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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to think people should qait to purchase food before sitting down at a table?

191 replies

Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 12:59

In the queue of a cafe where there are lots of signs asking people to show consoderation at busy times about sitting down before ordering at last three people blatantly sit at the remaining tables whilst i and others arw qaiting to be served.

Aibu to have said very loudly so that one part of the offending party that it was very selfish of people. The. Sales assistant said she had told people about this before and was shouted at.

I was made to wait for a table simply because people were being selfish.
Aibu?

OP posts:
ifancyashandy · 21/02/2013 13:48

What if you are alone and don't have a coat? Confused

I often got for a coffee after a gym class. Often just have my gym kit on, no bag, no coat. What is the etiquette in this situation if we all baggsie a seat prior to purchase?

Pisses me right off too.

Greensleeves · 21/02/2013 13:49

lol at "consoderation"

my dc excel at consoderation

FutTheShuckUp · 21/02/2013 13:49

Urghh aren't you all sweaty and stinky?

ifancyashandy · 21/02/2013 13:51

Nope. Pilates.

FunnysInLaJardin · 21/02/2013 13:51

I don't go to cafes, I don't agree with them

ifancyashandy · 21/02/2013 13:52

And to answer my question as opposed to just attempting to insult me?

CSIJanner · 21/02/2013 13:52

It really depends on your view.

My father has great difficulty with mobility and his breathing (v bad asthma) and so if we are out, I tell him to sit down, which usually takes the amount of time I spend in a lengthy queue. He could queue, but the last time he did that, he collapsed and we had to call an ambulance.

If its just me and LO2, I queue and take pot luck.

fluckered · 21/02/2013 13:53

guaranteed a seat after a gym class .. in fact whole table to herself then FutTheShuckUp ... method in the madness me thinks!

i want to guarantee a seat so will def bagsy one first. not paying for food and then have no where to sit.

DialsMavis · 21/02/2013 13:54

This is one of the many areas of my life that I must regularly fuck people off, & I had no idea until I first saw one of these threads. Grin

Greensleeves · 21/02/2013 13:57

ok have read thread now and I think this is natural selection

stupid enough to follow moronic sign and risk standing there like a knobber with a tray of food? tough titty Grin

next time grab a fucking table and don't be such a victim

rodandtheemu · 21/02/2013 13:57

I do it all the time to secure my seat..then ignores all the indignant glares! Who cares! England is the only country where people get hung up on queues and politness.

rodandtheemu · 21/02/2013 13:58

greensleeves Grin Grin ha ha

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 21/02/2013 14:01

digerd..that was 30 years ago and you are still riled up? Shock maybe it is time to move on

twinklesparkles · 21/02/2013 14:02

Tf lol, what would be the point in getting food if you didn't have a table to sit down and eat??

When you eat out, you get a table.. Then you order/pay and eat ....

Erm.. That's the basics of eating out I'm afraid

Yabu

BegoniaBampot · 21/02/2013 14:02

Exactly greensleaves, just couldn't put it as eloquently as you!

TattyDevine · 21/02/2013 14:05

Agree with Greensleeves I'm afraid. If you don't have a table before you order, there is no guarantee there will be one when you do, regardless of whether or not people have sat down prior to ordering. The only way to make sure there is a table for each person making an order is to get a table first.

Some places shock horror even make you give your table number!!! Are all the patrons of these dreadful establishments selfish too? Grin

Seriously, if I don't have somewhere to sit Im not ordering, and any place that insisted I order before choosing seating would lose my custom very quickly. Its not normal anyway, I have never ever seen a place where this is the norm.

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 14:05

YANBU

This drives me mad. It's so embarrassing if i've got my food and drink and then standing round with my tray feeling more and more uncomfortable and self conscious if there is nowhere to sit! It's very selfish to barge in and sit down before the people in the queue.

Obviously not everybody feels the same from what people are saying on here but it is a pet hate of mine

manicinsomniac · 21/02/2013 14:05

I can see why you might find it annoying, especially as it is the cafe's policy not to do it.

But I think it's a stupid rule. There's no point buying the food if you have nowhere to eat it when you've bought it.

And I'd be far more upset anf annoyed by people who forcibly took a table I was saving. I think that would be really aggressive and intimidating and I've never seen anyone do it. Far ruder than the original saving imo.

(Though one of my friends did lose a table he was saving for us to a 4 year old the other evening. When we'd bought our drinks we saw he'd moved and asked why. The little girl had come up to him, sat down next to him and said 'excuse me but we were here this morning and now we're back and this is our table.' He moved without a word of protest!)

TattyDevine · 21/02/2013 14:05

Oh I forgot

YABU

Original poster
Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 14:06

Just to say that when i was in the queue there were tables but peiple who came in later decided to park thselves down at a table. If there wasnt a table i would move on. It sems that people who do reserve the seats beforw purchasing dont think of this before thonking they are entied to a table.

OP posts:
fluffyraggies · 21/02/2013 14:08

Oh God this! I'm so on the fence.

I hate getting sent to get a table in Costa. it's always busy when we go. DH nudging me in the queue saying ''Fluff, go on, go on, get that one over there ...'.
I feel bad about those in the queue in front of us.

However because i know who ever is coming in behind us is likely to do it anyway - i do do it!

DoJo · 21/02/2013 14:08

I think it's more unreasonably to blindly follow the instructions on a sign in a place which is hoping to garner your custom. I too would rather not end up with a tray of food and nowhere to put it, and anyone directing me to a sign to back up their belief that I should do something in a stupidly inconvenient way would get short shrift I'm afraid. As to taking a chair that someone's 'saving' - would you also consider it fair game if someone nips to the loo/to get another drink?

fluffyraggies · 21/02/2013 14:08

I would love there to be a notice. Then we know where we all stand. Literally Grin

diddl · 21/02/2013 14:10

Well if I had food, a coat wouldn´t stop me sitting there!

BegoniaBampot · 21/02/2013 14:12

Allthngspretty - looks like the majority think YABU - do you accept that? Will you change your queuing habits?