AIBU that when you are alone in a busy cafe...

[warmandwooly]

And paying for your coffee etc that people who are just coming in shouldn't hot the only available tables while their DH etc go and collect their order.
FFS they can see it's busy. They can see people at the que making their order AIBU to suggest they maybe have some thought for others?

Are these things on a calendar or something?

We've had enough of BF/FF this week so let's get out the old table-cafe debate

Srsly, I bet MNHQ have personas ready to start threads like this occupy us on a boring Friday afternoon.

Bupcakes

Reminds me of my gran on discussing people downloading 'dodgy' images.

'It's disgusting - that internet should be dismantled and taken down.'

What you could do is chose someone sitting down and, as you get closer to paying, start winking at them. You could blow them a kiss or two as well. Maybe waggle your bottom a bit.
I bet that if you approach their table once you have paid you will have created such a bond with them that they will immediately get up and leave so that you can sit down

No - you should ask if you can share a table :)

Pendeen - whatever. You would be moving, but I'm not arguing with you about it on this thread.

I think ideally before anyone sits down they should look at the que and ask themselves maybe where the people in the que are going

Sorry, I seldom take my crystal ball out with me, it's far too heavy.

Sometimes there aren't even tables to share Sirzy. I have no problem with sharing a table but what if there aren't any?

This is what I do if all of the tables are hogged and I have paid for my zappuchino...

Approach a table occupied by table-jumpers but where there is one seat going free. Look at the head honcho (usually the wife/mother) but look about three inches to the side of her head. I go "AM I SIT HERE?" They usually go Then I trump. Then I plonk all of my carrier bags on the table and say "I AM SIT HERE WITH YOU." Sit down in chair and scratch fanny.

Table to self.

Trills - I think you are right, I don't know why I click on these threads, they are bloody pointless and do nothing to ease you into the weekend

Pag - if you started doing that I'd think all my birthdays had come at once

illegally booked tables people do come up with some shit. It's not illegally booking a god damn table, it's using a bit of common bloody sense, which clearly isn't as common as it should be!!

Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

And why can't people who aren't alone and go join others so that there are free tables? Just because you are alone doesn't mean you should have to forgo tpyour comfort etc.
If I am having a cuppa in a cafe and I can see there is a family etc I will happily join (if its ok with them) another single person.

Yellowraincoat - not a single seat? Next time, do take a photo and start a thread on it :)

Bupcakes - Ah lovely, I didn't realise you still had your little problem. Time to see a specialist I fear

No-one is ever persuaded that they are wrong on these threads.

No-one is ever persuaded that they are in the minority either - there is a pretty even split between those who think that getting a table before you have your food is selfish and those who think that everyone standing in the queue is pure foolishness.

So YABU for starting this bloody thread.

I have been in cafes loads of times where there are literally no seats. Maybe it doesn't happen in smaller or less busy places, I don't know.

And like I said there were free tables when I was in the queue. And I never said it was illegal to sit at the table all I am saying is why can't people be more considerate. I don't think anyone needs a crystal ball to look at the tables and see that looking at the number of people in the queue may need a table and consider that. Not hard really to be a bit more considerate. I suspect if it was a lone person who just hogged a table while a group of people were buying drinks etc and couldn't get on the same table then people would be slightly angry especially if they were family members.

I think that people should just stop going out. It would save all of this heartache.

When when out with dog - tie dog to table outside - no one will dare take the table - go in order buy coffee - come out , sit down .

I have trained my dog not to move because she knows that when I come out with my drink she gets a dog biscuit .

Where I am, it's considered proper to find a table before you order, leave something to mark it if you're on your own and then order. It would be seen as rather silly to order and pay for your food without ensuring you have somewhere to sit and eat it. A person standing in a queue who hasn't sorted out a table isn't in some kind of invisible line for a table, they're queuing for their food.

Except for food courts, they're like a hideous, free for all, table hoverering hell.

Avantia.
I had nearly perfected that technique until the dog dragged the table into the cafe after me.
Dammit.

Or the other solution is to only dine at Greggs. Sausage roll in a paper bag, can scronf standing up.

"BTW OP, it's spelt queue, not que."

Thank god someone said that. I have been imagining every time the OP posts.

And breathes.....rant of the day over!

What kind of fool stands in a queue without bagging a table if it is busy, huh, huh? Do you like wandering about with a look on their face looking all forlorn and pathetic?

Warmandwooly, from seeing many such threads I get the impression most folk bag a table first, so get with the programme. Why on earth would I queue for food or a drink if it looks like I might not get a seat. If you are on your own you can probably get a seat somewhere unless you want a whole table to yourself whilst the family of 12 who by your rules have been queueing together in the queue stand with their trays in the middle of the cafe just to follow your minority rule.

Lol were you at costas where I was today I wonder? I noticed people doing this and had visions of wandering round with the hazelnut latte I just wanted to sit and bloody drink

Of course I would not but as you are not arguing there is an end to the matter.

I was at a Costa too and it was really busy - I sat down whilst DH was in queue