamps to charge your laptop, but I'd expect this sort of behaviour from coffee shop laptop users. All the local places have built-in lighting and only one or two outlets available, if any.

If you're concerned about the power usage, the laptop chargers aren't drawing much more power than the lamps they unplugged, so I doubt you will see any difference on your utility bill. Not that it makes it okay to unplug your lamps.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion