Comments on: Freelancing in Cafes: Is the Honeymoon Over? http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:28:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Amanda is a traveling photographer http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2970 Amanda is a traveling photographer Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:41:34 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2970 Spending a few extra bucks is worth it to escape the complete hell that working from home for long periods of time can be. Spending a few extra bucks is worth it to escape the complete hell that working from home for long periods of time can be.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Amanda is a traveling photographer http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2968 Amanda is a traveling photographer Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:34:30 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2968 Bringing your own food or drink? I can't beleive anyone would insult a hard working cafe owner by doing that ! I work from cafes roughly twice a week. If you spend a little more than the minimum ( buying lunch instead of just coffee ) and you TIP ....... you'll be more welcome to stay. Bringing your own food or drink? I can’t beleive anyone would insult a hard working cafe owner by doing that ! I work from cafes roughly twice a week. If you spend a little more than the minimum ( buying lunch instead of just coffee ) and you TIP ……. you’ll be more welcome to stay.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Chris Cavs http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2916 Chris Cavs Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:03:44 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2916 It's despicable that someone would bring food and drink INTO a cafe and then have the audacity to sit there for hours stealing wifi and electricity. That's just wrong. I have made it a point to go to my favorite coffee shop and buy something every time, even if I"m short on cash. The prices are NEVER all that high. I've made friends with the staff and one of the owners, and they are very much into new media and business people. And they seem to be doing quite well as a result. Perhaps a crowdsourcing of the regulars to help curb the a-holes would work. Help out the shop owner by throwing a good, old-fashioned guilt trip on the wifi gankers. It’s despicable that someone would bring food and drink INTO a cafe and then have the audacity to sit there for hours stealing wifi and electricity. That’s just wrong.

I have made it a point to go to my favorite coffee shop and buy something every time, even if I”m short on cash. The prices are NEVER all that high. I’ve made friends with the staff and one of the owners, and they are very much into new media and business people. And they seem to be doing quite well as a result.

Perhaps a crowdsourcing of the regulars to help curb the a-holes would work. Help out the shop owner by throwing a good, old-fashioned guilt trip on the wifi gankers.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Julie Schwietert http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2908 Julie Schwietert Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:35:52 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2908 When I started reading this article, I thought "Oh, stick in the mud cafe owners!" Then, I read about the people bringing their own tea bags and thought, "Selfish bastards-- a $4.00 latte for a couple hours of work isn't too much to ask." I like the idea of getting a voucher when you get a drink; it gives you an hour or two of Internet time. If you want to up the time, you have to buy another drink. Sounds fair to me. When I started reading this article, I thought “Oh, stick in the mud cafe owners!” Then, I read about the people bringing their own tea bags and thought, “Selfish bastards– a $4.00 latte for a couple hours of work isn’t too much to ask.”

I like the idea of getting a voucher when you get a drink; it gives you an hour or two of Internet time. If you want to up the time, you have to buy another drink. Sounds fair to me.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Carlo http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2907 Carlo Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:03:11 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2907 Free market will rule the outcome. They'll end up doing whatever makes them the most money. I can't see an all-out ban on laptops or covering electrical outlets happening. And if it does, all it takes is a couple to see how it's affecting their business, then open it up again and the rest will follow suit. Free market will rule the outcome. They’ll end up doing whatever makes them the most money. I can’t see an all-out ban on laptops or covering electrical outlets happening. And if it does, all it takes is a couple to see how it’s affecting their business, then open it up again and the rest will follow suit.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Michelle http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2906 Michelle Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:45:54 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2906 :) Yeah, I think a few are ruining it for the masses...bringing in a teabag and asking for a cup of hot water is ridiculous. I completely understand where the owner's are coming from, but I think imposing a one drink per hour minimum (or something similar) is much more ideal than banning laptops and covering plugs. We might hog the tables occasionally, but freelancers are generally a big part of cafe business! And I don't think most people do it to save money. A latte or two a day at Starbucks is far more expensive than a monthly internet bill at home. :)

Yeah, I think a few are ruining it for the masses…bringing in a teabag and asking for a cup of hot water is ridiculous.

I completely understand where the owner’s are coming from, but I think imposing a one drink per hour minimum (or something similar) is much more ideal than banning laptops and covering plugs. We might hog the tables occasionally, but freelancers are generally a big part of cafe business!

And I don’t think most people do it to save money. A latte or two a day at Starbucks is far more expensive than a monthly internet bill at home.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Carlo http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2900 Carlo Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:14:00 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2900 Michelle wrote this! :) Michelle wrote this! :)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Carlo http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2899 Carlo Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:13:01 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2899 It seems fair enough I think. When people start bringing in their own food and drink they've crossed the line. The audacity! This is always what happens with privilege, a few bad apples take advantage and overstay their welcome, spoiling it for everyone. Let's be reasonable. Maybe not a hard and fast rule where you have limited time, but maybe only during peak times? Or, like Marissa said, some kind of drink/food minimum? Put yourself in the owner's shoes, what would you do if a bunch of people who bought one coffee sat there for hours while other customers were walking in the door then leaving after not finding any tables/seats? It seems fair enough I think. When people start bringing in their own food and drink they’ve crossed the line. The audacity! This is always what happens with privilege, a few bad apples take advantage and overstay their welcome, spoiling it for everyone.

Let’s be reasonable. Maybe not a hard and fast rule where you have limited time, but maybe only during peak times? Or, like Marissa said, some kind of drink/food minimum?

Put yourself in the owner’s shoes, what would you do if a bunch of people who bought one coffee sat there for hours while other customers were walking in the door then leaving after not finding any tables/seats?

(Report comment)

]]> By: Threespoons http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2898 Threespoons Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:41:25 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2898 I hope it's not over as it's only just beginning down here in NZ. Most places you have to pay for the internet connection, or you get a one-hour voucher when you buy something. Maybe the voucher system is a good solution for cafe owners. A particular cafe I'm thinking of in Auckland who has that system is ALWAYS full. A happy medium? I mean, you don't really need the net the whole time...just the space and power, right? I'm shocked that people would treat a cafe like the library and expect to sit there and use the net for hours by buying one or no coffees...I'd be too embarrassed to do that! Thanks for the article:-) I hope it’s not over as it’s only just beginning down here in NZ. Most places you have to pay for the internet connection, or you get a one-hour voucher when you buy something. Maybe the voucher system is a good solution for cafe owners. A particular cafe I’m thinking of in Auckland who has that system is ALWAYS full. A happy medium? I mean, you don’t really need the net the whole time…just the space and power, right? I’m shocked that people would treat a cafe like the library and expect to sit there and use the net for hours by buying one or no coffees…I’d be too embarrassed to do that!
Thanks for the article:-)

(Report comment)

]]> By: lauren http://matadorpulse.com/freelancing-in-cafes-is-the-honeymoon-over/comment-page-1/#comment-2896 lauren Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:46:11 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1007#comment-2896 maybe if the market for freelancers wasn't diminishing more each day, we could afford more than a cup of coffee. (just kidding. kind of.) as someone who works in the service industry, i totally understand the financial bummer of watching folks camp out for hours at a table. as paul said, tipping well can take the edge off. maybe if the market for freelancers wasn’t diminishing more each day, we could afford more than a cup of coffee. (just kidding. kind of.)

as someone who works in the service industry, i totally understand the financial bummer of watching folks camp out for hours at a table. as paul said, tipping well can take the edge off.

(Report comment)

]]>