To get annoyed at people who grab a table in cafes while their friends/partners queue up and order?

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Went to a busy coffee shop this afternoon. Long queue etc. By the time I got mine, I was left waiting along with a few other people who had been served before me standing around with our coffees in our hands waiting for someone to leave and/or ask if they minded someone sitting at their table. What really got my goat was that there were 3 tables that were taken by people who had friends/partners in the queue and therefore did not have their drinks/food yet. I see this a lot. Sometimes the amount of time it takes for someone to queue up, order and get their food/beverages is around the same time someone else could have sat down and finished what they ordered.

Luckily after a short time, a table became free which I was able to take. It just annoys me that people do this. I think if we have a queuing system for food etc surely people with the food should get first dibs on the tables. Would it ever be appropriate to confront someone and turf them off their seat?

I must say it is only on MN that I have seen people almost universally think this acceptable

It's the first time I've read a thread about this on MN but yeah I genuinely thought everyone would be telling the OP she wasn't being unreasonable!

Was surprised to find otherwise.

I would feel uncomfortable/embarrassed to be sitting at an empty table in a scenario where people who already had their food were struggling to find a place to sit.

Is this a London problem or something?

In this neck of the woods, everyone reserves their table or seat first! Single folk do so with a coat/jacket/bag etc.

It works.

YABVU

I can't see why you would queue not knowing you have the table! Surely if it is so crowded you go somewhere else. Why would you see here were no tables and order food? It doesn't make sense. Are you just supposed to hope that someone leaves at the exact moment you need a table?

If this practice was considered unfair by the majority - or by the coffee shop - there would be signs up, warning people not to do it, just as in some restaurants, there are signs asking customers to queue to be seated by the staff. The fact that there aren't any such signs means that people are just left to use their common sense and divide the task of getting their food : one (or two) of the group queue and pay, while the rest seek out a table and sit down.

The fact that this is universal practice is a sign that it is acceptable. You can tell, at a glance, when you enter a coffee shop how busy it is and how likely you are to find a seat. If it doesn't look hopeful, move on!

If everyone queued in a crowded coffee shop the queue would be too difficult to manage and you could still have the situation where you have 3 adults, two children and a baby, with a trays and no seat. Since they need a table for 6 and a high chair it is only common sense to make sure they have got one before they start.

I can honestly say that I have never come across a situation where people are standing around waiting for a seat having bought their drink/meal. Ever. Apart from McDonalds but that doesn't count

Same here westie

Isn't it just common sense that if a place is so ridiculously crowded that you're not going to get a seat, that you just go somewhere else?

Why do human beings put themselves through the stress of such situations?

Everywhere I've been all over the country and in different parts of the world I and other families go into a place,get a table and then one of them goes to the counter and orders.

Never known otherwise.

If I see anyone in future objecting I'll know they are a MNer!

When my sister was terminally ill, she looked unbelievably fabulous. Something about her time being short lit her up from the inside. Didn't mean she didn't need the seat. And woe betide anyone who said a word to her, because contrary to my normal docile nature, I'd have taken their head off. YABVU.

Oh Mymum'sfurcoat, how very sad about your sister - but what a beautiful description of her last days.

The management of the cafe/coffee shop should sort out the table allocation. People in the queue shouldn't be able to take a table & leave others standing with their paid for order.

My mummy's
Very sad about your sister. However we can't assume that everyone sat down while their friend is getting the coffees in are seriously ill.

There will be queues from the door right down the street.

Pianodoodle,I don't think this is the done thing in Edinburgh.

Certainly during August when the festivals are on bagsying seats would just not be acceptable at all.

Mymums.

Big Brick, very sensible, if cafe is quiet, dropping off bags while you order is fine, but bagsying seats which prevents people ahead of you in the queue getting a seat, not fine.

so, some hours later, i still can't see how common courtesy doesn't suffice in this situation

Not quite sure about the 'only on MN' comments. I think most of the posters on here are in RL as well, and have managed to merge in with the general population, by adopting RL behaviour patterns.
A lot of my socialising is done in cafes, and saving tables is common practice. I've never, ever seen it cause a problem.

YANBU. I hate this. And I am even more appalled that all these selfish people think that this is an acceptable practice. You Q up. Get your food and then get your table.

The rest of you are just table hoggers

@ I think most of the posters on here are in RL as well

you think flatiron? you think? you mean some might not be in real life as well?
just brilliant!

Well, Zing, I have come across a few who are obviously on another planet!